Best 4 Spaghetti And Eggplant Meatballs Recipes

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**Spaghetti and Eggplant Meatballs: A Mediterranean Symphony of Flavors**

Prepare to embark on a culinary journey to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean with our delectable Spaghetti and Eggplant Meatballs recipe. This vegetarian dish is a delightful symphony of flavors, textures, and colors that will tantalize your taste buds. Juicy eggplant meatballs, bursting with Mediterranean spices, are nestled amidst a vibrant sea of spaghetti, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. The secret lies in the fusion of fresh herbs, tangy tomatoes, and a hint of lemon zest, which elevates this dish to an unforgettable culinary experience. Alongside this main course delight, we also present tempting variations: delectable eggplant parmesan meatballs, bursting with cheesy goodness, and irresistible spaghetti and lentil meatballs, offering a hearty and protein-packed alternative. Get ready to savor the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean with our versatile spaghetti and meatball recipes, sure to become favorites in your kitchen.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SPAGHETTI SQUASH AND EGGPLANT MEATBALLS RECIPE BY TASTY



Spaghetti Squash And Eggplant Meatballs Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: eggplants, onion, garlic cloves, oil, dried oregano, salt, pepper, fresh basil, fresh parsley, vegetarian parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, whole milk ricotta cheese, dried oregano, egg, marinara sauce, spaghetti squash, oil, salt, pepper

Provided by Merle O'Neal

Categories     Dinner

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 eggplants, cubed
½ onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
½ cup vegetarian parmesan cheese
1 cup bread crumbs
¼ cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 egg
14 oz marinara sauce, 1 jar
1 spaghetti squash
oil
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375ºF (190ºC).
  • Combine eggplant, onion, garlic, oil, salt, pepper, and oregano on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, mixing halfway.
  • In the bowl of a food processor, combine eggplant mixture, basil, parsley, Parmesan, bread crumbs, ricotta, oregano, and egg, and blend until smooth.
  • Roll the mixture into golf ball-sized balls. Transfer to a cast iron pan spacing them about 2 inches apart from each other. Bake for 20 minutes.
  • On a baking sheet, cover spaghetti squash with oil, salt, and pepper, add to oven and bake for 40 minutes.
  • Remove meatballs, add marinara sauce, and return to oven for 10 minutes.
  • Remove spaghetti squash from the oven and with a fork pull at the edges to produce that stringy "spaghetti" quality.
  • On a plate combine spaghetti with meatballs and garnish with parmesan and basil.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 577 calories, Carbohydrate 78 grams, Fat 23 grams, Fiber 13 grams, Protein 18 grams, Sugar 20 grams

EGGPLANT MEATBALLS



Eggplant Meatballs image

Yes, I made eggplant meatballs. If you know me, you know I love eggplant! I also love meatballs. Hence, I decided to make two of my favorites together, and it is delicious. I used ground turkey and almond meal, but I am giving you alternative suggestions below. This is a great paleo recipe and very addictive. I like using an ice cream scoop so they are all the same size! Perfect for entertaining. Yummy!

Provided by Cindy Anschutz Barbieri

Categories     Fruits and Vegetables     Vegetables     Eggplant

Time 1h10m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 teaspoons olive oil, or as needed
1 large eggplant, halved lengthwise
1 pound ground turkey
1 carrot, shredded
½ small onion, diced
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
2 cloves garlic, or more to taste, minced
1 teaspoon dried basil (such as Simply Organic®)
1 teaspoon dried parsley (such as Simply Organic®)
1 teaspoon dried oregano (such as Simply Organic®)
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste
¾ cup almond flour
2 cups marinara sauce

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Grease foil with olive oil.
  • Arrange eggplant halves cut-sides-down onto the prepared baking sheet. Pierce skin of eggplant several times with a fork.
  • Roast eggplant in preheated oven until soft, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool completely.
  • Scoop the flesh from the eggplant halves onto a cutting board; chop into small chunks and put into a large mixing bowl.
  • Mix ground turkey, carrot, onion, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, basil, parsley, oregano, sea salt, and black pepper with the eggplant chunks until ingredients are somewhat evenly mixed together. Gently mix almond flour into the eggplant mixture; scoop with an ice cream scoop onto the prepared baking sheet.
  • Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake meatballs in oven for 15 minutes, flip the meatballs, and bake until browned and no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes more.
  • While the meatballs bake, heat marinara sauce in saucepan over medium-low heat until hot; add baked meatballs to the sauce and stir to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 356.4 calories, Carbohydrate 23.7 g, Cholesterol 92.3 mg, Fat 19.6 g, Fiber 8.3 g, Protein 24 g, SaturatedFat 3.9 g, Sodium 767.5 mg, Sugar 11.4 g

