Eggplant stuffed with lamb and rice is a classic dish that's both flavorful and satisfying. It features succulent lamb and fluffy rice enveloped in silky, tender eggplants, creating a symphony of taste and textures. This impressive dish is perfect for special occasions, family gatherings, or simply a delightful weeknight meal. With its rich and aromatic flavors, the eggplant stuffed with lamb and rice is sure to tantalize your palate and become a favorite in your culinary repertoire.
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
SPICED LAMB-STUFFED EGGPLANTS
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise, including the stems. Using a sharp paring knife, scoop out some of the flesh, leaving a shell that is 1/3 inch thick and reserving the scooped-out eggplant. Place the eggplant shells snugly in a single layer in a large (10-by-14-inch) rectangular baking dish. Brush the eggplant all over with 1/4 cup olive oil (use it all!) and sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Pour 1/4 cup water in the baking dish, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake for 30 minutes, until the shells are tender when pierced with a small knife. Remove from the oven, discard the foil, and leave the oven on.
- Meanwhile, for the lamb filling, in a large (12-inch) skillet, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes, tossing occasionally, until tender. Cut the reserved scooped-out eggplant into 1/2-inch dice (you should have about 2 cups). Add the eggplant to the onion and cook for 5 minutes, adding more oil if it seems dry. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the ground lamb and cook, mashing lightly with a fork, for 5 to 7 minutes, until no longer pink. Add the oregano and cinnamon and cook for one minute. Add the wine, tomatoes, marinara, parsley, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until the liquid evaporates. Spoon the filling into the eggplant halves in the baking dish. (You may have a little extra filling.)
- In a medium bowl, mash the ricotta, goat cheese, egg yolks, mint, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper with a fork. With a spoon, place large dollops of the ricotta mixture on the lamb filling and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the filling is hot and the topping is lightly browned. Serve warm, sprinkled with extra mint.
EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH RICE AND TOMATOES
Travel anywhere in the Mediterranean region, and you will find stuffed vegetables. In Provence, they tend to be filled with meat (a way to stretch leftover stews), but in the Middle East and Greece rice and grain fillings prevail. Regional cooks make abundant use of fresh herbs like parsley, dill and mint, and sweet spices like cinnamon and allspice. Fragrant stuffed vegetables can be made ahead of the meal and served hot or at room temperature. They don't require a lot of patience to assemble - they just need a long simmer and then a rest to let the flavors mingle and intensify. Eat them as a main dish or a side, and serve up leftovers for lunch. The filling for these irresistible stuffed eggplants is also good for peppers and squash. Substitute the chopped flesh of the summer squash for the eggplant, and just use the rice and tomatoes for peppers. Make these a day ahead for best results.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, weekday, main course
Time 2h15m
Yield Serves six
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cut the eggplants in half. With a grapefruit spoon or a small knife, remove the flesh to within 1/2 inch of the skins.
- Sprinkle the eggplant shells with salt, and let sit for 30 minutes while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Chop the flesh, and steam for 20 minutes, until tender.
- In a large bowl, combine a third of the tomatoes, the steamed eggplant, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, all but 1 clove of the garlic, the rice, herbs and the juice of one of the lemons. Season with salt and pepper.
- Oil a large flameproof casserole or an earthenware casserole set over a flame tamer. Combine the remaining tomatoes, olive oil, allspice, cinnamon, lemon juice, sugar, tomato paste and remaining garlic in the casserole. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Fill the eggplant shells with the rice mixture, and arrange in the casserole in a single layer. Add water if necessary to cover about a third of the eggplant. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, cover tightly and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 45 minutes to an hour until the eggplant and rice are tender. Remove from the heat.
- Using two spatulas (the eggplants are soft at this point), transfer the eggplants to a platter. Bring the sauce to a boil. If it is not already thick, reduce until thick and fragrant. Pour over the eggplants, and allow to cool to warm or room temperature. They're good chilled as well. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro if desired.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 210, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 35 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 882 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams
EGGPLANTS STUFFED WITH LAMB, RICE, AND CURRANTS
A small amount of ground lamb adds a lot of flavor to this dish, which is further enhanced by the meatiness of the eggplant.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Lamb Recipes
Time 1h25m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in an ovenproof pot over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring often, until soft and lightly caramelized, 10 to 12 minutes. Add lamb, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook until lamb is cooked through and no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Add stock, rice, and currants. Bring to a simmer. Cover, and transfer to oven on lowest rack. Cook for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, slice eggplants in half lengthwise; brush each cut side with 1/4 teaspoon oil. Roast, cut sides up, on a rimmed baking sheet on top oven rack until centers are soft and tops are browned, about 40 minutes. Let cool.
