Vegan Stuffed Eggplant (Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant)

This easy vegan stuffed eggplant recipe features roasted eggplant halves filled with delicious Mediterranean stuffing. It’s also dairy-free and gluten-free!

This Mediterranean stuffed eggplant is filled with simple but delicious vegetarian stuffing for a quick and healthy dinner. Enjoy a filling main dish that’s also dairy-free and gluten-free, ready in just 30 minutes.

Elevate your roast eggplant dish with Mediterranean cuisine’s bright flavors and appetizing ingredients.

Perfect for busy weeknights, this simple dish is not only for your vegan friends, but meat lovers will also enjoy this comforting Mediterranean stuffed eggplant.

What Is Vegan Stuffed Eggplant?

This vegan stuffed eggplant recipe takes your roasted eggplants to the next level.

It’s no surprise that when it comes to eggplant recipes, nothing beats Mediterranean cuisine. Eggplant is a staple in their classic dishes, so if you want the best vegetarian stuffed eggplant, you should try this recipe.

The sweet and tender roasted eggplant halves are packed with a delicious flavor combination of tomatoes, pine nuts, and olives.

Vegans and non-vegans can enjoy the familiar flavors of Mediterranean cuisine in 30 minutes.

And best of all, this scrumptious veggie stuffed eggplant is gluten-free and dairy-free!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This vegan stuffed eggplant recipe is everything you’d want for a simple and healthy dinner on a busy weeknight.

If you need more convincing, here are the best things about this Mediterranean stuffed eggplant:

• Simple Ingredients: This simple vegan dish only needs a few common ingredients. Enjoy the comforting flavor of Mediterranean cuisine at home without needing expensive ingredients.
• 30-Minute Recipe: Whether you’re busy or just feeling lazy, this veggie stuffed eggplant won’t require much effort. Let the oven roast the eggplant halves to perfection while you quickly whip up a delicious vegan tomato stuffing.
• Healthy: Even meat lovers will love this meatless stuffed eggplant recipe. You won’t need to worry about excess calories, and even those with food allergies can enjoy this gluten-free and dairy-free Mediterranean stuffed eggplant recipe.

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What Does Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant Taste Like?

This quick and easy veggie stuffed eggplant recipe offers perfectly roasted eggplants with a Mediterranean-style tomato filling.

The eggplants are tender and sweet, while the delicious and healthy filling is bursting with umami flavor with just the right acidity.

The sweetness from the tomato sauce and balsamic vinegar also balances the richness of the stuffing. And to finish this delicious vegetarian dish, we’ll top it off with some vegan parmesan, fresh basil leaves, and more balsamic vinegar.

Is Veggie Stuffed Eggplant Healthy?

This Mediterranean stuffed eggplant is healthy and entirely plant-based with quality ingredients!

We’re roasting the eggplant halves in the oven to let their natural sweetness come through without adding unnecessary fats or sodium. You’ll get deliciously tender eggplants rich in fiber and antioxidants.

The simple umami filling for this meatless stuffed eggplant is also made from tomatoes, a good source of lycopene and vitamin C.

Enjoy a low-calorie and filling dinner without gluten and dairy.

What Are The Benefits Of Meatless Stuffed Eggplant?

If you’re looking for an easy and delicious vegan dish that’s also gluten-free and dairy-free, you should try this Mediterranean stuffed eggplant.

You only need a few simple ingredients, and it’s ready to serve in just 30 minutes for hassle-free weeknight cooking.

Mediterranean cuisine is known for its scrumptious eggplant dishes, and this recipe is a great example. Vegans and non-vegans will surely enjoy the sweetness of the roasted eggplants and rich tomato stuffing. 

Next time you have some eggplants and tomatoes, do yourself a favor and try this easy vegan stuffed eggplant!

Ingredients For Vegan Stuffed Eggplant Recipe

• Eggplants – If you’re worried about the bitter taste, sweat the eggplant halves with salt for 30 minutes to drain the excess liquid.
• Olive oil – Olive oil helps the roasted eggplants achieve their mouthwatering golden brown color.
• Cherry tomatoes – The bright and sweet fresh tomatoes are perfect for roasted eggplants.
• Tomato sauce – Enhance the natural flavors of the tomatoes and eggplants with the umami tomato sauce.
• Balsamic vinegar – The balsamic vinegar’s sweet and tart taste creates a complex and intriguing flavor with the roasted eggplants and tomatoes.
• Salt – You can season with salt before roasting the eggplants for additional flavor. Soaking with salt for 30 minutes can also draw the excess water and bitterness from the sliced eggplants.
• Pepper – Use as much black pepper as you want for additional heat in this Mediterranean stuffed eggplant recipe.
• Pine nuts – Common in Mediterranean food, the buttery taste of pine nuts is the perfect addition to the simple tomato filling for roasted eggplants.
• Olives – There’s a reason why people love the combo of eggplant and olives for toast and pasta. Try this delicious pairing in this vegan stuffed eggplant recipe and see for yourself.
• Vegan parmesan – This dairy-free Mediterranean stuffed eggplant is made better with vegan parmesan. Good-quality vegan parmesan can taste freakishly like the real thing!
• Basil – Adds a mild peppery and minty taste to the dish. Plus, the additional color makes this delicious dish more picture-ready!

