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Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant | Dietitian Debbie Dishes
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Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant

A fancied up version of stuffed eggplant that would be a perfect turkey stand-in for a vegetarian friendly Thanksgiving.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Entree, Main Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Vegetarian
Servings: 4 -5 servings
Calories: 389kcal

Ingredients

For the stuffed eggplants:

  • 2 medium eggplants
  • Vegetable oil spray
  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed
  • 2 1/4 cups vegetable broth divided
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/4 onion chopped (~1/4 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 15.5 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1/3 cup chopped almonds
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

For the pumpkin sage sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Instructions

Eggplant Instructions:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Cut eggplants in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides into a colander leaving a 1/3 inch thick "shell". Salt the shells and inside pieces and set aside.
  • Rinse quinoa and add to a small saucepan with the 2 cups of broth. Over medium-high heat, bring to a simmer and cover. Let simmer for 15 minutes or until the broth has been absorbed by the quinoa.
  • While quinoa cooks, return to your salted eggplant and pat dry with a paper towel. For the shells, spray insides with cooking spray and lay cut-side down on a cookie sheet. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until skin begins to wrinkle and shells soften.
  • In a large stock pot, melt the butter. Add the chopped onions and cook for 3-5 minutes or until onions are soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute.
  • Chop the eggplant pieces scooped from the skin into small 1/4" pieces and add to the onions in the stock pot. Stir in 1/4 cup broth and spices (cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon). Cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the finished quinoa and chickpeas to the pot with the onions and eggplant. Cook for another 2 minutes and then turn off the heat.
  • Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, raisins, almonds and feta cheese to the pot and stir to combine. Set aside.

For the pumpkin sage sauce:

  • In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour with a whisk and cook another 2 minutes or until is starts to bubble.
  • Stir in the milk. Continue to stir for 3-4 minutes or until it begins to thicken slightly. Add the pumpkin, sage, salt, and ground black pepper. Stir well and cook another 1-2 minutes.

To serve:

  • Spread the pumpkin sauce onto a large plate. Scoop quinoa stuffing into hollowed eggplant skins and arrange on prepared plate. Garnish with arugula leaves.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Eggplant | Calories: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 13.6g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5.6g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 679mg | Fiber: 9.5g | Sugar: 12g