From eggplant parmesan to moussaka, all the way to baba ghanoush, it’s safe to say that the humble eggplant is one of the most versatile veggies (alright, technically a fruit) around. Which is why we wanted to take a moment to really let everyone’s favorite Barney-colored culinary superstar shine. On today’s menu: spiral eggplant shish kabobs and eggplant spiral flowers – yummy!
1. Spiral Eggplant Shish Kabobs
You’ll Need:
- 2 eggplants
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, grated
- 3-4 garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp paprika
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 egg
- tomato sauce to serve
- potato wedges to serve
Here’s How:
1.1 Stick a wooden skewer through each eggplant.
1.2 Tape together 2 kitchen knives and use the contraption to make diagonal cuts in the eggplant (turn the eggplant as you’re cutting it).
1.3 Remove one eggplant strip from the skewer, leaving only a single spiral on the skewer.
1.4 Add the onion, garlic, corn starch, cumin, ground coriander, paprika, and egg to the ground beef and mix everything into a cohesive mass.
1.5 Fill the gaps in the eggplant spiral with the ground beef mixture.
1.6 Fry the shish kabobs on all sides in a pan over medium heat until the meat is cooked through. You can also cook them in the oven for 40 minutes at 350°F. Serve the eggplant shish kabobs with tomato sauce and potato wedges.
2. Eggplant Spiral Flowers
You’ll Need:
- 2 eggplants
- 8 oz ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- basil, salt & pepper to taste
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- tomato sauce & fresh parsley to garnish
Here’s How:
2.1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Add the onion, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper to the ground beef, mix well, form 2 meatballs from the mixture, and set aside for later. Place the eggplants in between 2 wooden spoons and make even incisions, making sure not to cut all the way through.
2.2 Flip the eggplants over and make even incisions once again, this time diagonally.
2.3 Pull the eggplants apart a little, form them into circles, and use toothpicks to secure the ends.
2.4 Place the eggplant spirals in a casserole dish and place the meatballs from Step #1 in the center of each spiral.
2.5 Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each eggplant spiral.
2.6 Spoon tomato sauce over the eggplant spirals, transfer the casserole dish to the oven, and cook for 40 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
These 2 recipes are memorable not just for their taste, but also because they are super non-fussy weeknight dinner solutions. There’s never been a better reason to get creative with eggplants, so hop to it!
Get the recipe for the Hasselback Eggplant Meatball Casserole featured in the bonus video.