Rave Stuffed Eggplant

This recipe is desirable because it is quickly put together and only requires ingredients that the average pantry has on hand. It contains no meat and has mouth-watering flavor because of a surprise ingredient, croutons. Because of the wonderful variety of croutons available, the recipe can vary in flavor. Choose your favorite! This can be a main course or a side dish. Enjoy!

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 411 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 small onion, chopped
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 2 large cloves garlic, chopped
• ½ cup olive oil, divided
• 2 eggplants, halved lengthwise
• ¾ cup crushed garlic-herb croutons
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan-Romano cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Scoop flesh out of eggplants and chop the flesh, reserving the skins.

Step 3

Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until onion is softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add chopped eggplant; cook and stir until eggplant is softened, about 5 minutes. Add spinach and cook until slightly wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 4

Stir crushed croutons into eggplant mixture until evenly combined. Add remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, Parmesan-Romano cheese, salt, and black pepper; mix well.

Step 5

Place eggplant skins in a shallow baking dish and fill each with eggplant mixture. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each stuffed eggplant. Pour enough hot water into baking dish to reach 1/8-inch up sides of eggplant.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and stuffing is cooked through, about 30 minutes.