Ingredients

  • 1 pound Japanese eggplants (about 3)
  • 1/2 cup walnuts
  • 1 pound firm tofu
  • 8 ounces shiitake or button mushrooms, stemmed
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup wheat germ
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
  • 1 large egg, plus 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chile flakes
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 ounces shitake, cremini, or button mushrooms
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon Marsala or sherry
  • 1 cup vegetable broth, homemade or low sodium canned
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme, plus 1 teaspoon leaves
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

Method

  • For the loaf: Over a gas burner or under an electric broiler, char the eggplants until the skin is black, turning as needed to cook all sides evenly.
  • Wrap in foil and set aside to steam for 20 minutes.
  • Remove from the foil and gently brush the skin off or rinse under warm water.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Pulse the walnuts in a food processor until finely ground.
  • Transfer to a large bowl.
  • Pulse the eggplant, tofu, and mushrooms into small pieces.
  • Add mixture to the walnuts along with the remaining loaf ingredients.
  • Mix together until evenly combined.
  • Transfer the mixture into a 1 1/2-quart loaf pan or casserole dish and bake for 1 hour.
  • For the gravy: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
  • Season mushrooms with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Scatter the flour over the mushrooms and stir until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
  • Add the marsala and broth and bring to a boil, cooking until thickened, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the cream and fresh thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper.
  • Unmold the meatless loaf, slice, and serve with the mushroom gravy.