Easy Moroccan Ground Beef and Eggplant Bake
An easy and delicious way to roast eggplant using Moroccan spices and ground beef. This dish is hearty, healthy, and a perfect balance of spice, cooled with yogurt and fresh herbs.
Servings 2
Calories 550kcal
Ingredients
Spice blend
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp all-spice
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper optional
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Other ingredients
- 1 eggplant
- 1 tsp salt divided
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
For serving
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- fresh cilantro or parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F
- Slice the eggplant in half, lengthwise, and use a sharp knife to make a criss-cross pattern on the surface of each side of the eggplant. Only cut 1/4 inch into the flesh. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp of salt between both sides of the eggplant and place face down on paper towel for 30 minutes to sweat out any extra moisture. After 30 minutes, pat the eggplant dry
- Mix the spice blend in a small bowl and reserve 2 tablespoons of it in a separate bowl for the meat. To the spice blend you will use for the eggplant, add in the lemon juice and tablespoon of olive oil Mix together to form a paste and rub it into the surface of the eggplant that was scored with the knife. Place skin side down on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, then flip them over and bake for another 20 minutes until golden brown
- While the eggplant is roasting, heat the olive oil in a frying pan and brown the ground beef. Add in minced garlic, 1/2 tsp salt, and 2 Tbsp tomato paste. If the meat is still crumbly, add in up to 1/4 cup of water to make it more of a sauce consistency
- Remove the roasted eggplant from the oven and top each side with the ground beef mixture. Garnish with yogurt and fresh cilantro or parsley
Nutrition
Calories: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 1422mg | Potassium: 1237mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1297IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 176mg | Iron: 6mg
