Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant - Low Carb and Primal/Paleo

getfitkate's Note:

This stuffed eggplant recipe is phenomenal and very versatile. Use the meat "stuffing" to fill mushrooms and bake for delicious party appetizers. It makes 4 servings... but you may just want to eat the entire recipe yourself. This is intentionally a low carb, high fat (LCHF) recipe. If you want to tone down the fat content, feel free to reduce the amounts of cooking fat used, or substitute olive oil. Enjoy!

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 0.5 stuffed ...

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

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Bake until delicious, golden brown, and bubbly, about 5 more minutes.
8. Serve.

Reviews

[Nancy's Pantry]

This stuffed eggplant makes a really nice and delicious main dish. I used organic beef and smaller eggplants to ensure they would be nice and tender. The only suggestion I would make is to possibly add some tomato paste to the mixture to add a little more flavor. Will definitely make again. Made for Spring PAC, April, 2012.