Eggplant Meatballs in tomato sauce
These tender eggplant meatballs, gently simmered in a velvety Sugo Semplice Napoletana Sauce, are completely free from eggs and cheese, making them the perfect choice for anyone following a plant-based diet or avoiding lactose.
Made with Sugo Napoletana
Our Sugo Semplice Napoletana pasta sauce has a punchy Sofrito base of garlic, onions and herbs, deliciously balanced by the sweetness from our perfectly ripe Italian tomatoes for a multi-layered flavour experience. With no added sugar or preservatives, this sauce is perfect as a base or stirred through hot pasta as a simple pasta sauce.
Easy
Ingredients
-
500
g
eggplants
-
80
g
breadcrumbs
-
50
g
plant-based grated alternative (e.g., vegan Parmesan)
-
1
garlic
clove
-
5
tbsp
extra virgin olive oil
-
20
g
cornstarch
-
1x
400g jar
Mutti Sugo Napoletana
-
fresh parsley, as needed
-
Salt and pepper
(to taste)
-
coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves, plus whole leaves to garnish
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Eggplant Meatballs in tomato sauce: Method
- In a large skillet, heat a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and lightly sauté the garlic clove (left whole and unpeeled) to infuse the oil.
- Dice the eggplants into small cubes and add them to the pan. Season with salt and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until they become soft and tender.
- Transfer the cooked eggplants to a large mixing bowl and let them to cool off completely.
- Once cooled, mix in the plant-based grated cheese, finely chopped parsley, a few grinds of black pepper, cornstarch, and breadcrumbs. Use a fork to mash the mixture, then knead it briefly by hand. The texture should be sticky, compact, and slightly coarse, not entirely smooth.
- Shape the mixture into meatballs, each weighing approximately 20–25 g
- Pan-fry the meatballs in a skillet with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, allowing the base to turn golden before gently tossing the pan to brown all sides evenly.
- In the meantime, warm the Sugo Semplice Napoletana in a separate pan over low heat for 2–3 minutes.
- Pour the warm sauce over the eggplant meatballs and let them simmer together for a couple of minutes over medium heat.
- Serve hot, garnished with a few fresh basil leaves.
