Vegan Eggplant Involtini

Ok, so I know what you're thinking. "Eggplant? As in the vegetable?" Yes, eggplant. It might seem like an odd ingredient to use in an appetizer or main dish, but trust me when I say this Vegan Eggplant Involtini is delicious! The eggplant is roasted until it's soft and then filled with a creamy white sauce and garlic spinach. It's like a healthier version of eggplant Parmesan, and it's perfect for a meat-free meal. Give this recipe a try – I promise you won't be disappointed, as it is one of our favorite vegan eggplant recipes!

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This Vegan Eggplant Involtini (aubergine involtini) recipe is the veganized version of the classic Italian dish.

When you plan to eat your way through Italy you can't leave Appetizers like Eggplant Parmesan and Eggplant Stews behind!

This dish is the definition of comfort food. This eggplant involtini recipe is very creamy, soft on the inside, and full of flavor. We love that this recipe doesn't require a roasted eggplant, grilled eggplant, or baked eggplant but simply salting it, so the eggplant flesh loses its bitterness.

To make this gluten-free dish, you need to make a Vegan Bechamel Sauce (10 minutes) and optionally a Vegan Parmesan Cheese for the finishing (5 minutes). Make's a perfect Valentine's dinner appetizer!

The Eggplant is the Queen of this Recipe; get a nice, firm one so you can cut the slices easily!

Jump to:

• 🧾 Ingredients
• 🔪 Instructions
• 📖 Variations
• 🥢 How to serve
• 🥡 Storage
• 💡 Benefits of eating eggplant
• 🍆 More vegan eggplant recipes
• 🍷 Wine pairing
• 📋 Recipe
• 🌡️ Food safety
• 💬 Reviews and Comments

🧾 Ingredients

• Eggplants serve as the rollatini's primary base, offering a meaty texture and a mild, slightly bitter taste that complements the filling. Their flexible nature, when cooked allows them to be rolled easily.
• Dry porcini mushrooms: These mushrooms add a deep, umami flavor to the dish, enhancing its savory profile. When rehydrated, they also contribute a chewy texture reminiscent of meat.
• Cauliflower head: Cauliflower provides a creamy and neutral base when blended, making it an excellent ingredient for fillings or sauces. Its mild flavor absorbs and complements other ingredients well.
• Extra-firm tofu: This ingredient offers a protein-packed, meaty texture to the filling. Its neutral taste acts as a canvas, soaking up flavors from other ingredients.
• Onion: Onions contribute a sweet and aromatic base to the dish, enhancing its depth of flavor. When sautéed, they become translucent and soft, blending seamlessly into the filling.
• Fresh garlic: Garlic infuses the dish with its pungent and aromatic flavor, elevating the overall taste profile. It also acts as a natural flavor enhancer, complementing the other ingredients.
• Nutritional Yeast: This ingredient imparts a cheesy and nutty flavor, making it a popular vegan substitute for cheese. Additionally, it's a source of vitamins and minerals, particularly B vitamins.
• Parsley: Parsley adds a fresh and slightly peppery note to the dish. Its vibrant green color also provides a visual contrast, making the dish more appealing.
• Rosemary: This herb introduces a fragrant, woody aroma to the rollatini. Its strong flavor profile complements and balances the other ingredients, especially the mushrooms and eggplants.

See quantities and complete instructions in the recipe card.

Tip: to choose an eggplant, make sure it is firm, so they are fresher and easier to slice.

🔪 Instructions

Slice the eggplant and sprinkle sea salt.

Make the filling

Put all the filling's ingredients in a food processor and mix until you get a smooth texture.

Tip: try to use fresh herbs so the stuffing is richer.

Lay the salted eggplant slices add some filling on one edge, and roll.

Add some extra virgin olive oil to a skillet and place the stuffed eggplant in a skillet next to each other.

Add the Vegan Bechamel Sauce on top, plus some vegan parmesan cheese.

Cook in a skillet at a medium-low temperature for about 10 minutes, serve, and top the cooked eggplant with vegan cheese. Ready!

Serve vegan eggplant involtini with crusty bread such as an Italian Pagnotta bread.

📖 Variations

• Sauce - instead of bechamel sauce, you can use a rich tomato sauce, such as a simple marinara sauce (see our marinara recipe). If you choose to make it with marinara, I recommend switching the fresh herbs for fresh basil.
• Mushroom bechamel - add some sliced and tender mushrooms to the bechamel sauce.
• More texture - after micing the stuffing, add some toasted pine nuts before rolling the eggplant slices.

🥢 How to serve

You can serve this vegetarian stuffed eggplant recipe as a side dish or a main course. This is because the stuffed eggplant's ingredients are carefully balanced, so you have protein from tofu and just the right amount of complex carbohydrates from the veggies. Absolutely delicious!

If you plan to eat this eggplant meal as the main course, we recommend having two or three pieces and serving it with a simple and healthy Brussels sprouts recipe, maybe green beans with toasted almonds, or a fresh green salad with a delicious homemade vinaigrette.

🥡 Storage

Freezing Eggplant Rollatini (Involtini) is a great way to preserve its freshness and flavor for a longer period. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to freeze and thaw Eggplant Rollatini:

How to Freeze Eggplant Rollatini (Involtini)

1. Prepare the Rollatini: Cook the Eggplant Rollatini. Once cooked, allow them to cool completely at room temperature.
2. Pre-Freezing (Optional but Recommended):
   • Place the cooled rollatini on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they are not touching each other.
   • Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about 1-2 hours or until the rollatini are firm. This step prevents the rollatini from sticking together in the freezer.
3. Packaging:
   • Transfer the pre-frozen rollatini to airtight freezer bags or containers. If using bags, remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
   • Label the bags or containers with the date and contents.
4. Freezing: Place the packaged rollatini in the freezer. They can be stored for up to 3 months for the best quality.

How to Thaw Eggplant Rollatini (Involtini)

Refrigerator Thawing

Transfer the frozen rollatini to the refrigerator and let them thaw overnight or for at least 12 hours. This is the best method to retain the texture and flavor.

Oven Thawing

1. Preheat your oven to a moderate temperature (around 350°F or 175°C).
2. Place the frozen rollatini in an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil.
3. Bake until they are thoroughly heated, which may take around 20-30 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the rollatini.

Microwave Thawing

Use the defrost setting on your microwave to thaw the rollatini. Make sure to turn them occasionally for even thawing. Once thawed, you can heat them in a regular microwave until they are warmed.

Remember, once you've thawed the Eggplant Rollatini, it's best to consume them quickly and not refreeze them again to maintain the best quality and safety.

💡 Benefits of eating eggplant

• According to Healthline, the benefits of Eggplant are:
• They are high in fiber
• They are low in calories

Eggplants are rich in nutrients and minerals.

Eggplants have many more potential health benefits, including promoting blood sugar control and aiding in weight loss.

From reducing the risk of heart disease to blood sugar control and weight loss, eggplants are a simple and tasty addition to any healthy diet.

🍆 More vegan eggplant recipes

We love making our favorite eggplant dip, the famous Babaganoush, a traditional Middle-Eastern dish made with tahini sauce.

Try out our no-fry and vegan eggplant parmesan and our creamy eggplant pasta, both crowd-pleasers.

Another house favorite is our vegan eggplant pie, which is quickly made. It also works both as a main course, and side dish.

See our collection of vegan eggplant recipes.

🍷 Wine pairing

• Italian - Fresh White - Greco di Tufo
• French - Rosé - Grenache, Cotes de Provence 
• German - White - Riesling Troken

If you try this vegan eggplant rollatini recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

📋 Recipe