Eggplant Meatballs

Featured in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on January 20, 2016.

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Ingredients:

Eggplant Meatballs

  • 2 medium eggplants, pricked with a fork for venting (or 8 Japanese eggplants)
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup cooked white beans (rinse, if canned), mashed with fork
  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley or basil
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups panko
  • Olive oil cooking spray
  • 1 pound white or whole wheat pasta, cooked al dente
  • 3 to 4 cups marinara sauce (homemade or bottled)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Line baking sheet with foil.
  3. Place eggplants on a baking sheet and bake approximately 40-50 minutes if large or 20-25 minutes if Japanese eggplants.
  4. Or microwave until soft.
  5. Cool 20 minutes.
  6. Slit cooled eggplants and spoon out pulp, discarding skin; chop pulp.
  7. Combine pulp with eggs, beans, garlic, parsley or basil, cheese, Italian seasonings, salt and pepper.
  8. Stir in panko.
  9. Heat oven to 350°F.
  10. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  11. Shape mixture into balls, each 2 to 3 tablespoons.
  12. Arrange meatballs on baking sheet.
  13. Mist tops with olive oil.
  14. Bake approximately 23-25 minutes or until balls are golden and firm.
  15. Toss cooked pasta with marinara sauce.
  16. Top with meatballs and additional Parmesan cheese.

Makes 8 servings.

Approximate Nutrient Analysis per serving (not including additional Parmesan for topping):
460 calories, 8 g fat, 2.5 g saturated fat, 60 mg cholesterol, 1100 mg sodium, 79 g carbohydrate, 13 g fiber, 12 g sugar, 21 g protein

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