Vegan Eggplant Parmigiana

A delicious vegan version of eggplant parmigiana. I think you're gonna like this! From My Vegan Cookbook.

• Ready In: 1 hr 39 mins
• Serves: 5

Ingredients

• 1  medium eggplant

• Eggplant Batter and Breading

• 3  tablespoons egg substitute
• 9  tablespoons water
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1 2⁄3 cups  vegan panko breadcrumbs (Japanese Style Bread Crumbs)
• 1⁄2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

• Tomato Sauce

• 1⁄2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1  medium onion, Chopped
• 3  garlic cloves, Minced
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1 (14 1/2ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  ground marjoram
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  ground thyme
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1⁄4 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2  teaspoons sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt (optional)

• Cheeze Sauce

• 1  cup  plain soymilk
• 3  tablespoons quick-cooking oats
• 1⁄4 cup nutritional yeast flakes
• 1  teaspoon onion powder
• 1  tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1⁄2 tablespoon peanut butter
• 5  drops  sesame oil
• 4  drops liquid smoke
• 1⁄2 teaspoon paprika

Directions

1. Preheat Oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Slice eggplants length-wise into 1/2 inch slices(from top to bottom-don't need to peel). Mix egg replacer, water, salt, lemon pepper in a dish long enough to accommodate the size of the eggplant, with a fork. If it has a few lumps it doesn't matter. Put bread crumbs and olive oil in the food processor and pulse a few times to mix together. Reserve 1/3 cup of the bread crumbs for the top of the finished dish.
3. Dip first into liquid and then dredge them into the bread crumbs. Spray cookie sheet with olive oil and place eggplants on sheet. Roast this for 25 minutes or until golden brown and tender.
4. Meanwhile, prepare tomato sauce by placing olive oil in a sauce pan with onions and garlic. Saute on medium heat until onions are lightly brown. Add the 1/2 cup of water and simmer for 5 minutes. Then add tomatoes and tomato sauce, marjoram, thyme, oregano, lemon pepper, onion and garlic powder, sugar and salt. Let simmer on medium to low heat while eggplant finishes cooking.
5. While the sauce is cooking, in a food processor, add all of the cheeze ingredients and blend together.
6. When the eggplant is done. In 9"X10" glass casserole dish, layer by starting with tomato sauce, eggplant, then cheeze. Lastly coat the top with the remaining bread crumbs. Place in oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbling hot and brown on top.
7. Top with fresh parsley if you want.