- Gently scrape eggplant flesh into a large bowl, reserving skins. Stir in lamb-rice mixture, chopped herbs, and lemon zest. Divide stuffing among eggplant skins. Garnish with more herbs and lemon zest.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 376 g, Cholesterol 15 g, Fat 9 g, Fiber 11 g, Protein 12 g, Sodium 335 g
STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH LAMB
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Peel the eggplants lengthwise in 1/2-inch strips "zebra-style," leaving a 1/2-inch strip of skin between each peel. Trim off long stems so eggplant will fit in pan. Heat oil in a large, deep frying pan. In batches, fry eggplant until golden all over and beginning to soften, turning frequently. Transfer eggplant to a baking dish, placing them side by side, and cut a deep slit lengthwise in each eggplant. Set aside.
- Heat the butter in the skillet, add the onions and saute until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the lamb and cook for 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, bell peppers and salt, and saute until all the juices are absorbed, about 5 more minutes. Stir in the parsley, and lemon juice, adjust seasonings and remove from heat.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Stuff the eggplants tightly with the ground lamb mixture, enlarging the opening with your hand. Add a little water to the baking dish, cover, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until eggplants are very tender.
TURKISH STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH SPICY LAMB AND RICE
Steps:
- Lamb and Rice Filling
- Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat, then add the onion and pepper, stir, and cook for 3-5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and crumble in the ground meat. Raise the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring, for 5-6 minutes, until the meat has lost its pink color and the mixture is starting to dry out and brown a little in the pan. Tilt the pan and spoon out any excess fat from the lamb. Sprinkle in the seasonings, stir, then add the tomatoes and puree, then the stock. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pan to dissolve the brown bits that have accumulated. Add the rice and herbs, and stir and cook a couple of minutes, until warmed through. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. When the filling is well mixed, moist, and flavorful-but not wet-remove it from the heat and let it cool.
- Eggplant
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Combine all the ingredients except the eggplants in a small bowl.
- Cut the stem end from each eggplant, then cut it in half lengthwise. Take a look at the flesh, and if it is creamy white and not too seedy, don't worry about salting it. However, if it is a little darker, with numerous seeds, there's a good chance the juices will be slightly bitter, so you'll want to extract them. To do this, sprinkle the cut sides with about a teaspoon of salt each and place them cut side down on a plate or tray lined with a double thickness of paper towels. Place another plate or tray on top and weight that with a couple of pounds (cans of beans work well). Set aside for 10-15 minutes, then remove the weight and brush the salt off the surface, or rinse with running water and pat dry. Cut a shallow crosshatch pattern in the cut surface of the eggplant and brush generously with the flavored oil. Place the eggplant halves cut sides up on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes, rotating the pan once, until the eggplants are very soft when you squeeze the sides and the surface is golden brown. Cool completely.
- To Assemble
- With your fingers or a spoon, press the tender eggplant flesh to the sides, making a bed for the filling. Divide the filling among the halves. Sprinkle the bread crumb topping evenly over the filling and pat it lightly. Bake the filled eggplants for about 15 minutes, or until they're heated through and the crumbs are browned.
EGGPLANTS STUFFED WITH LAMB AND RICE
Steps:
- 1) Preheat oven to 400. Heat 2 tsp EVO in ovenproof pot over medium heat. Cook onion til soft and lightly caramelized (10-12 minutes.) Add lamb, season with 1tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. cook until lamb is no longer pink 3-4 minutes. Add stock, rice and currants. Bring to a simmmer, cover and transfer to ovenon lowest rack. Cook for 1 hour and 20 minutes. 2) Meanwhile, slice eggplant in half lengthwise, brush each side with EVO. Roast, cut sides up on a rimmed baking sheet on top oven rack until centers are soft and tops are browned, about 40 minutes. Let cool. 3). Gently scrape eggplant flesh into a large bowl, reserving skins. Stir in Lamb-rice mixture, chopped herbs and lemon zest. Divide stuffing among eggplant skins. Garnish with herbs and lemon zest.
EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH LAMB
Ever wonder what to do with the leftover lamb? Try stuffing eggplant! I originally found this recipe in one of my all-time favorite cookbooks, La Bonne Cuisine, from New Orleans. I have tweaked the ingredients and directions to make it more to our liking.
Provided by Penny Stettinius
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h55m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Slice the eggplants in half lengthwise.
- Remove the pulp from the eggplants, leaving a 1 inch thick shell.
- In a large, heavy skillet heat 1 TBS olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the onion and garlic and saute until soft.
- Add the eggplant pulp.
