I must confess…I’m going vegan… just for this recipe! I love growing eggplant in my garden and — when the moment is right — I love making veggies the star of the show. This dish is quick and easy, and you only need 6 ingredients! Zaatar, a Middle Eastern spice blend, adds so much savory punch and is worth adding to your pantry. Toss your trusty microwave rice with your favorite herbs and top it all off with some nondairy yogurt for that extra tang. Dig in!
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 1 hr 10 min |
| Active: | 25 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup zaatar
- Zest of 2 lemons plus juice of 1 lemon
- 2/3 cup olive oil
- Kosher salt
- 2 eggplants, tops cut off and halved lengthwise, then cut hashmarks deep into the flesh of each half, almost to the skin
- 1/4 cup nondairy yogurt or whole fat Greek yogurt (see Cook’s Note)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice plus lemon wedges, for serving
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Two 8.5-ounce microwaveable quinoa and rice blend packages, zapped according to package instructions
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- For the eggplant: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, add the zaatar, lemon zest and juice and oil. Season with salt. Scoop or brush this on the cut side of each eggplant half, bending and flexing them to get some of the topping into the crevices. Place the eggplant halves on a baking sheet lined with nonstick aluminum foil, cut side up. Roast until a skewer slides in easily, about 45 minutes.
- To serve: In a small bowl, stir the yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
- In a medium bowl, toss the quinoa-rice blend and parsley. Dollop the yogurt mixture on top of each eggplant half. Serve with the quinoa-rice blend.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 4 servings |
| Calories | 919 |
| Total Fat | 45 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 119 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 11 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Protein | 13 g |
| Cholesterol | 2 mg |
| Sodium | 1218 mg |
Reviews
It was good, sorta. Didn’t have enough Z’Zatar. Of course my supply arrived after. Very lemony. Almost too much, but still good. Not sure if I’ll make it again. For me, probably. For family probably not.
Is it REALLY 919 calories per serving ??
Amazing!!! I added a clove of grated garlic and crushed red pepper flakes or peppeoincini as GZ would say. It is so lemony.. Love it!!!
Made this today with an Italian globe eggplant and an Asian style eggplant, both where Great! Really delicious. I can see adding this to salads.
I should have made more.