Eggplant Meatballs

Eggplant meatballs satisfy the taste buds of meat-lovers and vegetarians alike. Its sweet aroma will increase your appetite. Furthermore, you can add any leftover food to enhance its flavor and avoid wasting food.

Health Benefits

Eggplants are rich in dietary fiber and improve your digestive health.They control LDL cholesterol level in your body to reduce the risk of many heart diseases. If you’re obese, you should eat more eggplants to quickly lose excess weight.

Although children usually don’t like eating vegetables, eggplants should be a part of their diet, since it enhances blood flow to the brain and eliminates toxins from the body.

Energy                  84.5Kcal

Protein                 7.8 g

Carbohydrates  8.1 g

Dietary Fiber      1.5 g

Potassium           90.5mg

Fat                         2.6 g

Sodium                480.6mg

Cholesterol         20.2 mg

Ingredients

large eggplant,stemmed and sliced: 1

tablespoon olive oil: 1/2

large eggs, lightly beaten: 2

cups fresh breadcrumbs, preferably of Italian bread: 2 1/2

small garlic clove, slice 2 cloves and mince the remaining one: 3

tomatoes: 28 ounces

salt and freshly ground black pepper, for taste

pinch red pepper flakes: 1

ounce mozzarella cheese, sliced: 4

cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated: 1/2

cup fresh basil leaves, fine chopped: 1/2

How To Make Eggplant Meatballs

Prepare Eggplant Meat Balls

1. Preheat oven at 190 °C.
2. Place eggplant slices in a large bowl and sprinkle salt. Set it aside for half an hour.
3. Rinse eggplants and drain excess water. Squeeze dry and pat with paper towels to get rid of moisture.
4. Spread 1 1/3 cups breadcrumbs in a baking sheet. Bake it in the oven for 5 minutes until they turn golden. Let them cool.
5. Meanwhile, heat olive in a cooking pot atmedium heat.
6. Add eggplantsand cook for 5 minutes, flipping just once. Set eggplants aside for 5 minutes.
7. Next, transfer eggplants, breadcrumbs, cheese, and garlic in a food processor and pulse.
8. Take the mixture in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
9. Stir in egg and chill it in a refrigerator for half an hour.
10. Form the mixture into small balls and coat with the remaining breadcrumbs.

Bake Eggplant Meat Balls

11. Preheat oven at 210 °C.
12. Line a baking sheet with an aluminum foil and apply olive oil.
13. Place eggplant balls in the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
14. Apply olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes and sprinkle red pepper flakes.
15. Bake for another 15 minutes until they turn golden.
16. Transfer eggplant meat balls in a serving dish.
17. Top with cheese and basil leaves. Serve when warm!

Trivia

• Unlike the popular belief, eggplants are berries and not vegetables.
• Eggplants originate from British-colonized India where they’re still referred to as “The King of Vegetables”.
• Eggplant seeds contain nicotine.
• The nicotine element of a cigarette is equivalent to that of 20 pounds of eggplants.