- Stir in the tomato sauce and red wine and continue cooking for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining ingredients, except the cheese, and mix well.
- Arrange the empty eggplant shells in a buttered 9"x13" baking dish and brush the shells with remaining olive oil.
- Add 1/4" boiling water to the bottom of the baking dish.
- Cover the dish with either aluminum foil or a tight fitting top.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove top and fill eggplant shells with mixture.
- Top the filled shells with the Parmesan cheese and bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 287.2, Fat 13, SaturatedFat 4.3, Cholesterol 16.5, Sodium 601.3, Carbohydrate 32.2, Fiber 11.1, Sugar 9.3, Protein 11.8
YUMMY STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH MEAT AND RICE
Make and share this Yummy Stuffed Eggplant with Meat and Rice recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Mirj2338
Categories Vegetable
Time 2h
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cut the stem ends from the eggplants.
- Halve the eggplants lengthwise.
- Peel if desired; if the eggplant is fresh, there is no need to peel it.
- Use a spoon to scoop out the centers, leaving boat-shaped shells.
- Keep the flesh you scooped out to add to the stuffing.
- Sprinkle the shells with salt.
- Put them in a colander upside down and leave to drain for 1/2 hour.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees C.
- Prepare the stuffing: Add the rice to 3 cups boiling salted water and boil for 10 minutes until not quite tender.
- Rinse under cold running water and drain well.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and cook over low heat until soft but not brown.
- Leave to cool.
- Mix with the beef, parsley, cumin, turmeric and almonds.
- Chop the flesh removed from the eggplant.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil, add the chopped eggplant and sprinkle with salt.
- Saute over medium-low heat, stirring often, until tender, about 10 minutes.
- Leave to cool and mix with the stuffing.
- Taste for seasoning; if you prefer not to taste a mixture that contains raw beef, broil or microwave a teaspoon of the mixture and taste it for seasoning.
- Rinse the eggplant shells, pat them dry and put them in a baking dish.
- Fill them with the stuffing.
- Mix the tomato paste with 1/4 cup water and spoon the mixture over the eggplant.
- Add enough water to the dish to cover the eggplant by one third.
- Add the garlic to the dish.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon oil over the eggplant.
- Cover and bake 15 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to 350 F and continue baking, covered, 15 more minutes.
- Uncover and bake, basting occasionally, 30 minutes or until the eggplant is very tender.
EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH LAMB AND FETA
Eggplant halves are stuffed with a flavorful mixture of lamb, feta, and spices. Complete this meal with a green salad and crusty bread - easy enough for any day of the week!
Provided by C Laughlin
Categories Ground Lamb
Time 1h50m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Brush the cut surfaces of the eggplant halves with half of the olive oil. Place cut-side-up onto the baking sheet, and place into the oven. Bake the eggplant for 30 minutes until tender. Once done, remove and allow to cool slightly. Scoop out the flesh, leaving the shells 1/2 inch thick. Remove as many of the seeds as you can, then coarsely chop the flesh, and place into a large mixing bowl.
- Meanwhile, heat the remaining olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground lamb, and cook for a few minutes until it begins to crumble. Stir in the onion, bell pepper, garlic, cinnamon, allspice, and black pepper. Cook until the onion has softened, and the lamb is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Place the meat mixture into the bowl with the eggplant, and stir in the marinara sauce, feta cheese, eggs, and bread crumbs until well mixed.
- Evenly divide the lamb mixture into the eggplant shells, then return the eggplant to the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with the mozzarella, and reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake until the filling has set, and the mozzarella has turned golden brown, about 25 minutes more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 782.1 calories, Carbohydrate 46.8 g, Cholesterol 230.1 mg, Fat 49.3 g, Fiber 15.2 g, Protein 41.2 g, SaturatedFat 19.8 g, Sodium 1247.4 mg, Sugar 19.5 g
Tips:
- Choose the right eggplant: Look for firm, glossy eggplants with deep purple skin. Avoid eggplants that are soft or have blemishes.
- Prepare the eggplant properly: Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle the eggplant halves with salt and let them rest for 30 minutes to draw out the bitter juices.
- Cook the rice ahead of time: This will save you time when you're assembling the stuffed eggplants.
- Use fresh herbs and spices: This will give the stuffing a more flavorful taste.
- Don't overcook the eggplant: The eggplant should be tender but still hold its shape.
Conclusion:
Eggplants stuffed with lamb and rice is a delicious and hearty dish that's perfect for a special occasion. By following these tips, you can make sure that your stuffed eggplants turn out perfect every time. Serve the stuffed eggplants with a side of yogurt sauce or tahini sauce.
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