Indulge in a culinary journey with our remarkable Beef Orzo Eggplant Casserole, a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. This delectable dish, hailing from the vibrant culinary heritage of Italy, seamlessly blends the richness of beef, the hearty goodness of orzo pasta, and the smoky charm of roasted eggplant. Enhanced with a medley of aromatic herbs and spices, this casserole is a symphony of textures and flavors that will leave you craving for more.
Our comprehensive guide provides not only the classic Beef Orzo Eggplant Casserole recipe but also variations that cater to diverse dietary preferences. Embark on a culinary adventure as you explore the Vegan Orzo Eggplant Casserole, a plant-based rendition that showcases the versatility of this dish.
For those seeking a gluten-free alternative, the Gluten-Free Beef Orzo Eggplant Casserole offers a delightful twist, ensuring everyone can savor this culinary masterpiece. And for those with a penchant for slow-cooked comfort food, the Slow Cooker Beef Orzo Eggplant Casserole is a dream come true, allowing you to effortlessly prepare a hearty meal that exudes warmth and flavor.
These recipes are meticulously crafted to ensure success in your kitchen. Each step is explained with clarity, and ingredient quantities are precisely measured to guarantee consistent results. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice cook, our recipes will guide you effortlessly through the culinary process, allowing you to create a dish that is both visually stunning and bursting with flavor.
So, gather your ingredients, prepare your kitchen, and embark on a culinary expedition that will transport your taste buds to the heart of Italy. Let the aroma of roasted eggplant, savory beef, and aromatic herbs fill your home as you create a dish that will undoubtedly become a cherished favorite.
ZUCCHINI AND GROUND BEEF ORZO CASSEROLE
Ground beef and zucchini make a great pairing is this surprisingly light casserole. There's enough creamy cheese and orzo pasta to make this taste indulgent, but the zucchini plays a role too, as it has a naturally buttery taste and silky texture, both of which are enhanced by baking. And if the pound of zucchini wasn't enough to meet your veggie quota, there's also a can of tomatoes and an onion, so this dinner is a guaranteed way to get your family to eat some nutritious ingredients! The combination of kitchen staples and easy prep make this a perfect weeknight meal, which can be served up in just over an hour!
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 1h25m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
- In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil over medium heat. Cook squash, Italian seasoning and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in oil 4 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until squash has started to soften but is still crisp-tender. Transfer to large bowl; stir together with orzo.
- In same skillet, heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Cook beef, onion, garlic and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in oil 7 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked; drain, and add to bowl with squash. Add crushed tomatoes, 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese, the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, basil, thyme and pepper flakes; stir to combine. Spoon mixture into baking dish.
- Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbling on edges and completely heated through. Top with remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese; let stand 5 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 320, Carbohydrate 20 g, Cholesterol 70 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 2 g, Protein 26 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, ServingSize About 1 Cup, Sodium 560 mg, Sugar 6 g, TransFat 0 g
BEEF AND EGGPLANT CASSEROLE
This Beef and Eggplant Casserole is tomato based and has plenty of added cheese. Cinnamon and pine nuts are added in to create some unique flavors.
Provided by RecipeGirl.com
Categories Main Course
Time 1h20m
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Place sliced eggplants into a colander. Sprinkle with salt and set aside for at least 30 minutes to allow salt to draw out excess liquid from eggplant. Pat slices dry on paper towels. Place on greased or nonstick baking sheet and brush with oil using pastry brush. Broil for approximately 4 minutes, or until slices are just browned. Turn slices over and repeat process for the other side. Layer slices in 9x13-inch dish and set aside.
- Preheat the oven broiler.
- In a sauté pan over medium-high heat, combine the onion and ground beef and sauté until meat is browned. Stir in the garlic, oregano, basil, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Add the tomato sauce. Remove from heat and stir in pine nuts. Cool.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place large tablespoonfuls of the beef mixture on top of the eggplant slices in the baking dish. Places slices of mozzarella cheese over the top to completely cover the beef layer. Sprinkle with Parmesan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle with additional Parmesan and serve while hot.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 331 kcal, Carbohydrate 11 g, Protein 16 g, Fat 25 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Cholesterol 52 mg, Sodium 565 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 6 g
BEEF AND EGGPLANT CASSEROLE
Layers of fried eggplant, seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, and cheeses are easily thrown together and baked to delicious perfection in this casserole dinner dish.
Provided by ladyindigo
Categories Fruits and Vegetables Vegetables Eggplant
Time 1h50m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray an 8-inch square glass pan with cooking spray.
- Place eggplant slices on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Top slices with additional paper towels; allow salt to draw off some of the moisture, 30 to 45 minutes. Press down on paper towels to get as much moisture out as you can.
- Combine cornmeal, flour, paprika, cinnamon, and ginger in a bowl. Dredge eggplant slices in mixture.
- Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Place floured eggplant slices in pan and cook until edges start to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip; cook until crisp on edges but still soft in centers, 3 to 4 minutes more. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until onions are softened and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Layer eggplant slices to cover bottom of the prepared pan; follow with ground beef, 1/2 can diced tomatoes, 1/2 the Cheddar cheese and 1/2 the Monterey Jack cheese. Repeat layers, starting with eggplant slices. Dredge any remaining eggplant slices in Parmesan cheese and place on top of casserole.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling and top is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 425.8 calories, Carbohydrate 28.6 g, Cholesterol 66 mg, Fat 24.8 g, Fiber 4.4 g, Protein 22.8 g, SaturatedFat 10.5 g, Sodium 464.7 mg, Sugar 3.9 g
BEEF & ORZO EGGPLANT CASSEROLE
I created this recipe using Eggplant I had purchased & did not want to spoil. Originally I had planned to stuff them but I added so many ingredients that I decided to just make a casserole instead, & remove the pulp & chop it all together. It turned out great, using all the ingredients usually found in an Italian casserole, then...
