Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (2024)

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Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (1)

I find fried eggplant so tasty and so satisfying that I feel like I could it every other day. Yesterday, I made fried eggplant with rice and tomatoes for lunch and served it without any meat whatsoever. It was so delicious and, importantly, so satisfying that I didn't feel like I needed any meat.

Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (2)

This fried eggplant dish is typical of Georgia (country) and has that native Mediterranean flavor to it, the flavor of roasted vegetables and olive oil. It has no specific name and is simply called fried eggplant with rice and tomatoes. There are many variations of this dish in Georgia, and typically rice and tomatoes are stuffed inside eggplant, then fried in a pan, or even stewed with some liquid, until fully cooked.

In my recipe, I wanted as much distinct fried flavor as possible so I fried eggplant, then onions and rice, to get as much caramelization and flavor as possible. I then finished cooking in oven. The taste and the flavors were exactly how I wanted them. I might even add that they exceeded my expectations.

Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (3)

Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 323kcal

Author: Victor

Ingredients

  • 2 eggplants
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1 yellow onion (finely chopped)
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley (minced)
  • 2 tomatoes (sliced into 12 slices)
  • Kosher salt (to taste)
  • Ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 6 Tbsp olive oil (plus more as needed)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.

  • Rinse the eggplants, cut off stems and cut in half lengthwise. Sprinkle with salt liberally and set aside.

  • In a large non-stick frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Fry the eggplant halves, two at a time, on both sides, turning about every 30 seconds, until dark golden brown.

    Add more oil as you are frying the eggplant as they tend to soak it in. You want the frying pan to have some oil on the bottom. If you see that it looks dry, it’s a good time to add a little more oil.

  • Remove the eggplant from the frying pan and transfer to a baking sheet or a baking dish, cut side up. Sprinkle some more salt over the top of the eggplant halves. If you don't they will taste a little under-salted.

    Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (4)

  • In the same frying pan, brown the onion over medium-high heat until golden brown. Add the rice, parsley, tomato paste and stir well. Cook for another minute frequently stirring. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat, transfer the mixture to a bowl and let cool down.

    Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (5)

  • Spread rice and onion mixture over the eggplant pieces, pressing down gently to make it stick.

    Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (6)

  • Top each fried eggplant half with 3 tomato slices. Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil.

    Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (7)

  • Transfer the eggplant into oven and bake for 25 minutes.

  • Remove from the oven, drizzle with some more olive oil, and sprinkle with a little bit of salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley and/or coriander and serve.

    Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (8)

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 784mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 785IU | Vitamin C: 19.6mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1.2mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Patricia Fischer says

    Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (13)
    This recipe was great. Very easy and delicious. I made it exactly to instructions. I used leftover risotto fir the rice. It was great.

    • victor says

      Enjoy!

      Reply

  2. Jan says

    Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (14)
    I am always trying new recipes. This was the best of 2019 so far.

    Reply

  3. Chelsea says

    Simple and very tasty! I can also make this when my vegan sister comes over 🙂

    Reply

  4. Sophie Weber says

    Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (15)
    This was delicious!! I subsituted it with cauliflower rice and I will be saving this recipe. Thank you!

    Reply

    • victor says

      You are very welcome. Cauliflower rice sounds like a great idea for a low carb version. I am going to try it.

      Reply

  5. Erica says

    There are different ways to prepare eggplant and tomatoes, but this dish is amazing. You can prepare it for both quick weeknight dinners and for special occasions. I loved the deep taste and rich flavors.

    Reply

  6. Carmela says

    Is the rice going to be cooked thru without liquids?

    Reply

    • victor says

      Carmela, you need to start with a cup of cooked rice.

      Reply

  7. Melissa says

    I loved this recipe so much that I made these fried eggplant twice in a row in one day;) Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

    • victor says

      You are very welcome.

      Reply

  8. joan says

    Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (16)
    I love eggplant and this recipe is great. Highly recommend!

    Reply

    • victor says

      Thanks for the feedback, Joan. Glad you liked it.

      Reply

Fried Eggplant with Rice and Tomatoes Recipe - Craving Tasty (2024)

FAQs

Is fried eggplant good for diet? ›

Eggplants contain fiber and are low in calories — they can contribute to a healthful, low-calorie diet. However, eggplant can absorb a lot of oil during frying. Anyone looking to lose weight should prepare it a different way, such as by grilling or air-frying it.

