Italian-style Stuffed Eggplant is a vegetarian recipe tweaked to suit my Indian tastes.
The discovery of a small ball of mozzarella in the fridge nudged me in the direction of baking.
Then I brought 2 big king sized eggplant from the local lady who sells local produce. These were her last 2 and she wanted to go home. Rather than tell her I don’t need 2 of these monsters I decided to buy them for they were fresh.
Basically I felt sorry for the old lady.
When I buy from these ladies I do not bargain rather tell them to give me the best and the fresh stuff. So though I paid a bit more I am happy the lady can eat a bit more than pao and bhaji in the night hopefully she had her rice and curry next day too.
Anyway, coming back to my eggplant, aubergines and basically at home it is called” not brinjal again”! I went around making this Italian style stuffed eggplant but took liberties in making it to suit my Indian taste buds.
I made this stuffed brinjal before I went to Mumbai for some personal work. But some reason or other both hubby and I could not eat at home or there was something else we were to eat and finish. So I put these babies in the freezer and forgot about it. About a week back when I was looking through why I did not have space in the freezer I discovered these stuffed aubergines. So they have a long freezer life too. Also hubby is diabetic but occasionally we do enjoy these kind of treats only pair it with salad.
Brinjal, as it is called in India badnikai in Kannada and vangi in Marathi, is cooked in different styles. Some that I have made in the past are
Then there are some everyday vegetables that I have never blogged.
However, let us get down to this recipe that I have adapted from here.
Entering this recipe for the A to Z Challenge this month wherein we choose to cook with key ingredients Alphabetically. This month it was time for Alphabet ‘E’ and I chose my key ingredient as Eggplant or Aubergine.
Italian Stuffed Eggplant
Ingredients:
- 1 eggplant ( 2 medium sized)
- 2 tbsp olive oil + about 2tbsp extra for drizzling
- 3 onions finely chopped
- 6 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 3 tomatoes finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon rasam masala
- ¼ cup coriander leaves chopped
- ½ cup mozzarella torn in bite-sized pieces
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon sugar (optional but recommended)
Method:
- Wash and pat dry the eggplant/aubergine/ brinjal.
- Slice it in half lengthwise but keep the stem.
- Scoop out the flesh of the eggplant along the edge. You must have a scooped out shell.
- Brush the inside of the eggplant with a mixture of 1 tablespoon oil and salt. I also added a little (about ¼ tsp) chilli powder in the oil.
- Let it marinate for about 15 minutes.
- Then cover it with a foil and bake for 20 minutes at 220°C/425F.
- Meanwhile, chop the flesh and set aside.
- Heat the rest of the oil in a thick kadhai/wok.
- Add the onions and stir fry until translucent.
- Add the chopped eggplant flesh and cook fully.
- Add the tomatoes and garlic and cook till the tomatoes become soft and mushy.
- Add the rest of the rasam powder, chilli powder, salt, sugar, coriander leaves. Mix well.
- Check the taste add ¼ cup of mozzarella and set aside.
- By now your egg plant shell must be tender remove from the oven and remove the foil.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 180C fan.
- Carefully distribute the cooked stuffing in the shells.
- Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and drizzle with a little more oil. This is the time I added the rest of the mozzarella.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is gooey and the breadcrumbs are golden.
- Serve with a green salad.
Italian Stuffed Eggplant-Vegetarian- Fusion Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 eggplant 2 medium sized
- 2 tablespoon olive oil + about 2tbsp extra for drizzling
- 3 Onions finely chopped
- 6 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 3 Tomatoes finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon rasam masala
- ¼ cup Coriander leaves chopped
- ½ cup Mozzarella torn in bite-sized pieces
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- Salt to Taste
- ½ teaspoon Sugar optional but recommended
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry the eggplant/aubergine/ brinjal.
- Slice it in half lengthwise but keep the stem.
- Scoop out the flesh of the eggplant along the edge. You must have a scooped out shell.
- Brush the inside of the eggplant with a mixture of 1 tablespoon oil and salt. I also added a little (about ¼ tsp) chilli powder in the oil.
- Let it marinate for about 15 minutes.
- Then cover it with a foil and bake for 20 minutes at 220°C/425F.
- Meanwhile, chop the flesh and set aside.
- Heat the rest of the oil in a thick kadhai/wok.
- Add the onions and stir fry until translucent.
- Add the chopped eggplant flesh and cook fully.
