When you hear the word ‘gratin,’ what do you think? Cheesy, breadcrumb-laden goodness made of 10% vegetables and 90% butter? Yeah, me too. That’s why my taste buds are usually drawn to this comforting dish but my stomach is turned away.
However, I’ve been thinking of a way to vegan-ize gratin while keeping it simple, natural, flavorful, and gluten-free. No easy task, but I think I’ve cracked the code.
The magic starts with vegan parmesan cheese. Have you tried it?
Dairy-free and vegan friends, if you haven’t you are simply missing out on fairy dust GOLD. Trust me, I have loved parmesan for years. I used to put it on my eggs at breakfast, my soup at lunch, and my potatoes and salads at dinner. Don’t get me started on how much I put on my pizza. I adore its salty, slightly dry goodness on anything and everything, and have a discerning tongue for how it should taste.
Considering this, I had low expectations for how this vegan version would perform.
This – 4 ingredient wonder bomb – actually tastes like parmesan and acts like it in cooking, too!
While it won’t melt into pasta sauces and other hot dishes, it will absolutely toast up and get a nice color. And the most important part, the taste is spot on. If you haven’t tried vegan parm, get some in your life.
One last note, nutritional yeast is a wonder food if you haven’t already heard. It’s high in folic acid, contains 9 grams of protein per 2 Tablespoons – that’s more than an egg! – , contains 3 grams of fiber per serving, and boasts an entire day’s worth of Vitamin B-12 (crucial for red blood cell production) in just 1 Tablespoon. I mean, c’mon. And it tastes like cheese? I mean…
So even if you aren’t vegan or dairy free, you should consider incorporating even a little bit of nutritional yeast into your daily diet.
Once you have your parm ready, move onto your veggies. I opted for yellow and zucchini squash as a base and asparagus for accent because it’s just so beautiful (and cheap!) this time of year. Oh asparagus, I could paint you you’re so pretty.
The other veggie in the mix is onion, which I sauteed to make a nice savory “crust” or base for the asparagus and zucchini to nestle on. This replaces the need for breadcrumbs, puff pastry or pie crust which some veggie tarts require, keeping things light, natural and veggie-focused just the way my body likes it.
Once the onions are sauteed, simply toss your veggies in a bit of olive oil and arrange them in a pretty pattern on top. It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, it shouldn’t be. Just put them in a pattern that makes you happy.
Then, the fun part. Top that baby with loads of vegan parm. I mean LOADS. Do your thang girl.
Then bake bake bake until golden brown and toasty. You guys are gonna love this dish. It’s:
Light
Flavorful
Packed with veggies
Entirely guilt-free
Perfectly ‘cheesy’
Super satisfying
& Lovely for spring and summer
In my opinion, it’s just what we need to get us past the last of these icky winter days and into warmer weather. Cheers!
Vegan Zucchini Gratin
10-ingredient vegan, gluten-free gratin loaded with zucchini, asparagus, and onion. So easy, quick, and delicious. Print SAVE SAVED
from votes Prep Time 20 minutes Cook Time 30 minutes Total Time 50 minutes Servings 4Course Entree, SideCuisine Gluten-Free, VeganFreezer Friendly NoDoes it keep? 2-3 Days
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Ingredients
US Customary – Metric
For the Vegan Parmesan Cheese:
3/4 cup raw cashews3 Tbsp nutritional yeast3/4 tsp salt1/4 tsp garlic powder
For the Gratin:
2 medium zucchini squash (sliced in thin rounds // I used 1 zucchini, 1 yellow)1 small bundle asparagus1/2 medium yellow or white onion (cut into thin rings)1 pinch each sea salt and black pepper3/4-1 cup vegan Parmesan cheese2 1/2 Tbsp olive oil1/4 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
Prepare vegan parmesan cheese by whirling all ingredients together in a food processor or blender until a fine meal or powder is formed. Don’t over-process or it will begin to get clumpy. Set aside. Will keep covered in the fridge for about a month.In a 10-inch cast iron or oven safe skillet, sauté onion in 1/2 Tbsp olive oil (as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) over medium-low heat until soft – about 10 minutes – seasoning with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Set aside.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C).Slice squash into very thin slices, about 1/8th-inch thick (see photo). Use mandolin if you have one, or just a sharp knife.Cup off the top 2-3 inches of the asparagus. That’s the only part you’ll be using. Save the rest for another dish. Carefully split the top portion in half so it nestles into the gratin better (optional).Add asparagus and squash to a mixing bowl and top with remaining 2 Tbsp olive oil, 3/4 tsp salt, pinch of black pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder (optional), and 2 Tbsp of the vegan parmesan cheese (amounts as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Toss to coat.Spread the slightly cooled onions around in the bottom of the skillet to create an even base. Top with squash, layering green and yellow as you go (if you did two colors). It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just start on the outside and work your way in, keeping them in line as much as possible. Once the squash is arranged, tuck pieces of the asparagus into the layers in a circular motion (see photo).Top with an even layer of the vegan parmesan cheese (~3/4 cup // as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and bake at 400 degrees F (204 C) for 30 minutes. Then broil on high for the last 1-2 minutes to toast up the top (optional, but recommended). Watch closely as it can burn quickly. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.This makes an excellent side dish, brunch item, or light lunch or dinner when accompanied with a protein, such as hummus, chickpea salad, or scrambled or fried eggs if not vegan. Reheats well in the microwave or the oven.
Notes
*Parmesan recipe adapted from Veggieful
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with 3/4 cup nutritional yeast per 4 servings.
Nutrition (1 of 4 servings)
Serving: 1 serving Calories: 381 Carbohydrates: 22.9 g Protein: 15.3 g Fat: 27.8 g Saturated Fat: 4.6 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 561 mg Potassium: 787 mg Fiber: 5.9 g Sugar: 6 g Vitamin A: 200 IU Vitamin C: 28.9 mg Calcium: 60 mg Iron: 4 mg