Go Back
+ servings
Top down view of stuffed eggplants in a dish.
Print Recipe
4.80 from 5 votes

Beef and Quinoa Stuffed Eggplant

Hearty, nutritious and delicious this Beef and Quinoa Stuffed Eggplant recipe loads up tender baked eggplant with a beef and quinoa filling.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Rena

Ingredients

Roasted eggplant:

  • 3 medium-small eggplants cut in half lengthwise
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • kosher salt and pepper to taste

Beef filling:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 3-4 garlic cloves minced or pressed
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 x 15 oz can plum tomatoes
  • 1 x 15 oz jar roasted red pepper drained and chopped
  • 1/2 cup uncooked white quinoa
  • 1 tbsp aged balsamic vinegar
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • Kosher salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded

Instructions

Instructions:

  • To roast the eggplant:
  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Cut the eggplant in half lengthways, and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle a bit of oil and rub it all over the cut side of the eggplants. Place in an oven dish or a parchment paper lined baking pan.
  • Cover the dish with aluminum foil and roast for 40-45 minutes, or until super tender when pierced with a fork.

To make the beef filling:

  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Sauté the onion until softens, 3-4 minutes.
  • Add the ground beef, garlic, oregano, and cook, mincing the meat with a wooden spatula as it cooks.
  • Cook until no longer pink, then stir in the tomato paste. All the liquid should be 1 lb lean ground beef evaporated by now.
  • Stir in the plum tomatoes and peppers. Break the tomatoes with the wooden spoon and mix well to combine.
  • Add the quinoa and stir well. Simmer, covered, over low heat, until the quinoa is fully cooked, 10-12 minutes.
  • Once the beef and quinoa sauce is done and thickened, stir in the balsamic, parmesan and 2/3 of the chopped parsley.
  • Season with salt and pepper to your taste.

To assemble the stuffed eggplant:

  • Remove the roasted eggplant from the oven. Using a fork, fluff each to create some space for the filling.
  • Divide the beef filling between the eggplant halves. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.
  • Return to the oven and bake for 15 minutes more, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Sprinkle with remaining parsley and enjoy!

Notes

  • Use a preheated oven.
  • You do not need to peel the eggplant.
  • A great make-ahead option would be to make the filling ahead of time
  • Opt for medium to smaller eggplant, but use ones that have some width.
  • Be sure to cover the eggplant with foil when roasting.
  • Ideally, shred your own cheese. Pre shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents and doesn't melt as well.
  • Keep the flesh from the eggplants that you scrape out, perfect for omelets!
  • Garnish with parsley for a pop of freshness and color!

Nutrition

Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 2184mg | Potassium: 1307mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1134IU | Vitamin C: 52mg | Calcium: 293mg | Iron: 5mg