EGGPLANT "MEATBALLS"



Eggplant

I love making a vegetarian version of a traditional meat recipe. I love it even more when my family and my students go crazy for it. Meatballs are such a familiar and popular food, I was a little unsure about how everyone would react when I subbed eggplant for ground beef. But sure enough, these eggplant "meatballs" were a huge hit! I honestly think these eggplant meatballs taste incredibly similar to regular ones, especially when covered with your favorite warm marinara sauce. They are tender enough to cut with a fork and are the perfect match with spaghetti squash for a serious veggie meal.

Provided by Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h45m

Yield 24 "meatballs"

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 tablespoons unrefined, cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 pounds eggplant, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch cubes (you should have about 8 cups)
1 cup grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems, chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
4 large eggs, beaten (you can use 2 to 4 eggs, but I like to use 4 for extra protein and to hold the meatballs together better)
1 1/2 cups regular or GF dried breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs (you can use as little as 1 cup, but the meatballs will be much softer)
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
A few grinds of black pepper
3 cups marinara sauce

Steps:

  • Heat a large high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and saute the garlic in the hot oil until just fragrant and barely starting to lightly brown, about 30 seconds. Add the eggplant and 1/4 cup of water. Lower the heat to low and cover the skillet. Allow the eggplant to steam until soft, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, if you have time.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.
  • Place the eggplant mixture in a food processor and pulse until well chopped, but not pureed. Or just do this on a cutting board with a knife.
  • Transfer the eggplant mixture to a large mixing bowl and add the cheese, parsley, basil, eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Stir the mixture well to combine, using your hands or a wooden spoon. The mixture can be refrigerated at this point, covered for up to a day. It is easier to roll into meatballs when the mixture is cooled down. (If doing so, preheat the oven 30 minutes before baking the meatballs.)
  • Roll or scoop the mixture using a 1- to 1 1/2-ounce ice cream scoop into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, or until firm on the outside and light brown underneath.
  • Meanwhile, heat the marinara sauce in a large saucepan over low heat until simmering. Transfer the meatballs to the saucepan with marinara sauce. Toss with the sauce and serve.

SICILIAN STYLE SPAGHETTI AND EGGPLANT



Sicilian Style Spaghetti and Eggplant image

Provided by Tyler Florence

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 medium eggplants
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves
1/2 lemon, juiced
6 fresh basil leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 fresh red chile, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup alfonso olives, pitted
1/2 bunch fresh basil leaves
3 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, drained and hand-crushed
Pinch sugar
1 tablespoon capers
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound spaghetti
1/2 cup freshly grated pecorino cheese

Steps:

  • Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Slice the eggplants into 1/4-inch rounds. Toss them with 1/4 cup olive oil and some salt and pepper. Grill them until marks have formed and they are soft, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place them onto a paper towel lined platter. Scatter over 2 cloves of sliced garlic, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the lemon juice, put on a few torn basil leaves, and season it all with salt and pepper. Set aside while you make the sauce.
  • Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and place over medium heat. Cook the onions until they are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the chile, garlic, olives and a few hand-torn basil leaves. Carefully add the tomatoes and a pinch of sugar; cook and stir until the liquid is cooked down and the sauce is thick, about 15 minutes. Add the capers, taste, and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Lower the heat, cover, and keep warm.
  • Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add a couple of tablespoons of salt and the spaghetti. Stir to make sure the pasta doesn't stick. Cover and return to a boil. Remove cover and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until the spaghetti is al dente. Drain and add the spaghetti to the tomato sauce. Add the cheese and mix well. Pile onto a platter and top it with the eggplant slices. Garnish with more basil leaves.

Tips:

  • To ensure your meatballs are cooked thoroughly, use a meat thermometer to check that they have reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  • If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can also check that the meatballs are cooked by cutting one in half. The inside should be firm and no longer pink.
  • If you want to make your meatballs ahead of time, you can cook them and then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you're ready to serve, simply reheat them in a sauce or in the microwave.
  • To make your meatballs even more flavorful, you can add some grated Parmesan cheese or chopped fresh herbs to the mixture.
  • If you're looking for a vegetarian version of this recipe, you can substitute the ground beef with cooked lentils or beans.

Conclusion:

This spaghetti and eggplant meatballs recipe is a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. The meatballs are flavorful and juicy, and the spaghetti is perfectly cooked. The addition of eggplant adds a unique and delicious flavor to the dish. This recipe is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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