What makes eggplant taste good? ›

The oil still left in the eggplant tissues contributes to the soft, buttery texture that's so appealing. Oil also carries the essence of added herbs and spices, so that eggplant dishes can become rich with the aromas and heady flavors of onions, peppers, anchovies, parsley, garlic, and lemon juice.

Is fried eggplant bad for cholesterol? ›

Chlorogenic acid, also found in eggplant, is an antioxidant that not only helps prevent cancer but is also antibacterial and antiviral. Chlorogenic acid may also help to lower LDL cholesterol levels ('bad cholesterol). High levels of LDL cholesterol are a risk factor for heart disease.

Should you salt eggplant before frying? ›

Not only that, it helps to season the eggplant from the inside out, which means the creamy interior will taste every bit as delicious as the browned, caramelized exterior that you sprinkled with salt right before cooking.

Is eggplant good for belly fat? ›

Could Help With Weight Loss. Eggplants are high in fiber and low in calories, making them an excellent addition to any weight loss regimen. Fiber moves through the digestive tract slowly and can promote fullness and satiety , reducing calorie intake.

Is eggplant healthy for females? ›

Health Benefits

And at just 25 calories and less than 1 gram of fat per serving, it's a pretty guilt-free food -- as long as you don't soak it in oil. Eggplant has antioxidants like vitamins A and C, which help protect your cells against damage.

What are the side effects of eggplant? ›

Eggplant allergy symptoms
  • hives.
  • itchy or tingly lips, tongue, or throat.
  • coughing.
  • stomach pain or cramping.
  • vomiting.
  • diarrhea.

Why do you need to soak eggplant before frying? ›

I tend to soak the slices in a bowl of water with a couple of tablespoon of salt for about 30-45 minutes. It doesn't have to do with bitterness, but I find that in doing this, the fried eggplant turns out less greasy," Jenkins says.

Who should not eat eggplant? ›

The bottom line, if the level of inflammation in the body is low, one can enjoy eggplant and nightshades in moderation. But if you suffer from any chronic inflammatory conditions you might consider limiting your consumption of eggplant until the causes of inflammation resolved.

When should you not eat eggplant? ›

When looking at the exterior of the eggplant, check the stem and cap. Both should be green and fresh-looking. If they are starting to fade in color, that's an indicator that the vegetable may be spoiling. You'll also want to toss the eggplant if there is any mold on the stem or cap.

Is eggplant bad for blood pressure? ›

On the basis of the results of animal studies, we conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial on hypertensive patients and accordingly found that the daily intake of ACh-rich eggplant powder (ACh content: 2.3 mg) contributed to a significant reduction in blood pressure and enhanced mental status (stress and mood) ...

Why do you soak eggplant in milk? ›

Milk is said to help draw out the bitterness in eggplant. Our recipe doesn't call for milk, but if you're worried that your eggplant will taste bitter, you can soak the slices in milk for 20 to 30 minutes. Drain and pat them dry before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.

Should you peel eggplant before frying? ›

Eggplant can be cooked either way: skin-on or peeled. This is entirely based on personal preference. Some love the extra bite and purple hue that peaks through the breading of a slice of fried eggplant, while others find the texture of the skin a little crunchy and unappealing once fried.

What is the healthiest way to eat eggplant? ›

What are the healthiest cooking methods for eggplant? The healthiest cooking methods for eggplant include baking, grilling, or roasting. These methods require minimal added fats and help retain the vegetable's nutrients.

Is fried eggplant high in carbs? ›

If you are on a low carb diet like Keto, you'll love to know that for an entire one-cup serving of cooked eggplant, there are 8 total carbs with 2.5 grams of fiber.

Is breaded eggplant fattening? ›

⅔ cup of breaded eggplant cutlets (Michael Angelo's) contains 250 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 37% carbs, 54% fat, and 10% protein. This has a moderate calorie density, with 166 Calories per 100g.

How many calories are in 2 slices of fried eggplant? ›

There are 148 calories in 2 slices of Fried Batter Dipped Eggplant. Calorie breakdown: 63% fat, 30% carbs, 6% protein.

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