¼cuppine nutstoasted (omit if following keto diet)
Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Arrange the eggplant halves cut side up in a large baking dish. Brush with two tablespoons of oil and sprinkle with some of the salt. Bake until the skin is browned and the flesh is soft, for about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large cast iron or non-stick skillet, heat the remaining one tablespoon of oil. Add the onions and garlic, season with salt and saute over medium heat, stirring often, until softened.
Add the ground lamb and the spices. Brown, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until the meat is cooked through, about 5-10 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and pine nuts, if using, reserving a tablespoon for topping.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut the eggplant down the middle, making sure not to tear the skin on the bottom. Spoon the lamb mixture onto the eggplants in the baking dish. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Garnish the eggplants with parsley and reserved pine nuts and serve immediately.
Notes
If you don't like the flavor of lamb meat, swap it with lean ground beef.
You can replace pine nuts with toasted almonds, walnuts, or pistachio. Use Panko breadcrumbs for a nut-free version.
To choose the right eggplant, make sure it's not too large, and it feels heavy. If an eggplant feels hollow or very soft, it probably has too many seeds, and it's past its peak freshness.
Scoring the eggplant's flesh before roasting will encourage more of their juice to evaporate. Just don't pierce the skin as you want to avoid drying it completely out.
Before adding filling to the roasted eggplants, you could lightly press the flesh down with the back of a spoon to fit more of the filling.
If you have leftover lamb filling, freeze or store it in the refrigerator and use it the next day to toss with a salad for a light lunch!
Keep the leftover stuffed eggplant stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
See the post for FAQs and additional tips.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used and the amount served.