Lebanese Baked Eggplant With Beef

A healthier version of the popular Lebanese baked eggplant dish that is full of flavor thanks to toasted pine nuts, cinnamon, and tender eggplant.

Eggplant is one of my favorite vegetables. I eat it almost every week, especially in the Summer when it is so readily available. Sauteed with soy and ginger, grilled with olive oil and herbs, or roasted with peppers and tomatoes – it is extremely versatile, very affordable, and highly nutritious. A traditional Lebanese eggplant recipe is made with ground lamb and rendered butter, but in an effort to reduce calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol, I have created a healthier version that still hits the spot: my Lebanese Baked Eggplant with Beef.

Ingredients

• Eggplant: Spongy and mild in flavor, it’s great at absorbing the other flavors around it.
• Olive oil: A heart healthy oil that’s great for roasting and cooking.
• Pine nuts: Sweet, nutty flavor that is greatly enhanced by roasting.
• Ground beef: Either chuck or sirloin will work, I prefer sirloin for the lower fat content.
• Warm spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice are commonly used in beef dishes in Lebanese cuisine as they add a delicious warmth to the food, as well as great antioxidants.
• Onion: I use a white onion, as it’s mild in flavor and caramelizes nicely to sweeten the flavor.
• Chicken broth: With the crushed tomatoes, it adds flavor and moisture to the sauce of the dish.
• Crushed tomatoes: Paired with the warm spices, it creates a classic tomato sauce of Lebanese food.

How to Make Baked Eggplant with Beef

Prepare for your Lebanese baked eggplant by slicing your eggplant into discs and dicing your onion.

Then on a prepared baking sheet, coat both sides of your eggplant with olive oil.

Season with kosher salt and pepper on both sides, before broiling in the oven on high for about 5 minutes a side.

Then in a large pan or skillet, heat up some olive oil and saute your onion.

Add your ground beef and break up into small pieces.

Season with your nutmeg and allspice.

And a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Once browned, add the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth.

Season the crushed tomatoes generously with the cinnamon, stir in the toasted pine nuts, and remove from heat.

Then in a glass baking dish, scoop a layer of the tomato and beef mixture into the bottom and spread evenly.

Next lay your roasted eggplant in an even layer across the dish.

Cover the eggplant with the remaining tomato and beef mixure before throwing in the oven at 350 for about 45 minutes.

When finished, garnish with fresh parsley and additional pine nuts.

Serve alone, or over the top of a rice pilaf and enjoy your Lebanese Baked Eggplant with Beef!

Easy Substitutions

• Make it vegetarian. Instead of beef, add in other vegetables like cauliflower, carrots, or squash.
• Switch the protein. Make it the more traditional way and use ground lamb, or you could use ground turkey.

Frequently Asked Questions:

More LEbanese Recipes

• Lebanese Eggplant with Chickpea Stew
• Shish Tawook Chicken
• Lebanese Hindbeh
• Vegan Tomato Kibbeh
• Lebanese Rice Salad

Eat It, Like It, Share It!

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Whether served over rice or eaten stand alone, my Lebanese Baked Eggplant with Beef is a great way to delve into Lebanese cuisine.

Your fork is waiting.

Lebanese Baked Eggplant With Beef

4.73 stars average

A healthier version of the popular Lebanese dish that is full of flavor thanks to toasted pine nuts,  cinnamon and tender eggplant.

PREP: 10 mins

COOK: 1 hr 15 mins

TOTAL: 1 hr 25 mins

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Servings: 4

Ingredients

 

1/2x1x2x

• ▢ 2 medium eggplants
• ▢ 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ ¼ cup pine nuts
• ▢ 1 pound ground sirloin (or lamb)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon allspice
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon pepper
• ▢ 1 large onion (diced)
• ▢ 8 ounces chicken broth (low sodium)
• ▢ 32 ounces crushed tomatoes (low sodium)

Instructions

 

• Pre-heat the broiler and line a pan with tin foil.
• Cut the eggplant into 2 in. rounds and lay flat on the lined broiler pan. Measure the olive oil into a small bowl and brush it evenly on both sides of the eggplant rounds. Sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper.
• Broil eggplant 5 minutes per side, until browned, and place in a glass casserole dish. Reduce oven heat to 350.
• Meanwhile, in a small pan, toast pine nuts over low heat until browned, about 5-6 minutes. Do not walk away!
• While this is happening, heat a large pan to medium-high and spray with non-stick spray.
• Brown beef with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice 5-7 minutes using a wooden spoon. Add onions and continue cooking for additional 5-7 minutes until onions are translucent.
• Add chicken broth and deglaze the pan using the back of a wooden spoon to scrape up brown bits. Add in tomatoes and toasted pine nuts then remove from heat.
• Carefully pour the meat/tomato mixture over the eggplant rounds and bake for 45 minutes. Serve with plain yogurt, fresh parsley and extra pine nuts.

Notes

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Nutrition

Calories: 312kcalCarbohydrates: 33.4gProtein: 21.3gFat: 12.6gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 615mgFiber: 11.8g

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