Eggplant "Meat" Balls

From The Kitchen Of Betsy & Norma

Recipe For : Eggplant “Meat” Balls

Ingredients:

Cooking spray for baking sheet

2 Tbsp olive oil for skillet

2 large unpeeled eggplants, cut into 1-inch cube pieces

8-10 Small Garlic cloves ,you can roast ahead for extra flavor **

package and roast in a 350 degree oven for approximately 35-45 minutes.

1 1/2 cups gluten free or regular seasoned Jason Bread Crumbs

2 large eggs

2 ounces of Romano Cheese

1/4 almond coconut milk in lieu of grated romano if you are serving “meatballs” with a meat meal.

2 tbsp of fresh parsley

2 tbsp of chopped fresh basil

1 jar marinara sauce 🥫

1/8 tsp salt and pepper

Olive oil for sautéing eggplant

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 400F. Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside while you prepare “meatballs”

2. Place 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. When hot add the eggplant that you cut up and ½ - ¾ cup water in the skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring occasionally until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to the food processor and pulse a few times. If you are not using parmesan cheese then this is where you would add the almond coconut milk.

3. Next, transfer eggplant to a bowl with bread crumbs, beaten egg, Romano cheese if you are making this dairy, parsley, garlic and chopped basil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper. Mix everything together so you can begin to form the balls.

4. Shape the eggplant mixture into 24 balls about 1 1/8 oz each, rolling tightly and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Bake until firm and browned, about 20 to 25 minutes. Flip them over ½ way so that both sides can brown.

5. Heat the sauce in a large deep skillet. Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Garnish the meatballs with basil leaves .

(Roast Garlic Recipe)

** to roast cloves you can cut an entire bulb in half put on top of a medium size piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Twist aluminum foil into a package and roast in a 350 degree oven for approximately 35-45 minutes