Delicious Stuffed Eggplant
Ingredients
- 6 (5- to 6-inch long) Baby Bell eggplants (about 6 ounces each)
- 1/2 cup long-grain or jasmine rice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 cups chicken stock or reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice
- 3/4 pound ground lamb or beef chuck (not lean)
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Preparation
Hollow out each eggplant with a melon-ball cutter, working from bottom end and leaving about 1/3 inch eggplant flesh along interior walls.
Rinse rice in a sieve under cold water until water runs clear. Drain well.
Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Sauté onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer 1/2 cup onion mixture to bowl. Add stock, tomatoes, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to skillet and simmer, uncovered, while stuffing eggplant.
Add rice, meat, allspice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to bowl with onion mixture and mix well with your hands.
Stuff eggplant with meat mixture, being careful not to pack tightly (rice will expand during cooking). Transfer stuffed eggplants to skillet with tomato sauce and simmer, covered, carefully turning once, until rice is cooked through, 50 minutes to 1 hour (cut 1 in half to test).
If sauce is watery, transfer eggplant to a plate and boil sauce, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, 3 to 5 minutes, then adjust seasoning if necessary. Return stuffed eggplant to sauce. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.