Photo of Baked and Stuffed Smothered Eggplant (Freezer-friendly) by WW

Baked and Stuffed Smothered Eggplant (Freezer-friendly)

1
Points® value
Total Time
1 hr 15 min
Prep
30 min
Cook
45 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
Difficult
This delicious vegetarian casserole comes ready in four portion-controlled packages. Freeze them individually for sensational single meals.

Ingredients

Eggplant

2 medium, sliced lengthwise (do not peel)

Olive oil

2 tsp(s)

Olive oil cooking spray

1 spray(s)

Onion

1 large, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces

Carrots

1 large, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces

Red bell pepper

2 medium, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces

Garlic

3 clove(s), large, chopped

Portabella mushrooms

3 medium, caps, chopped into 1/2-inch dice

Fresh parsley

2 tbsp(s), fresh, chopped

Fresh thyme

1 tbsp(s), or 1 tsp dried thyme

Table salt

tsp(s), or to taste

Black pepper

tsp(s), or to taste

Canned tomato sauce

15 oz, or 2 cups homemade tomato sauce

Instructions

  1. Rub cut sides of eggplants with oil. Place on a nonstick baking sheet cut-sides up. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes (eggplant should not be cooked entirely through). Remove from oven and flip over with a spatula; let cool on baking sheet. Leave oven on.
  2. Meanwhile, coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add onions, carrot and peppers. Sauté until soft and slightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and mushrooms. Increase heat to high and continue to sauté until mushrooms soften and release their juices, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley and thyme; season to taste with salt and pepper.
  3. Scoop out flesh of cooled eggplant with a soup spoon, leaving about a 1/4-inch of eggplant flesh in skin. Coarsely chop flesh and add to mushroom mixture; mix well.
  4. Fill each eggplant shell with about 1 1/2 cups of filling. Place stuffed eggplant shells in a nonstick 9 X 13-inch pan. Spoon 1/2 cup of tomato sauce over each stuffed eggplant shell. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from oven and let cool. Yields one stuffed eggplant half per serving.

Notes

Freezing and thawing instructions: Freeze each cooled eggplant half, topped with sauce, in individual containers. When ready to eat, thaw and microwave. Or, thaw and reheat for about 15 to 20 minutes in a 350°F oven.