VEGAN

Eggplants with Beans and Tofu

⏳ Time

4 hours

🥕 Ingredients

🍽️ Servings

Description

A lighter version of stuffed eggplants, where instead of meat filling, you have pure plant protein in the form of boiled beans and tofu. Plus, a few delightful details: before adding the filling, the eggplant boats are generously smeared inside with creamy butter combined with plenty of aromatic cilantro, and then, once filled, they are topped with a rich tomato sauce that reddens and bubbles in the oven, creating the illusion of real meat from the vegetarian filling. The result is a classic deceptive dish: tenderly baked on the inside and fried to a golden crust on the outside, filled with illusory soy meat, this eggplant captivates even those who generally prefer real meat.

Ingredients

White Beans - 5 oz
Vegetable Oil - 3 spoons
Onion - 1 head
Passata Tomato Sauce - 10 oz
Garlic - 5 cloves
Walnuts - 5 oz
Cilantro - 0 oz
Tofu - 5 oz
Eggplants - 2 pieces
Butter - 0 oz
Parsley - 0 oz
Salt - to taste

Step by Step guide

Step 1

Soak the beans in water for 1.5 hours, then cook for 1.5 to 2 hours until tender.

Step 2

In a skillet, heat vegetable oil and sauté the diced onion until golden brown.

Step 3

Add the beans, crushed tomatoes, and garlic (3 cloves, minced), season with salt, and heat the mixture for 5 minutes.

Step 4

Chop the nuts in a blender until crumbly, add them to the beans, mix well, and simmer the mixture over medium heat for 5–7 minutes until it thickens.

Step 5

At the very end, add the crumbled tofu and 50 grams of chopped cilantro (reserve a little for serving).

Step 6

Slice the eggplants in half lengthwise. Make a deep cut along each half, being careful not to cut through the skin.

Step 7

Combine softened butter with chopped cilantro and parsley, minced garlic, and salt.

Step 8

Spread this mixture on the eggplants like sandwiches, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and put them in the preheated oven at 390°F for 30–35 minutes, until the eggplants are browned and tender.