- Add the tomatoes and garlic and cook till the tomatoes become soft and mushy.
- Add the rest of the rasam powder, chilli powder, salt, sugar, coriander leaves. Mix well.
- Check the taste add ¼ cup of mozzarella and set aside.
- By now your egg plant shell must be tender remove from the oven and remove the foil.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 180C fan.
- Carefully distribute the cooked stuffing in the shells.
- Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and drizzle with a little more oil. This is the time I added the rest of the mozzarella.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is gooey and the breadcrumbs are golden.
- Serve with a green salad.
The Girl Next Door says
Love, love, love this! 🙂 Such a great idea to use eggplant to make a stuffed, Italian-style dish. I'm sure it tasted awesome!
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Thanks a lot.
Sujata Roy says
Loved your stuffed eggplant. So innovative and super tempting. Never thought of stuff eggplant this way. Thanks for sharing.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sujata.
Shobha Keshwani says
This looks awesome.. I feel like having it right now. Good one for the theme.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Shobha.
Mayuri Patel says
Archana this is all I was getting at most of the restaurants for dinner when we went to Italy. Eggplant with herb flavored sauce and cheese on top, till I got fed up. Haven't had it for a while so its time I make it soon as a healthy meal option.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Too much of anything does put you off it. 😀
Ashima Goyal Siraj says
Rasam powder! This is truly a fusion recipe 🙂 The Italian will surely not be able to take the heat but the Indians will love it! I had a question, when you bake just the eggplant shells without the flesh in, do they hold their shape?
ArchanaPotdar says
Yes, dear, they do hold shape. Do not remove from the edges much.
Priya Suresh says
Absolutely irresistible, i can enjoy this ultimate cheesy stuffed eggplants rite now for my dinner without any guilt, this dish will definitely makes me comfort.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Seema Doraiswamy Sriram says
Wow. I am sure my family will be so pleased with this beautiful recipe. I so badly want to try it in a few weeks when I am back
ArchanaPotdar says
Do try Seema.
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth says
I can't stop drooling at that stuffed brinjal... looks spicy, flavorful and what not! I agree to you that we shouldn't haggle with people who are trying to meet their rozi roti... and those baingans are pretty huge!
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Yes, the baigan were what my daughter called monsters.
Geetha Priyanka says
This stuffed eggplant sounds interesting with the addition of rasam powder. I am totally impressed with your creativity.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, that is so nice of you.
Poonam Bachhav says
Your Italian style stuffed eggplant looks super tempting di ! I feel like grabbing it right from the screen. Can't wait to try out this for myself. Thanks for the brilliant share di !
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Thanks.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Archana, that is such a lovely recipe and my eggplant loving family would love it. I am bookmarking this and definitely going to give it a try soon.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sandhya.
Renu says
I love the way Italians cook their eggplants. Your eggplants look yum and that cheese on top I am drooling.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Aruna says
Italian with an Indian twist. Loved the use of Rasam powder. 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Aruna.
Vidya Narayan says
I would happily gobble up this enjoying all the spices and especially the flavour of rasam masala used here. A lovely Indian twist to the Italian recipe. This sounds so good!
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Thanks Vidya.
Jolly says
This is an awesome idea of using the whole baingan stuffed liked Italian style dish. Use of rasam powder surely makes it awesomely delightful..
ArchanaPotdar says
thanks.
Vanitha Bhat says
Absolutely delicious, cheesy and yummy!! This dish will make an eggplant lover of anyone! So nice to know that it can be frozen too! Makes it easier and quicker to put this on the table ! Awesome share dear <3
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Sasmita Sahoo Samanta says
Love the presentation di, Cheese all around is loved by any age group surely 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sasmita I think you are the second person to appreciate teh pic.
Swati says
Loved your Italian styled rasam flavoured eggplant with cheese. I am tempted to pick a spoon and eat it all of this.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Veena Krishnakumar says
Wow Arch. You are amazing. Love this fusion recipe.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thank you kind lady.;D
Jayeeta Basu says
Stuffed Eggplant looks fabulous.....I am a big fan of Italian dishes and liked the recipe very much......Will definitely try the recipe..... 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
Please tag me once you do.
Anshu Agrawal says
Wow,loved this recipe...such a great fusion..loved the addition of rasam powder..i can imagine the amazing flavors..can't wait to try..☺
ArchanaPotdar says
Thank you.