Tomato Parmesan Stuffed Eggplant | Diethood
Tomato Parmesan Stuffed Eggplant is a simple foremost dish that’s recent, nutritious, and scrumptious! Made with tender eggplant, crushed tomatoes, recent garlic, and loads of herbs, this healthful vegetarian dinner possibility is full-flavored and totally satisfying.
An Simple and Wholesome Vegetarian Predominant Course
Are meatless meals an vital a part of your menus? I like to pivot to meatless meals every now and then, specializing in the superb produce choices on the market and letting them take heart stage. As a lot as I really like a superb steak, there’s nothing fairly like a meal that’s loaded with recent greens, wholesome olive oil, and topped with a sprinkling of feta or mozzarella. Positively a second of YUM for me. 👍
This recipe is all in regards to the eggplant, which is a silky-smooth veggie when roasted or baked appropriately, with a gentle and healthful taste much like zucchini or squash. It performs nicely with garlic, onions, and spices, taking up these flavors and offering a heat, sunny style of its personal.
And, whereas this would possibly sound like an advanced recipe, it’s actually not! Making the stuffing combination is a snap, and from there, all you need to do is bake the stuffed eggplant till achieved. Simple peasy! 💃 People who have made my Sausage Stuffed Eggplant can attest to the easiness of those recipes.
What’s in This Stuffed Eggplant Recipe?
Nice query! Let’s dive into the mouthwatering substances. Simply studying by way of this record makes me hungry!
- Eggplant: This recipe makes 4 eggplant halves, for those who’re utilizing massive eggplants.
- Oil: I at all times use olive oil on this recipe. Additional-virgin olive oil has the boldest taste, however medium and lightweight oils are additionally high-quality.
- Onion: Cube up your onion. I sometimes select yellow onions, however any onion is ok.
- Parsley: Finely chopped recent parsley brings a burst of freshness – for those who should, swap in dried parsley, but when in any respect attainable, use recent.
- Salt and Pepper
- Garlic: Minced, recent garlic offers the brightest taste, however you may substitute dried or powdered garlic in a pinch.
- Dried Herbs: A mixture of dried basil, thyme, and oregano give this dish a heavenly perfume and depth of taste.
- Tomatoes: Canned, boxed, or jarred tomatoes are high-quality; you’ll need crushed tomatoes for this recipe.
- Pesto: A little bit of basil pesto is the right method so as to add pungent taste and richness.
- Cheese: I used sliced recent mozzarella for a gooey, pizza-like end result, and grated parmesan for that basic style.
- Water: To roast the eggplants, you’ll need a bit of little bit of scorching water for the baking sheet. This may assist to melt the eggplants shells.
- Garnish: Chopped recent basil makes a sexy elective garnish.
The right way to Make Tomato Parmesan Stuffed Eggplant
Now that we’ve lined the substances, let’s discuss in regards to the course of. One factor you’ll discover is that the shells of the eggplant are salted, however the flesh is just not. You probably have younger eggplants that really feel gentle for his or her dimension, this shouldn’t be an issue, however for those who’re involved about extra water or bitterness, be happy to salt the flesh for 10 to fifteen minutes, rinse it, and squeeze dry with paper towels.
- Prep the Oven and the Eggplants. Begin out by setting your oven to preheat to 400˚F. Whereas it preheats, minimize the eggplants in half, lengthwise. Use a big serving spoon or a melon baller to scoop out the flesh, leaving about ½-inch thickness on all sides. Salt and pepper the shells, and set them apart, cut-side up. Chop the flesh finely.
- Cook dinner the Greens, Tomatoes, and Seasonings. Subsequent, warmth up a swirl of olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the chopped eggplant and the onions, together with the parsley. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and prepare dinner this combination for about 5 minutes, stirring usually. When the veggies are partially cooked, stir within the garlic and dried herbs, after which add the crushed tomatoes and the pesto. Let this prepare dinner for about one minute, stirring regularly, to warmth by way of. Style the combination, and add extra salt and pepper if wanted.
- Stuff the Eggplant. Take the stuffing combination off of the warmth. Wipe down the eggplant shells with clear paper towels to take away extra moisture. Place the shells on a baking sheet, after which fill them with the stuffing combination. High with the Parmesan cheese and mozzarella slices.
- Bake. Pour scorching water into the baking sheet, throughout the eggplant shells. Fastidiously place the baking sheet into the preheated oven, and bake for about half an hour, or till the eggplants are tender. Take them out of the oven, and let stand for five minutes earlier than garnishing and serving.
Ought to You Peel Eggplant for Baking?
That relies upon! For some recipes, particularly blended recipes like dips and spreads, you’ll wish to peel your eggplant and simply use the flesh. For this recipe, the shells nonetheless have their peels on, each for appears to be like and for stability. Plus, the skins are fully edible, and are thought-about very nutritious! 🍆
In case your eggplants are younger and tender, the skins shall be scrumptious. In case you are utilizing older eggplants, the pores and skin could also be a bit of powerful and might merely function a “bowl” for the tasty eggplant filling.
