What Type of Meats Go With Eggplant?

The versatile eggplant can be baked, fried, steamed, sauteed, grilled and broiled. It's an ingredient in recipes in cuisines across the globe such as Chinese, Italian, Moroccan, Mediterranean, Irish, Indian and more. To remove a slight bitterness that can appear when it's cooked, salt the chopped eggplant and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse well and drain, patting the pieces of eggplant dry. The rich, complex flavor of the eggplant complements many meat dishes.

Ground Beef

Eggplant and ground beef can be combined in a wide array of recipes. You can create a large casserole, called moussaka, with eggplant, potatoes, onions, ground beef, flour, and the cheeses and spices of your choice. You can also make a tasty spaghetti sauce with eggplant and ground beef and the vegetables of your choice.

Sausage

Sausage and eggplant go together in many classic Italian dishes. Depending on your preference for spice and heat, there are many different kinds of Italian sausage from which to choose, made from pork, beef, lamb or a mix of spiced meats. Sausage-stuffed eggplant is a delicious recipe made by baking the eggplant, scooping out the interior and mixing with sausage and spices. It's then baked again and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Chicken

If you're looking for a lower fat option, pairing chicken with eggplant is the basis for many recipes. One take on Eggplant Parmesan pairs baked chicken with eggplant, tomatoes, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Chicken and eggplant also work well in stir-frys.

Lamb

Eggplant and lamb can be found paired together in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. Eggplant and lamb stew is an easy recipe that blends the two ingredients with tomatoes, onions, garlic, bell peppers, water, and pepper in a slow simmer for 1-1/2 hours. Serve this tender dish over rice.

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