These Eggplant Meatless Meatballs are absolutely delicious! My husband didn’t think he’d like them but admitted they are delicious.  I have to let you know that the baked eggplant balls come out a little softer than real meatballs so I recommend serving them as a side or over some sort of pasta. When you reheat them heat the eggplant balls and sauce separate.

This recipe make about 35 Eggplant Meatless Meatballs around 8 servings

2 1/2 eggplants – medium sized

6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 Tablespoon sea salt

1 bagel – chopped well

1/2 sweet onion – chopped fine

2 garlic cloves – minced

1 cup parmigiano  reggiano – shredded

1 cup dry oatmeal (not instant)

1 XL egg – beaten

1 cup panko (bread crumbs, plain)

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon basil

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/4 cup fresh parsley – chopped

1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt

3/4 teaspoon black pepper

non-stick spray

Directions

Set oven to 350 degrees F.

Get a baking sheet. Peel the eggplants. (I didn’t but would peel next time) Put the eggplants in halves longways and make diagonal cuts in both directions and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.

Cover with foil and leave in your oven about 90 minutes till soft.

Chill in your refrigerator over night. Remove the eggplants and throw away the liquid that came out. Blot the eggplants dry. Now put the eggplant meat in a microwave safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for about 5 minutes. Leave the bowl alone and still covered for about one half hour and more liquid will come out. Drain the liquid and now you can stir the eggplant up with a fork to break it up into eggplant meat.

Now you can mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.

Set your oven to 350 degrees F

You need a baking sheet(s) and nonstick spray.

Make a just one sample Eggplant Meatless Meatball to test for spices and texture. Let the ball cool a little before you try it. I noticed the balls do stick a little to the pan but as they cool they loosen. The Eggplant Ball needs about 12 minutes in the oven.

Now use a small scooper and make your Eggplant Meatless Meatballs. Here they are raw. Mine needed 14 minutes in the oven.

Here they are out of the oven.

Here they are plated up.

You don’t really get that they are vegetarian. They just taste forking delicious!

Anybody would like them.