Tools Needed To Prepare Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant

• Knife for slicing the eggplants
• Saucepan for cooking the tomato filling
• Wooden spatula for stirring the ingredients
• Spoon for scooping the eggplant meat and filling the eggplant boats
• Oven for roasting the eggplants

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant

Couscous

If you want heavier stuffing for your Mediterranean stuffed eggplant, you can quickly add some couscous to the rich tomato filling. Just cook the dry couscous in boiling water for 10 minutes.

Chickpeas

This meatless stuffed eggplant is just as satisfying as non-vegan recipes, thanks to its fresh ingredients. But to add more protein to the recipe, you can also incorporate delicious chickpeas into the stuffing.

Spices

For those who want more fragrant and warm flavors in their vegan stuffed eggplant, you can season the stuffing with your choice of spices. Try a delicious combination of coriander, paprika, and ground cinnamon.

How to Make Vegan Stuffed Eggplant

Ingredients:

• 2 small to medium eggplants, sliced in half lengthwise
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 4 tbsp tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• ¼ cup pine nuts
• ¼ cup olives
• ¼ cup vegan parmesan
• Basil for garnish

Tools you need:

• Knife
• Saucepan
• Wooden spatula
• Spoon
• Oven

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather and measure all the ingredients for your vegan stuffed eggplant.

STEP 2: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

STEP 3: Take the eggplant halves and cut diagonal lines on their flesh from one direction. Repeat the diagonal cuts in the other direction, but be careful not to slice through the eggplant skin.

STEP 4: Pour olive oil on top of the marked eggplants and cook in the heated oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.

STEP 5: In a saucepan, cook the cherry tomatoes on medium heat until they soften and burst.

STEP 6: Scoop out the roasted eggplant flesh with a spoon, careful not to damage the skin. Set each hollowed eggplant aside.

STEP 7: Add the delicious eggplant flesh to the tomatoes and cook for a few minutes.

STEP 8: Stir in the tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, pine nuts, and olives.

STEP 9: Mix the pan to combine the eggplant stuffing thoroughly.

STEP 10: Fill the cooked eggplant boats with the mixture.

STEP 11: Top with grated vegan parmesan, basil leaves, and balsamic vinegar. Enjoy!

What To Serve With Veggie Stuffed Eggplant

You can serve this vegetarian stuffed eggplant as your main dish, but it can also be your side dish for heavier meals.

If you want vegan options for your weeknight dinner, the Mediterranean stuffed eggplant would be delicious with vegan pasta salad or lentil soup.

You can also make a roasted veggie platter with your favorite vegetables.

Or, if you’re in the mood for light but delicious salad recipes, try these easy dishes from the blog:

• Authentic Nigerian Salad
• Quick and Easy Peruvian Shrimp Ceviche
• Must-Try Apple Pear Slaw With Caramel Cider Vinaigrette

If you’re looking for another scrumptious vegan dish to add to your repertoire, I highly recommend checking out these roasted artichoke halves.

Tips About Making Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant

This easy 30-minute Mediterranean stuffed eggplant recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. But if you’re worried about bitter and unappetizing eggplants, here are some tips to remember:

• The best-tasting eggplants are smooth and shiny. They should also feel firm and spring back when you squeeze them gently.
• If you’re unsure about the bitterness of your eggplant variety, you can allow the eggplant halves to sweat before cooking to remove the bitterness from excess moisture. Season the flesh with salt and return after 30 minutes to pat them dry.
• Undercooked eggplant is spongy, while a perfectly roasted one is tender. To achieve this, wait until the flesh turns golden brown or until it’s easy to push down with the spoon.

How To Store Meatless Stuffed Eggplant

Do not worry if you have some leftover eggplant. Here are some storage tips to keep your easy comfort food delicious:

Fridge: This vegan stuffed eggplant recipe can be stored in an airtight container for one week in the fridge.

Freezer: Keep your vegetarian stuffed eggplant in the freezer for up to 1 month. Wrap each eggplant individually and store it in a freezer-safe container.

Reheating: You can serve your veggie stuffed eggplant cold or warm. If you prefer the latter, reheat in the oven at 350 to 375°F for 10 to 15 minutes.

For frozen vegan stuffed eggplant, unwrap each piece and put it in a cool oven at 350°F. Allow the eggplant to defrost slowly until the oven reaches the temperature, then wait five more minutes.

Why Do You Soak The Eggplant In Water Before Cooking?

Some recipes call for soaking eggplant slices in water mixed with salt to improve their texture and flavor. You can also draw out the excess moisture and bitterness on the eggplant slices by salting them and letting them sit for 30 minutes.

Do You Eat The Skin Of Stuffed Eggplant?

You can eat the skin of this vegan stuffed eggplant for additional health benefits. However, you may not enjoy eggplant shells from older and larger eggplants because they can be tough and bitter.

 FAQ About Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant

Conclusion

Vegans and non-vegans will surely love this easy Mediterranean stuffed eggplant recipe.

You only need a few ingredients and 30 minutes of prep and cook time to enjoy this vegan stuffed eggplant. It’s perfect for last-minute dinners!

This delicious meal is also dairy-free and gluten-free for every diet.

Enjoy the tender and sweet roasted eggplant with umami tomato filling without the guilt of high calories.

I hope you enjoy making and savoring this delectable vegan stuffed eggplant, a true Mediterranean delight.

Happy cooking, and don’t forget to share your culinary creations in the comment section below!

Looking for other scrumptious vegan recipes? You’ll love these healthy dishes:

• Best Vegan Pasta Puttanesca
• Eggless Spinach Pancake
• Easy Vegan Pumpkin Sage Pasta
• Delish Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
• Dairy-Free Vegan Gluten-Free Lemon Bars