Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe

Your family will applaud your dinner when you make this healthy and delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe.

My daughter bought me some graffiti eggplants while she was at Dekalb Farmers Market in Atlanta. She got them for me because they were pretty (yes my family knows I like to take pictures of fruits and vegetables)  and she knew I certainly like eggplant. However, the challenge was to use them in a recipe that my non eggplant eaters would not notice and maybe after trying it they would say, “There was eggplant in there? Maybe I do like eggplant!”

So I went to work at creating a recipe that turned out even better than I planned! I decided I wanted an Italian twist on meatballs, so I seasoned my panko bread crumbs with my Homemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix, cooked the eggplant in olive oil and garlic, then added low-fat grass fed beef.

I then baked the meatballs in the oven instead of frying on the stove top. It truly became a low-fat, healthy meatball dinner.

The meatballs were a hit!  My two year old granddaughter was over spending the night when I served them and she normally will not eat any type of meat. However,  not these meatballs, she asked for seconds and thirds and then wanted them the next day for lunch.  My non eggplant eaters all thought they were moist and full of great Italian flavor too.

For more great meatball ideas on preparing, cooking tips and recipes be sure and check out My Kings Cook’s post    Quick & Easy Ways on How to Make Meatballs You Probably Didn’t Know Exist  The article has great photos and will teach you everything you need to know about making great meatballs of all kinds.

Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe

• Author: Intentional Hospitality
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Main Dish Meat
• Cuisine: Italian

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Description

Your family will applaud your dinner when you make this healthy and delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe.

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Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large eggplant diced into small cubes, about 5 cups
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoonHomemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix(recipe on Intentional Hospitality)
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 pound lean grass fed beef
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 quart of your favorite marinara sauce
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley for garnish
• 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese for garnish

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Heat olive oil in a nonstick fry pan over medium heat, add eggplant cubes, cook until soft about 10 minutes
3. Add garlic to eggplant and cook 3 minutes, stirring each minute
4. Remove eggplant from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes
5. After cool pulse in a food processor until chopped fine
6. In a large mixing bowl add breadcrumbs, Homemade Zesty Italian Seasoning and Dressing Mix, parsley and toss until blended
7. Add beef and egg, then mix with hands until smooth
8. Add eggplant and mix with hands until incorporated.
9. Roll mixture into size balls, place on parchment lined cookie sheet
10. Bake meatballs for 30 minutes or until done in a 350-degree oven
11. When meatballs are done, place in a casserole dish, top with your favorite marinara sauce and bake another 15 min at 350 degrees
12. Topp casserole dish with chopped parsley and shredded parmesan cheese
13. Optional: Serve with your favorite pasta sauce or in your favorite hoagie roll

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