Ideas and Variations
To profit from your stuffed eggplant, make sure to learn these straightforward suggestions and concepts for customizing the substances. Get pleasure from!
- Get a Head Begin: When you like, you may get forward on this dish by roasting the empty eggplant shells and making the filling the day earlier than. Retailer these within the fridge, after which stuff the eggplant, high with cheese, and bake the day of.
- Elective Extras: Be happy so as to add or swap substances right here, corresponding to recent chopped tomatoes as a substitute of crushed, chickpeas or quinoa for protein, rice or couscous for carbs, extra chopped veggies, or golden raisins for a pop of sweetness.
- Make It Vegan: A straightforward technique to make this recipe vegan can be to omit the cheese. You should utilize vegan cheese as a substitute, or high with a creamy substitute like tahini, avocado dressing, or vegan bitter cream or cheese.
Yummy Serving Recommendations
To serve your eggplant, I like to recommend a easy aspect dish or two – let the eggplant be the star! Nonetheless, stuffed eggplant additionally works nicely as a aspect dish, with a hearty foremost course like rooster or beef. Listed below are just a few straightforward concepts to get you began:
- Creamy Soup: Easy Roasted Garlic and Asparagus Soup makes a tempting appetizer to set the stage for this satisfying stuffed eggplant dish.
- Bread: You may slice up a baguette, make some garlic toast, or serve Kifli – Macedonian Dinner Rolls with Feta Cheese. They’re savory and particular, an ideal accomplice for stuffed eggplant.
- Lamb Chops: Whereas tomato parmesan stuffed eggplant can be fantastic along with your favourite steak or baked rooster, I feel it actually shines when served with lamb. Attempt these straightforward Macedonian Kebapi (Kebabs) along with your stuffed eggplant for an unforgettable meal.
The right way to Retailer and Reheat Leftovers
- To retailer your leftover tomato parmesan stuffed eggplant, place it in an airtight container or in a dish lined tightly with plastic wrap. Retailer within the fridge for as much as 3 to five days.
- To reheat, place the specified portion in an ovenproof dish, and bake at 350˚F till heated by way of.
Can I Freeze Stuffed Eggplant?
- Sure, you may! Like stuffed peppers, stuffed eggplant is an efficient dish for freezing, and actually, you would possibly wish to double this recipe so to freeze half for later!
- To freeze, line up the baked eggplants on a dry, clear baking dish or tray. Place within the freezer till frozen strong. Then switch the frozen eggplants to freezer baggage, urgent out as a lot air as attainable earlier than sealing.
- Freeze for as much as 3 months, and thaw in a single day earlier than reheating within the oven.
ENJOY!
Tomato Parmesan Stuffed Eggplants
Made with tender eggplant, crushed tomatoes, recent garlic, and loads of herbs, Tomato Parmesan Stuffed Eggplant is a full-flavored and totally satisfying vegetarian foremost dish.
Directions
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Preheat oven to 400˚F.
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Reduce eggplants in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the flesh, leaving a ½-inch border across the eggplant shell. Finely chop up the eggplant flesh/pulp and put aside.
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Place empty eggplant shells on a rimmed baking sheet; season the empty shells with salt and pepper, and let sit for 10 to fifteen minutes, cut-side up.
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Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth.
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Add diced onions and chopped eggplant-flesh to the skillet; stir within the parsley and season with salt and pepper. Cook dinner for five to 7 minutes, or till tender. Stir regularly.
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Stir within the garlic; season with basil, thyme, and oregano, and prepare dinner for 30 seconds.
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Add crushed tomatoes and stir within the basil pesto.
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Proceed to prepare dinner for 1 minute, or till heated by way of, stirring regularly.
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Take away from warmth and style the combination for salt and pepper; regulate to style.
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Utilizing paper towels, wipe down the eggplant shells.
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Spoon the tomato combination evenly into the eggplant shells.
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High with grated parmesan cheese and slices of mozzarella.
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Pour scorching water contained in the baking sheet, throughout the eggplants.
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Bake for 25 to half-hour, or till eggplants are tender.
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Take away from oven and let stand 5 minutes.
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Garnish with chopped basil.
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Serve.
Diet Details
Tomato Parmesan Stuffed Eggplants
Quantity Per Serving
Energy 429
Energy from Fats 261
% Each day Worth*
Fats 29g45%
Saturated Fats 9g45%
Polyunsaturated Fats 1g
Monounsaturated Fats 8g
Ldl cholesterol 36mg12%
Sodium 799mg33%
Potassium 940mg27%
Carbohydrates 29g10%
Fiber 10g40%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 17g34%
Vitamin A 1527IU31%
Vitamin C 22mg27%
Calcium 421mg42%
Iron 3mg17%
* % Each day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie eating regimen.
Dietary data is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values might differ in keeping with the substances and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
Key phrases: baked eggplant recipe, vegetarian dinner concepts, vegetarian meals