Healthy Recipes Healthy Ingredient Recipes Healthy Vegetable Recipes Healthy Eggplant Recipes Eggplant Meatballs 3.0 (1) 1 Review These eggplant meatballs are a creative way to enjoy eggplant! They are packed with savory flavors that are sure to please just about everyone. Cooking the eggplant prior to forming the vegetarian meatballs is a quick way to release moisture to help hold them together. By Karen Rankin Karen Rankin Website Karen Rankin is a recipe tester, developer and food stylist. She is also a writer whose work has appeared in EatingWell, Southern Living, MyRecipes, Cooking Light, Real Simple and Food & Wine. She has served as a food stylist for many of those same brands and produces a series of videos for Southern Living called Tips from the Test Kitchen. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 12, 2022 Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Photographer / Jen Causey, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Chelsea Zimmer Active Time: 35 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 4 Nutrition Profile: Healthy Pregnancy High-Protein Nut-Free Soy-Free Vegetarian Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 2 medium eggplants (about 2 1/2 pounds total), peeled and cubed 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 large egg, lightly beaten ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided ¼ cup whole-wheat panko ¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning ¼ teaspoon salt 8 ounces whole-wheat or brown-rice spaghetti 2 cups low-sodium marinara sauce Directions Put a medium pot of water on to boil. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the eggplant and cook, stirring often, until the eggplant is browned and very tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and repeat with 2 tablespoons oil and the remaining eggplant, adding garlic during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Transfer to the bowl; let the eggplant mixture cool for 5 minutes. Add egg, 1/4 cup Parmesan, panko, basil, Italian seasoning and salt to the eggplant mixture; stir to combine, lightly mashing the eggplant pieces. Form the mixture into 12 balls (about 2 tablespoons each) and place on a plate. Cook pasta in the boiling water according to package directions; drain and keep warm. Meanwhile, wipe the skillet clean; heat 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add 6 meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until lightly browned on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the meatballs to a plate and repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and meatballs. Transfer the browned meatballs to the plate. Add marinara to the skillet; cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Divide the pasta among 4 bowls; top each serving with 3 meatballs, 1/2 cup sauce, 1 tablespoon Parmesan and, if desired, additional basil. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 607 Calories 32g Fat 72g Carbs 19g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Serving Size 3 meatballs, 1 cup pasta, 1/2 cup sauce & 1 Tbsp. Parmesan Calories 607 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 72g 26% Dietary Fiber 14g 50% Total Sugars 14g Protein 19g 38% Total Fat 32g 41% Saturated Fat 6g 30% Cholesterol 54mg 18% Vitamin A 547IU 11% Vitamin C 12mg 13% Vitamin D 13IU 3% Vitamin E 4mg 27% Folate 98mcg 25% Vitamin K 20mcg 17% Sodium 637mg 28% Calcium 198mg 15% Magnesium 114mg 27% Potassium 846mg 18% Zinc 3mg 27% 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