Il Cucinologo
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Stuffed Eggplants

17/11/2023

Here’s a classic Italian recipe for preparing stuffed eggplants, with an all-Italian touch that I hope you’ll enjoy.

Ingredients

  • 4 medium-sized eggplants
  • 200 g ground meat (beef or pork, choose according to your taste)
  • 100 g cooked ham cut into cubes
  • 100 g mozzarella cut into cubes
  • 50 g grated Parmesan
  • 1 egg
  • Breadcrumbs as needed
  • Tomato sauce as needed
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • Pitted Taggiasca olives as needed (optional)
  • Fresh basil as needed
  • Salt and pepper as needed
  • Extra virgin olive oil as needed

Preparation

  1. Wash the eggplants, cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh with the help of a spoon, being careful not to break the eggplant ‘boat’. Set the flesh aside.

  2. Salt the inside of the eggplant ‘boats’ and let them rest upside down on paper towels for about 30 minutes to release their excess moisture.

  3. Meanwhile, chop the eggplant flesh and sauté it in a pan with a drizzle of oil, the onion and the garlic, until it becomes soft.

  4. In a large bowl, mix the ground meat with the cooked ham, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, chopped basil, salt, pepper and the sautéed eggplant flesh. If the mixture is too wet, add some breadcrumbs until you achieve a workable consistency.

  5. Fill each eggplant ‘boat’ with the meat mixture and place them in a baking dish greased with a little oil. Cover each eggplant with tomato sauce and sprinkle with additional grated Parmesan.

  6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 35-40 minutes or until the eggplants are nicely golden and the surface is gratinated.

  7. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves and, if desired, a few Taggiasca olives.

Interesting Facts

Eggplants originate from India and were introduced to Italy around the 15th century. They are a very versatile ingredient in cooking, starring in famous recipes such as eggplant parmigiana. By varying the filling with ingredients like capers, pine nuts or other types of cheese, you can easily give the recipe a personal touch.

Enjoy your meal!

Stuffed Eggplants