I have a love-hate relationship with eggplant. Sometimes I love it; sometimes I hate it. But, eating healthy is important, and eggplant is a solid option when you want a meal that's hearty and filling, without meat. This vegetable is high in fiber, copper and B vitamins, so it's worth adding to your menu rotation.
If you're looking for healthy meal ideas, check out one of these eggplant recipes.
1. Baked eggplant parmesan (h/t Andie Mitchell) My heart belongs to chicken parmesan, but this recipe does the meat-version justice. A tip for making sure you get a crisper texture (as in, it doesn't taste like a soggy mess): salt your eggplant before baking.
2. Roasted eggplant with spinach, quinoa, and feta (h/t Julia's Album)This simple recipe tastes healthy, and that's a compliment. The fresh ingredients are lightly flavored with your basic garlic, salt and pepper, and a little feta cheese. It's fresh, and that's refreshing.
3. Eggplant meatballs (h/t Skinny Taste)I didn't even know it was possible to make "meat" balls out of eggplant, but here you are. After cooking and blending your eggplant, you can mix it with a few other ingredients, form balls and bake them in the oven. Enjoy your spaghetti and meatballs, veggie style.
4. Eggplant rollatini (h/t Not Enough Cinnamon)Anything covered in garlic and cheese makes my list of things to try, and this dish is no different. The final result looks just like a traditional pasta dish. It tastes so good that you'll hardly notice there isn't a hint of noodle on the plate.
5. Grilled eggplant and spinach salad (h/t Salt and Lavender)This is a warmer salad, and the eggplant is cooked on the barbecue. The combination of the meaty vegetable with shallots, tomatoes, and spinach results in a fresh summery salad crammed full of flavor.
6. Eggplant pizza (h/t Eat Good 4 Life)This pizza dish nails the cheese and tomato. The crust is a toasted slice of eggplant. The eggplant is firm enough to hold all of your ingredients, and it's much healthier than a traditional pizza crust.
7. Cheesy zucchini bake I’ve been struggling a little bit with Meatless Monday in my house. I love how cleansing it is to eat meat-free once a week (or more, if I can stand it). But, I keep running out of ideas. After eating risotto for three weeks in a row, I decided it was time to switch it up. I also wanted to keep it grain-free, if possible, so I used all that zucchini from the garden and turned it into “lasagna” noodles. The recipe below is the perfect way to celebrate a meat free, gluten free meal! Get the full recipe
here.
