Meatless Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy

[Kitchen Witch]

Meatless Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy

Loaf:
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

Mushroom Gravy:
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

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.