Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant

Stuffed eggplant

Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Servings: 4 servings | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

• 1 pound meatloaf mix (ground pork, veal, beef)
• 1 tbsp lard
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp organic butter
• 1/2 pint white mushrooms, chopped
• 2 small eggplants, halved and contents scooped out and chopped
• scant 1/4 cup raisins, chopped
• 1/4 cup almond meal (or finely chopped almonds)
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• pinch of cayenne powder
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a cast iron skillet over medium high heat, cook ground meat in lard until well browned, scraping bottom with a wooden spoon periodically to avoid burning.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onions in butter, with a little salt, until translucent (about five minutes). Add chopped mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms have softened.

Add onion and mushroom mixture to meat in skillet, and stir to combine. Add chopped eggplant to skillet, stir to combine. Add seasonings, raisins and almonds. When eggplant softens, add water to skillet, and deglaze bottom of the pan.

Add olive oil to the empty saucepan. Lightly salt eggplant cavities, and place eggplant in the saucepan, cut side down. Cook eggplant this way for about 3-5 minutes. Flip eggplant, exposing cavities. Cook eggplant in a 400 degree oven for another 5 minutes. Remove eggplant from the oven.

Add cheeses to the meat mixture and stir to combine. Check for seasonings, and add salt if necessary. Divide meat mixture evenly, and stuff into the 4 eggplant halves.

Bake until delicious, golden brown, and bubbly, about 5 more minutes.

Serve.

Source: My collection

Sent from Paprika Recipe Manager.