Name: Stuffed Aubergine
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 aubergine; 1 tbsp chopped red onion; 1 tbsp chopped red pepper; 1 tbsp chopped courgette; 2 tsp sultanas; 2 tsp mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower etc); 1 clove garlic minced; 1 chopped tomato; 2 tbsp crumbled feta; 1/2 tsp chopped fresh chilli or pinch dried chilli flakes; 2 tbsp cooked rice or quinoa; 1 tbsp fresh coriander; salt and pepper to taste

Read on for my recipe for stuffed aubergine

Comfort food comes in many guises, from soup to bakes, crisps to curry, it’s whatever makes you feel all warm and cosy inside and ticks those boxes of feel-good food. This stuffed aubergine dish is comfort food to me. It is hearty and filling and packed with flavour.

Vegetarian

Filled with healthy Mediterranean veggies, mixed seeds, chilli and rice, this stuffed aubergine makes a full meal in itself and is completely vegetarian too. Great for those avoiding meat completely or if you are like me and just like to have a few meals per week that are veggie only.

This is one of those recipes that is great for using up bits and pieces in the fridge, like that little bit of cooked rice or quinoa you had for supper last night, and those ends of veggies in the salad drawer.

I bake my aubergine first for thirty minutes so that the flesh is already cooked and tender when I mix it in with the other vegetables and then finish it all under the grill. This gives a lovely blend of textures, the softness of the well cooked aubergine and the crispness of the courgettes, red peppers and onions that are only cooked under the grill.

That hint of spice

I add the kick of chilli to my stuffed aubergine dish. Just this touch of heat elevates the dish from an everyday veggie plate. Add in the creaminess of the feta and you have total heaven on a plate.

Use what you have to hand

This stuffed aubergine will serve two people with a green salad on the side. Get creative with your stuffing ideas, just use whatever you happen to have lurking in the fridge. While I have used a few sultanas, you could use dried apricots, raisins, whatever you fancy.

We need comfort food at this time of year and what better than Mediterranean flavours to add a bit to warmth to our cold winter months. What’s your favourite comfort food?

Karon x

Print Recipe