Provided by Rose Mary Mogan
Categories Casseroles
Time 1h35m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- 1. These are most of the main ingredients.
- 2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut egg plants in half and boil until tender. Then remove pulp and chop or process in food processor & add to a large bowl
- 3. Cook Orzo until al dente according to directions on package. Drain then add to bowl with cooked eggplant. Stir to mix together.
- 4. Cook ground beef, and drain any excess liquid from skillet,
- 5. Process bread crumbs and add to bowl and stir to blend ingredients together.
- 6. Process the celery, onions and bell peppers in processor, then add the olive oil to a large skillet, heat and saute until vegetables are crisp tender. Then set aside to cool a bit before adding to bowl of other ingredients.
- 7. Add in diced tomatoes, & cooled sauteed veggies and spices then stir and blend together.
- 8. Add in one cup each the cheddar and parmesan cheese shreds. Then stir to blend together
- 9. Add in the cooked Ground Beef, and stir till completely mixed.
- 10. Spray a 9X15 size casserole dish with non stick cooking spray, then add in the eggplant mixture, & top with the remaining 1/2 cup of both cheeses. Place in preheated 375 degree F. oven and bake for 25 minutes or until casserole is hot and bubbly. Remove from oven serve with your favorite salad and a nice crusty bread.
AEGEAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) -TOMATO-ORZO CASSEROLE
Created for the RSC Summer 2005 contest. I must admit that if I hadn't needed the orzo to make up the 5th ingredient required for the contest, I would have omitted it. You can peel the eggplant if you want; I don't bother, but I do wash it.
Provided by echo echo
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 40m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Spread orzo in bottom of 13-inch x 9-inch pan coated with olive oil flavored cooking spray.
- Lightly coat both sides eggplant slices with cooking spray and sauté in batches over medium heat in a large skillet until lightly browned on both sides (if slices get too dry, mist pan and slices with more spray); set aside.
- Meanwhile, dust tomato slices with flour and, in a separate pan, fry in batches in 1/4 inch oil until lightly browned on both sides; set aside.
- Re-spray skillet you cooked eggplant in and sauté onion slices with garlic until soft and golden.
- Spread half the tomatoes in a layer over the orzo, then half the onion-garlic mixture, then half the eggplant slices; repeat layers.
- Make sauce: Melt butter and blend in flour until smooth. Add bouillon slowly, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add cream, oregano and cinnamon. Simmer very gently for about 1 minute.
- Pour sauce over casserole.
- Sprinkle casserole with the parmesan cheese and scatter chopped olives over the top.
- Bake at 400°F about 15 minutes until top is crispy brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 232.1, Fat 6.8, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 15.7, Sodium 342.8, Carbohydrate 35.2, Fiber 4.7, Sugar 4.8, Protein 8.5
BEEF & ORZO MEDITERRANEAN STYLE
Quick-fix skillet supper with orzo pasta, ground beef, spinach, oregano, and tomatoes. So easy to make, great for those nights when you don't feel like cooking, but don't want fast food.
Provided by Matthew Molus
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Sprinkle salt into a 10 to 12 inch frying pan over medium-high heat. Crumble beef into pan and cook, stirring often, until meat begins to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, stir in onion, and continue to cook, stirring, until onion is soft but not brown, about 5 minutes. Spoon off and discard excess fat.
- Add garlic, tomatoes (break them up with a spoon) and their liquid, broth, oregano, and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil then stir in pasta. Reduce heat, cover and simmer gently until pasta is tender to bite, 10 to 12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, squeeze as much liquid as possible from spinach. Stir spinach into pasta mixture just until heated through. Serve with cheese to add to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 525.2, Fat 16.6, SaturatedFat 7.1, Cholesterol 84.7, Sodium 954.1, Carbohydrate 53.6, Fiber 5.8, Sugar 6, Protein 39.9
EGGPLANT CASSEROLE
With lots of vegetables, this good-for-you dish is low in calories, but full of flavor. I make it often in summer when fresh produce is abundant.-Marelyn Baugher, Holdredge, Nebraska
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil; add eggplant. Boil for 5-8 minutes or until tender;drain and set aside. , In a skillet, cook beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until tomato is tender. Remove from the heat. Stir in milk, egg and eggplant; mix well., Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Toss bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 30 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 278 calories, Fat 15g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 93mg cholesterol, Sodium 151mg sodium, Carbohydrate 15g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 21g protein.
Tips:
- To save time, use pre-cooked orzo pasta.
- If you don't have eggplant, you can substitute zucchini or yellow squash.
- For a heartier casserole, add cooked ground beef or sausage.
- To make the casserole ahead of time, assemble it and bake it for 30 minutes. Then, cover it and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. When you're ready to serve, bake it for an additional 30 minutes, or until heated through.
- Serve the casserole with a side salad or crusty bread.
Conclusion:
Beef Orzo Eggplant Casserole is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover beef or eggplant. The casserole is hearty and filling, and it is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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