Italian Style Stuffed Aubergines / Eggplants

Forget stuffed peppers and instead consider serving this great, Italian Style, stuffed aubergine dish instead. Tastes great with baked fish and a green salad, but the choice is yours. What would you serve these aubergines with?

Ingredients:
Serves 4
2 aubergines
2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
50g pitted green olives, chopped
handful basil leaves, chopped
125g ball vegetarian mozzarella, torn into bite-size pieces
handful fresh white breadcrumbs (optional)

Method:
1. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Slice the aubergines in half lengthways, leaving the stem intact. Using a small knife, cut a border inside each aubergine about ½-1cm thick. Using a teaspoon, scoop out the aubergine flesh, so that you have 4 shells. Brush these with a little of the oil, season and place in a baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 20 mins. Chop the flesh and place to one side.
2. Meanwhile, add the remaining oil to a non-stick frying pan. Tip in the onion and cook until soft. Add the chopped aubergine flesh and cook through. Tip in the garlic and tomatoes and cook for 3 mins more. Stir in olives, basil, mozzarella and seasoning.
3. When the aubergine shells are tender, remove from the oven and reduce heat to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pile stuffing into shells, and if using breadcrumbs, sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and drizzle with a little more oil. Bake for 15-20 mins, until the cheese is gooey and the breadcrumbs are golden. 

Some may prefer not to use breadcrumbs why not add a little grated cheddar cheese instead.

A lovely recipe - see original here

All the best Jan