Masala Stuffed Eggplant
Ingredients
- 3 medium potatoes, well scrubbed and quartered (peel or leave the peels on) ⓘ
- 2 medium eggplants or 3 small eggplants, halved lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon cumin seed ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil ⓘ
- 1 onion, finely minced ⓘ
- 1 small fresh serrano chili pepper, seeded and finely minced ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon black mustard seeds or 1 tablespoon brown mustard seeds ⓘ
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 teaspoons garam masala ⓘ
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper ⓘ
- 1/2 lemon, juice of ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon honey ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste ⓘ
Instructions
- Scoop out the pulp from the eggplant halves, leaving a 1/2-inch shell; coarsely chop the eggplant pulp; set aside pulp and shells.
- In a saucepan, bring 3 cups water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Add in potatoes; cook for 15 minutes.
- Add in eggplant pulp, cover and cook for 3 minutes.
- Uncover the pan and keep cooking for about 5 more minutes (potatoes should be tender, not mushy; eggplant is soft but not falling apart).
- Take pan off of heat; drain well and reserve 1/4 cup of cooking liquid.
- Let cool.
- Mash the potatoes and eggplant with a fork; don't want it too smooth, so leave some chunks for texture; set aside.
- Add cumin seeds to a large dry cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
- Toast for 2-3 minutes or until browned and aromatic; stir often; transfer toasted seeds to a small bowl.
- Allow the skillet to cool slightly; spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place over medium heat and add oil; tilt skillet to coat.
- Add in the onion; cook and stir for 7 minutes or until just starting to brown.
- Lower the heat slightly and add in the chile pepper, ginger, mustard seeds and toasted cumin seeds.
- Cook and stir often for 3-4 minutes or until the mustard seeds start to pop.
- Add in the cilantro, garam masala, salt, coriander, turmeric, and cayenne, and reserved cooking liquid; stir to combine.
- Add the potato-eggplant mixture, lemon juice, honey, and tomato paste.
- Lower the heat, cook and stir to heat thoroughly.
- Add the chickpeas and stir to combine.
- Season more to taste if needed.
- Take skillet from heat.
- Stuff eggplant shells with potato-eggplant mixture.
- Place stuffed shells in a 13x9 inch baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake at 400° for 45 minutes.
- Sprinkle fresh cilantro over the top if desired and serve.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
908
kcal
45% DV
Protein
Fat
Carbs
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).