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Stuffed Aubergines with Lentils, Tomato and Feta

Roasted aubergine (eggplant) halves filled with a smoky spiced lentil and tomato mixture, topped with tomato slices and feta and baked until bubbling. Vegetarian, with 24g of fibre and 22g of protein a serving.

Dinner

70

Serves 2 (2 halves each)

Baked aubergine halves filled with a spiced tomato and lentil mixture, topped with tomato slices, golden crumbled feta and fresh parsley

Ingredients

  • 2 large aubergines (eggplants, about 700g/1lb 9oz in total)
  • 4 tsp (20ml) olive oil in total: 2 tsp for brushing, 2 tsp for the filling
  • 1 medium onion (about 100g/3½oz), finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic (about 8g), crushed
  • 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika and half a tsp ground cinnamon (about 6g in total)
  • 1 x 400g (14oz) tin (can) green or brown lentils, drained and rinsed (about 240g/8½oz drained)
  • Half a 400g (14oz) tin chopped tomatoes (200g/7oz)
  • 1 tbsp (15g) tomato purée (tomato paste)
  • Half a tsp salt and black pepper
  • 2 ripe tomatoes (about 150g/5oz), sliced
  • 60g/2oz feta, crumbled (choose one made with vegetarian rennet if needed)
  • 10g/a loosely packed ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, to serve

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan, 400F) and line a baking tray (baking sheet) with baking paper (parchment paper).
  2. Halve the aubergines lengthways. Score the flesh in a criss-cross pattern, about 1cm/½in deep, without cutting through the skin. Brush the cut sides with 2 tsp of the oil, season with a little of the salt and pepper and roast cut side up for 30 minutes, until the flesh is soft.
  3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tsp oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and cook the onion for 8 minutes, until soft. Add the garlic and spices and cook for 1 minute.
  4. When the aubergines are soft, leave them to cool for a few minutes, then scoop out most of the flesh with a spoon, leaving a 1cm/½in shell. Chop the flesh and add it to the pan with the lentils, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, until thick.
  5. Pile the filling into the aubergine shells, top with the tomato slices and scatter with feta. Bake for 15 minutes, until hot through and the feta is golden at the edges.
  6. Scatter with parsley and serve 2 halves each. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat until piping hot.

Why it works

Two halves give you about 22g of protein and an impressive 24g of fibre for 453 calories. That is most of the 30g of fibre a day recommended for adults in the UK, thanks to the aubergine and lentils.

Roast the aubergine first. Raw aubergine is spongy and can taste bitter. Scoring and roasting the halves makes the flesh soft and creamy, ready to scoop out and mix into the filling.

Why lentils. Tinned lentils add plant protein and fibre and give the filling a hearty, mince-like texture, with no need for meat. They are ready to use, so there is no soaking or long cooking.

Why it is tagged for blood sugar. Although there are 38g of carbohydrate, the very high fibre and good amount of protein slow down digestion, making this a meal unlikely to cause a sharp rise in blood sugar. Tomatoes add flavour and vitamin C.

Check the feta label if you need it to be vegetarian. For another vegetarian dinner, try the baked ratatouille with chickpeas or the halloumi, lentil and roasted vegetable salad.