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Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant

Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant

This Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant features roasted eggplant filled with a delicious vegan stuffing of couscous, chickpeas, and fresh herbs, making it a perfect Mediterranean dish.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4 people
Calories 262.1 kcal

Equipment

  • Oven
  • sheet pan
  • saucepan
  • Mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

Eggplant

  • 2 large eggplants
  • Kosher salt for salting eggplant
  • Extra virgin olive oil for brushing

Spice Mixture

  • ¾ teaspoon allspice
  • ¾ teaspoon coriander ground, organic
  • ½ teaspoon paprika sweet Spanish
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Filling

  • 1 cup dry couscous
  • 1 cup canned or cooked chickpeas drained
  • 1 medium Roma tomato small diced
  • 1 medium green onion chopped
  • 1 handful fresh parsley finely chopped

To Serve

  • Tahini sauce for drizzling, optional

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Cut eggplant in half lengthwise. Season the flesh with kosher salt. Set aside, flesh side up, for 20 to 30 minutes to allow the eggplant to sweat. Pat dry with a paper towel.
  • Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the spices (allspice, coriander, paprika, and ground cinnamon).
  • Pat eggplant dry. Brush the flesh with extra virgin olive oil. Set aside about 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture and use the rest to season the eggplant.

Roasting and Cooking

  • Place eggplant halves, flesh side up, on a generously oiled sheet pan. Bake in the heated oven for 35 to 45 minutes or until the eggplant flesh is nice and tender.
  • While the eggplant is roasting, heat a little bit of extra virgin olive oil in a saucepan. Add the couscous and cook briefly, stirring regularly, until toasted. Add 1 cup of boiling water to the couscous and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let sit for 10 minutes until the couscous is cooked.
  • Fluff the couscous with a fork and season with a dash of salt and the reserved 1 teaspoon of spice mixture. Add chickpeas, chopped tomatoes, green onions, and parsley. Toss to combine.

Assembly

  • Arrange the roasted eggplant on a serving platter, flesh side up. With the back of a spoon, push the flesh down to create a cavity for the couscous filling. Spoon in the couscous filling. Drizzle with tahini. Enjoy!

Notes

If you have the time, don't skip salting the eggplant. This helps sweat out its bitterness and breaks down its spongy texture. For gluten-free, substitute quinoa for couscous. The dish can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days but is best enjoyed fresh.

Nutrition

Serving: 1stuffed eggplant halfCalories: 262.1kcalCarbohydrates: 53.9gProtein: 10gFat: 1.6gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.7gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gSodium: 124.7mgPotassium: 711.8mgFiber: 11.4gSugar: 8.6gVitamin A: 344.8IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 54.8mgIron: 1.7mg
Keyword Couscous Stuffed Eggplant, Eggplant Recipe, Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant, Vegan Stuffed Eggplant, Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant
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