Baked Rice with Eggplant and Zucchini and Vegan Challenge

A while back we were asked to try and come up with a recipe using Daiya vegan cheese.  I will be the first to admit when I thought of vegan cheese I though blah... and was a little relieved that I wouldn't be able to do this challenge because Daiya vegan cheese was no where to be found in our area and I would have to drive at least 6 hours away to get it, so I put it out of my mind until a few days ago.  I went shopping at our local Co-op store ~ I love going there and see what new items they have as this store is a small place packed with just about everything.. I had picked up some bulk items and was going to the register and I happened to glance at the coolers that were near the register and you will never guess what I saw.... Daiya Vegan Cheese and much to my surprise it tasted quite good.
My next challenge was how do I make a vegan recipe... what can and can't I use and what should I make.  Foodie Friends Friday my new best place to look for a recipe came to the rescue.  I found this recipe from Hungry Couple called Baked Rice and Zucchini Cake on our last weeks linky party and as I read the recipe, light bulbs went on.  This would be perfect to use up the zucchini that I have and use the vegan cheese instead of the parmesan cheese that is called for and I would have a vegan recipe that used Daiya cheese for the challenge... Great! and I was getting my ingredients ready I spied an eggplant on the counter top that I just had gotten from my garden and thought why not use that too...

So here is the way I made this recipe 

Baked Rice with Eggplant and Zucchini

recipe adapted from Hungry Couple

Ingredients:

1 TBSP olive oil

1/2 cup onions

1 clove garlic

1 cup egg plant diced

2/3 cup zucchini shredded

1/4 cup green beans - cut in small pieces

1 tsp greek seasoning

2 cups water

1 cup rice -- I used about 1/4 cup brown rice and 3/4 cup jasmine rice

1/2 cup diaya mozzarella style vegan cheese

salt and pepper to taste.  

In a pot, saute onions and garlic in olive oil until they become translucent. Add green beans and continue to cook for a few minutes. Once the green beans are starting to get soft, add egg plant and zucchini. Continue to cook for a few minutes on medium heat until veggies are soft.  Add 2 cups of water, rice, and greek seasoning.  Bring to a boil and then reduce to low and cook until water is evaporated and rice is soft, approximately 20 minutes.  Stir in cheese.

Spray two small oven safe pans or mini spring form pans if you have them with non-sticking cooking spray.  Divide mixture in two and place in each pan.  Bake in a 400 degree oven for approx 300 minutes or until top becomes a light golden brown.  Allow pans to cool and run a knife around edge of pans and careful unmold or turn over on plate.  Makes 2 servings.

cooking vegetables

place mixture in two oven safe pans-
I used my small corning ware pots

Enjoy

   I was delightful surprised on how good this tasted and the vegan cheese gave it an extra special taste. 

 I have changed my thoughts after eating this meal about vegan cheese!  

This coming week on September 21st we will have a Vegan Challenge on Foodie Friends Friday

 

til next time <3 <3 <3   Marlys

This post was not sponsored by Daiya Foods, and the opinions written are my own.  Daiya Foods is sponsoring the giveaway on September 21/12 Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party and Vegan Challenge. 

This recipe is linked: Gluten Free Fridays, Foodie Friends Friday