Spanish Stuffed Eggplant Recipe (Berenjenas Rellenas)

20 de September de 2023

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Revealed: Sep 12, 2023 by Lauren Aloise · This publish might include affiliate hyperlinks ·

A easy and forgiving Spanish dinner, this stuffed eggplant recipe (berenjenas rellenas) is simple and scrumptious. It makes the right mid-week meal!

Serve this mouthwatering stuffed eggplant with my mother-in-law Antonia’s different signature recipes, akin to salmorejo and arroz con leche.

Berenjenas rellenas or Spanish stuffed eggplant on a white dish. Stuffed eggplant with meat and cheese. — Scrumptious and straightforward stuffed eggplant.

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Introduction

Spanish stuffed eggplant (berenjenas rellenas) are a staple in my mother-in-law’s kitchen. If we keep along with her for quite a lot of days, it’s virtually assured we could have stuffed eggplant not less than as soon as!

Antonia might make her signature recipes (together with salmorejo, arroz con leche, and ham croquettes) in her sleep, and I’m grateful that she taught me most of her finest dishes.

Berenjenas rellenas on a dish and a baking sheet in the background. — A scrumptious appetizer or important dish.

For some motive, although, I missed studying berenjenas rellenas, so when she visited us not too long ago, I needed to observe her make it!

Antonia did not perceive why I needed to take so many photos of the method, however I paid shut consideration, and hopefully this recipe will impress you as a lot because it has impressed me over the previous few years!

Components

Spanish stuffed eggplant ingredients on a marble countertop.

Questioning what substances you want to make your individual stuffed eggplant? Seize these items, and you will be prepared to start out cooking!

Floor Meat: My mother-in-law makes use of a mix of minced pork and beef, however you need to use both, or substitute floor lamb. You can even use a vegetarian/vegan meat various if you would like.
Bell Pepper: We historically use inexperienced bell pepper, however attempt what you’ve gotten readily available. Typically, I add a recent minced jalapeño pepper additionally for a kick of warmth.
Tomato Sauce: In Spain, we use an excellent tomate frito, however you too can use cooked tomato sauce or passata.
Cheese: That is elective, because the dish can be scrumptious with out, however it’s a should in our home! I like to make use of shredded mozzarella.

See recipe card for full info on substances and portions.

Variations

Dairy Free: Omit the cheese or use a dairy-free various.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Change the bottom meat with a mix of finely minced carrots and mushrooms, lentils, and floor walnuts. It is a actually good base for chili recipes too!

Easy methods to Make

Should you’d wish to see the total substances and directions, scroll to the underside of the publish for the printable recipe card.

Steps 1-2 of Spanish stuffed eggplant in a grid.

Wash the eggplants, then cut up them in half lengthwise.
Make crisscross cuts via the flesh, being cautious to not pierce via the pores and skin.

Steps 3-4 of berenjenas rellenas in a grid.

Drizzle generously with further virgin olive oil.
Sprinkle to style with sea salt and pepper.

Steps 5-6 of Spanish stuffed eggplants in a grid.

Bake for about an hour, till the flesh is tender and straightforward to scoop out.
Tent the eggplants with foil and allow them to relaxation for quarter-hour earlier than scooping out their flesh.

Steps 7-8 of Spanish eggplant in a grid.

Prep the veggies for the relleno (filling). Finely chop an onion.
Mince the garlic.

Steps 9-10 of Spanish berenjenas in a grid.

Finely cube a bell pepper additionally, and add different veggies like carrots, zucchini, or mushrooms if desired.
Sauté the veggies in olive oil till they begin to brown, about 5-10 minutes.

Steps 11-12 of Spanish berenjenas in a grid.

Add the eggplant flesh.
Dump within the floor meat and sauté till it is absolutely cooked.

steps 13-14 Spanish stuffed eggplant in a grid.

Season with salt and pepper and take the pan off of the warmth. Let the combination relaxation for a couple of minutes.
Within the meantime, unfold tomato sauce within the empty eggplant skins.

steps 15-16 Spanish stuffed eggplant in a grid.

Stuff the shells with the filling.
Prime with shredded mozzarella.

steps 17-18 Spanish stuffed eggplant in a grid.

Bake below the broiler (prime grill) till simply browned.
Let the eggplants relaxation for about 10 minutes earlier than consuming. Get pleasure from!

Recipe FAQs

Are stuffed eggplants wholesome?

So many individuals ask me if this recipe is wholesome. It completely is! I like to think about it as a a lot more healthy model of pizza. After I don’t desire the added saturated fats from the meat, I merely make the vegetarian model.

Do it’s essential to soak eggplant earlier than baking?

No, there is no must soak the eggplant right here. Utilizing youthful, smaller eggplants signifies that they are going to be much less bitter, and salting them earlier than roasting helps pull out the bitterness. After roasting, the eggplant flesh is cooked with aromatics and meat, and it’ll take up the great flavors from the filling.

What’s the secret to tender eggplant?

Salting the eggplant earlier than cooking it is going to assist draw out any bitterness, and also will give it an excellent texture when cooked. For this berenjenas rellenas, sprinkle the halved eggplants liberally with sea salt earlier than roasting for an excellent taste and texture.

Serve

I like to get pleasure from these stuffed eggplants as a wholesome important meal, often with a salad or chilly soup on the aspect. Ensalada mixta, winter salad with orange and pomegranate, genuine gazpacho, or this pea and mint soup would style scrumptious with these stuffed eggplants.

A plate with a stuffed eggplant with a bite taken out of it. — I really like this recipe!

Retailer

Leftovers: Retailer within the fridge for as much as 3 days in an hermetic container.

Freezing: Freeze in an hermetic container or freezer bag for as much as 3 months.

Defrosting: It is best to defrost the eggplant within the fridge earlier than reheating in a 300°F (150°C) oven till scorching. You possibly can reheat straight from frozen, however it is going to take longer.

Professional Suggestions

Watch out to not minimize via the pores and skin when scoring the eggplant. In any other case, you will have a gap the place the filling can leak via later.
Let the baked eggplants relaxation tented with foil for quarter-hour, which can make it simpler to scoop out the flesh earlier than stuffing.
Swap the bottom meat with a vegetarian/vegan combo of cooked chickpeas, lentils, walnuts, mushrooms, and parsley.

Extra Spanish Vegetable Recipes

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