Eggplant "Meatballs" [View all]

[deucemagnet]

Last edited Sat Jan 12, 2013, 11:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Hi all! I haven't posted for a while, but I was enjoying some eggplant "meatballs" today and I thought I'd share the recipe with you.

Eggplant Meatballs

Time 20-25 minutes
Serves 18

Ingredients

3 Tbs olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 eggplant (~12 oz.) peeled and diced
1 to 2 Tbs water
1 1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/2 cup minced fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 large eggs slightly beaten
1/2 cupfreshly grated Pecorino (Romano) cheese
1/4 cupvegetable oil
3 cup tomato pasta sauce, warmed through
1 lb. pasta
Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet or saucepan and slowly cook the garlic over medium heat until golden. Add the eggplant and 1 T of the water, cover, and steam the eggplant over low heat until very soft, about 10 minutes. Add the remaining water only if the eggplant begins to stick to the skillet. Stir the eggplant occasionally while it cooks. Set the eggplant aside and let it cool.
Combine the bread crumbs, parsley, salt, oregano, eggs and cheese in a large bowl. Stir in the eggplant, mix well, and let it stand for 20 minutes. Scoop small amounts of the mixture into your hands and form meatballs the size of a small egg. There should be enough to make about eighteen. Heat the vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat, then fry the meatballs, turning them occasionally so they brown evenly, or bake them in an oiled casserole dish in a preheated oven until browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer meatballs to the tomato sauce and keep hot.
Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and place pasta in a serving dish. Mix with some of the tomato sauce, then arrange the meatballs and sauce on top of the pasta, and serve immediately. Pass additional cheese for sprinkling on top.
NOTE: When forming the meatballs, wet your hands occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking.

How to make it

Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet or saucepan and slowly cook the garlic over medium heat until golden. Add the eggplant and 1 T of the water, cover, and steam the eggplant over low heat until very soft, about 10 minutes. Add the remaining water only if the eggplant begins to stick to the skillet. Stir the eggplant occasionally while it cooks. Set the eggplant aside and let it cool.
Combine the bread crumbs, parsley, salt, oregano, eggs and cheese in a large bowl. Stir in the eggplant, mix well, and let it stand for 20 minutes. Scoop small amounts of the mixture into your hands and form meatballs the size of a small egg. There should be enough to make about eighteen. Heat the vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat, then fry the meatballs, turning them occasionally so they brown evenly, or bake them in an oiled casserole dish in a preheated oven until browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer meatballs to the tomato sauce and keep hot.
Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and place pasta in a serving dish. Mix with some of the tomato sauce, then arrange the meatballs and sauce on top of the pasta, and serve immediately. Pass additional cheese for sprinkling on top.
NOTE: When forming the meatballs, wet your hands occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking.

http://www.grouprecipes.com/66939/eggplant-meatballs.html

Tip: If you don't want to mess around with fresh breadcrumbs you can substitute Italian Seasoned breadcrumbs, but omit the salt and fresh parsley if you do so.

Very tasty, great with pasta or on sandwiches. My only complaint is that you have to add a legume to the meal somewhere to complete your protein. Enjoy!

On edit: BTW, I prefer to bake these 30 minutes at 375 degrees, flipping them halfway through.

Edit edit: Also, buy a nice piece of parmesan or pecorino romano (reggiano if money is no object) and grate it yourself for the best results.

3rd Edit: What happened to the thread title?