1 Picture
Ingredients
- 2 small-to-medium Italian eggplants (6-8 inches long, 10-12 ounces each)
- 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 large onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 large green bell pepper, cut lengthwise into quarters
- 3 plum tomatoes
- 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 bay leaves
- Lemon wedges for serving
Details
Servings 4
Adapted from eatingwell.com
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a large roasting pan with cooking spray.
Remove leaves from eggplants, but leave the stems on. Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise, through the stem. Using a small sharp knife, make a deep slit lengthwise down the flesh side of each eggplant half: start about 1 inch below the stem and stop about 1 inch from the bottom. Do not cut completely through the skin.
Brush the eggplant all over with 2 tablespoons oil. Sprinkle the eggplant flesh with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place cut-side down in the prepared roasting pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the diced bell pepper, the diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup parsley, sugar, bay leaves and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat; discard bay leaves.
After the eggplant has baked for 15 minutes, remove from the oven. Carefully turn each eggplant half over and use 2 spoons to open and widen the slits. Stuff the slits with the vegetable mixture, pressing it down gently. Place a wedge of tomato in the middle of each half; evenly divide the reserved sliced pepper among the halves.
Add 1/4 inch hot water to the roasting pan. Drizzle the eggplant with the remaining 2 teaspoons oil. Bake 30 minutes more.
Make Ahead Tip
Review this recipe