These Fried Eggplant “Meatballs” are a great alternative to latkes and a save-for-later vegetarian dinner recipe. Serve alone or with warm marinara sauce and grated Parmesan cheese.
Fried Eggplant “Meatballs”
Servings
4 Servings
Ingredients
- 4 medium eggplants 2 lbs.
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup mixed grated Parmesan and Romano cheeses
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon freshly minced parsley or basil
- 1 cup breadcrumbs divided
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Cut the eggplants into chunks and steam for about 10 minutes.
- Place in a colander lined with paper towel in your sink with a weight on top, and allow to drain for a few minutes, pressing the weight.
- Squeeze some more liquid out, and transfer into a food processor with the garlic. Puree until smooth. Transfer into a bowl and combine with the eggs, cheese, salt, pepper, and parsley. Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then add the breadcrumbs a few tablespoons at a time. Do not add too much; the mixture should still be moist but not too wet.
- With wet fingers, shape the mixture into small ovals or balls.
- Dredge the eggplant balls into remaining breadcrumbs.
- Fill a deep pot 1/3 of the way with olive oil. Heat to medium/high (oil should be about 360°F) and deep-fry the eggplant balls in small batches, lowering them carefully into the oil with a slotted spoon to avoid burns. Fry until golden brown, remove with the slotted spoon, and drain on several layers of paper towel. Enjoy warm
- Recipe originally published in Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller Magazine Winter 2014 Subscribe Now
I’m wondering if I could cook these in the air fryer, sprayed with some oil. Has anyone tried that?
no need
so 2 lbs tjotal for all 4 eggplants
small/baby eggplants are great here as they are not bitter and do not have a high water content. Chinese or Japanese eggplants work well too,
enjoy!
Do you remove the skin?
are these eggplants very small? should they be apprx 1./2 lb. each (total 2 lbs for all 4 eggplants?
Here is what Alessandra says, they won’t be as tasty, but if you want to bake them do so on a pan slightly greased w olive oil, best to also brush the balls with a little oil. Bake 30-40 min at 375F turning after the first 15-20 min
If I wanted to bake this and not fry about how many degrees and for how long? Thanks.
I buy these in my grocer’s freezer and they are pretty good!!!