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Top down view of stuffed eggplant in tomato sauce in rectangular metal dish with green cloth, spoon and red chilli in top right.
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Vegan Stuffed Eggplant with Quinoa in Tomato Sauce

This delicious Vegan Stuffed Eggplant with Quinoa in Tomato Sauce is super easy to make and can also be enjoyed as a hot or cold snack the next day.
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Low fat, vegan
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings 6 portions
Calories 221kcal
Author Monika Dabrowski

Ingredients

  • 3 large eggplants
  • 500 g passata
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 1.5 tbsp fresh ginger finely chopped
  • 1 red/green chilli finely chopped
  • ½ large red pepper finely chopped
  • 1.5 tsp each ground coriander and cumin
  • 1 tsp coarse sea salt
  • 2 tbsp olive/vegetable,coconut oil plus more for drizzling
Metric - US Customary

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 F/ 200 C/ gas mark 6. Cut the eggplant in half lengthways and place on a large baking tray open side up. Brush/drizzle with a little olive oil (2-3 tablespoons) and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, set aside for 5 minutes, then carve out the middle of each eggplant leaving about 1 cm around the edges and scoop out the pulp using a melon baller or spoon. Keep the oven on.
  • While the eggplants are in the oven make the sauce. In a saucepan heat up the oil, add the garlic, ginger, chili, onion, stir and cook over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes until softened.
  • Add the passata, chopped red pepper, cumin and coriander, salt, stir, cover and bring to the boil, then simmer for about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the eggplant pulp into the sauce and puree.
  • Place a few tablespoons of the sauce (about a quarter of the sauce) in a large baking dish spreading evenly and place the hollow eggplant halves in a single layer on top. Season with eggplant. Combine the remaining sauce with the quinoa and stir thoroughly. Adjust seasoning as necessary.
  • Spoon the quinoa mixture into the eggplant halves, drizzle with some olive oil, cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove from the oven, set aside for 5 minutes, then serve.

Notes

  • You can cook the quinoa ahead and, once completely cooled, cover and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.
  • The sauce (minus the eggplant) can also be cooked (though not pureed) and refrigerated overnight. So that once you've scooped out the flesh of the eggplant and added it to the sauce all you have to do is puree the mixture, add the quinoa and assemble the recipe.
  • Once you've added the eggplant pulp into the sauce either puree it until smooth or puree partially just to combine and break up the larger pieces.
  • Spices: you can use tarragon or thai basil (3 tbsp each, finely chopped), add 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika or serve this dish with cilantro.
  • Best served immediately. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  • Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 221kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 422mg | Potassium: 1081mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 860IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 3mg