Healthy Seasonal Recipes Healthy Summer Recipes Healthy Summer Dinner Recipes Healthy Summer Dinner Casserole Recipes Tamari-Ginger Meatball & Eggplant Casserole 4.7 (11) 10 Reviews Eggplant soaks up the flavors of ginger, garlic and tamari in this Asian-inspired casserole recipe. A hot pepper in the topping adds a bit of heat, but opt for sweet if you prefer. By Hilary Meyer Hilary Meyer Instagram Hilary Meyer is a freelance recipe developer, tester and content creator. She has a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Culinary Arts degree from the New England Culinary Institute. Hilary started working in the EatingWell test kitchen in 2006 before becoming an editor. She left for New York City in 2014, but eventually returned home to Vermont where she belongs. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 5, 2020 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Cook Time: 45 mins Additional Time: 15 mins Total Time: 1 hr Servings: 6 Yield: 6 sevings Nutrition Profile: Heart Healthy Low-Calorie Dairy-Free Diabetes Appropriate Gluten-Free Low Sodium Healthy Aging Healthy Immunity Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 2 pounds eggplant, preferably Japanese (see Tips), cut into 1-inch chunks 4 tablespoons peanut oil, divided ¼ cup reduced-sodium tamari ¼ cup Shao Hsing rice wine or dry sherry 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 tablespoons water 1 ½ pounds lean ground pork 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper Pinch of salt ¼ cup cornstarch 4 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro ¼ cup chopped lightly salted peanuts 1 small red hot or sweet red pepper, seeded and minced Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place eggplant in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish (or similar-size 3-quart baking dish). Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil; toss to coat. Bake until starting to brown, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine tamari, rice wine (or sherry), sugar, vinegar and water in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside. Combine pork, garlic, ginger, white pepper and salt in a medium bowl. Using about 3 tablespoons for each, form the mixture into 18 meatballs. Place cornstarch in a shallow dish. Roll meatballs in it until well coated. (Discard any remaining cornstarch.) Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the reserved sauce and cook, turning the meatballs to coat with the sauce, until it is slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes more. Add the meatballs, sauce and scallions to the eggplant. Bake the casserole until the eggplant is very tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted in a meatball registers at least 165 degrees F, about 15 minutes. Combine cilantro, peanuts and red pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the casserole just before serving. Tips Tips: A smaller, thinner variety with deep purple skin, Japanese eggplant has little to no bitter seeds and a mild, sweet taste. It's great for roasting, grilling and stir-fries. Choose firm eggplants with no bruised areas. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 369 Calories 18g Fat 27g Carbs 26g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 6 Serving Size 3 meatballs & 1 cup eggplant Calories 369 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 27g 10% Dietary Fiber 5g 16% Total Sugars 10g Added Sugars 4g 8% Protein 26g 53% Total Fat 18g 23% Saturated Fat 4g 22% Cholesterol 66mg 22% Vitamin A 314IU 6% Vitamin C 15mg 17% Folate 36mcg 9% Sodium 598mg 26% Calcium 41mg 3% Iron 2mg 11% Magnesium 45mg 11% Potassium 510mg 11% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved