Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant Boats

Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant Boats

Mia

These Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant Boats are a celebration of the vibrant flavors and wholesome ingredients that define Mediterranean cuisine. Tender eggplant halves are transformed into edible vessels, filled with a savory mixture of fluffy quinoa, sun-ripened tomatoes, aromatic herbs, and tangy feta cheese. This dish perfectly embodies the Mediterranean Diet's emphasis on vegetables, whole grains, and heart-healthy olive oil.

Roasting the eggplant until soft and caramelized creates a natural sweetness that pairs beautifully with the herbaceous filling. The quinoa provides a complete protein and satisfying texture, while fresh parsley, oregano, and garlic infuse every bite with classic Mediterranean aromatics. Cherry tomatoes add bursts of acidity and color, and a sprinkle of feta cheese brings a creamy, salty finish.

This recipe is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to include your favorite Mediterranean ingredients like olives, pine nuts, or sun-dried tomatoes. It's a perfect make-ahead dinner option that reheats beautifully, and it's impressive enough to serve to guests yet simple enough for a weeknight meal.

Whether you're following the Mediterranean Diet or simply looking for a nutritious, plant-forward dinner, these stuffed eggplant boats deliver on both flavor and nutrition. They're naturally vegetarian, gluten-free, and packed with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that support overall health and wellbeing.

Nutrition

1 hour 5 minutes
None servings
385 calories
Fat 21.00g
Carbs 42.00g
Protein 12.00g

Ingredients

2 wholemedium eggplants
5 tbspextra virgin olive oil, divided
1 tspsalt, divided
1/2 tspblack pepper, divided
3/4 cupquinoa, uncooked
1 1/2 cupswater or vegetable broth
1 mediumyellow onion, diced
3 clovesgarlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cupscherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cupfresh parsley, chopped
1 tspdried oregano
1 wholelemon, juiced
1/2 cupfeta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cuppine nuts, toasted (optional)
2 tbspfresh basil, chopped (optional)

Equipment

Cutting board
Parchment paper
Oven
medium saucepan with lid
fork
spoon
fine-mesh strainer
measuring cups and spoons
large baking sheet
pastry brush
large skillet
sharp knife

16:8 Diet

This nutrient-dense recipe is perfect for the 16:8 eating window, providing complete protein from quinoa, healthy fats from olive oil and pine nuts, complex carbohydrates, and fiber-rich vegetables that deliver sustained energy and satiety throughout the fasting period.

80/20 Diet

This recipe fits the 80/20 approach with over 80% nutrient-dense whole foods including vegetables, quinoa, olive oil, fresh herbs, and nuts, while allowing a small amount of feta cheese, creating a balanced, anti-inflammatory meal rich in fiber and vitamins.

Clean Eating

This recipe exemplifies clean eating with only whole, minimally processed ingredients in their natural state—fresh vegetables, whole grain quinoa, extra virgin olive oil, raw nuts, fresh herbs, and natural cheese—without any refined sugars, artificial ingredients, or processed foods.

Diabetic Diet

This recipe is diabetic-friendly with low glycemic index quinoa as the grain base, abundant non-starchy vegetables, healthy fats from olive oil that slow glucose absorption, and controlled portions of complex carbohydrates that support stable blood sugar levels.

Flexitarian Diet

This recipe exemplifies flexitarian eating by centering entirely on plant-based ingredients—quinoa, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil—with optional dairy (feta) as a supporting ingredient, emphasizing whole foods and plant proteins without any meat.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, using quinoa as the grain base instead of wheat-based ingredients, with all other components (eggplant, vegetables, olive oil, feta, nuts) being naturally free from gluten-containing grains.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This recipe is heart-healthy, featuring extra virgin olive oil rich in monounsaturated fats, fiber-rich quinoa and vegetables, antioxidant-packed tomatoes and herbs, and omega-3 containing pine nuts, while avoiding saturated fats, trans fats, and processed ingredients.

High-Fiber Diet

This recipe is excellent for high-fiber diets, combining fiber-rich quinoa (5g per cup cooked), eggplant, tomatoes, and fresh vegetables to deliver substantial dietary fiber that supports digestive health and satiety.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense recipe is ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing complete protein from quinoa, healthy fats from olive oil and pine nuts, complex carbohydrates, and fiber-rich vegetables that promote satiety and stable blood sugar levels throughout fasting periods.

Intuitive Eating

This recipe supports intuitive eating principles by offering a satisfying, balanced meal with varied textures and flavors from vegetables, grains, cheese, and nuts, emphasizing both nourishment and pleasure without restriction or guilt-inducing language.

Mayo Clinic Diet

This recipe follows Mayo Clinic Diet guidelines by emphasizing abundant vegetables (eggplant, tomatoes), whole grains (quinoa), healthy fats from olive oil and nuts, and avoiding processed foods and refined grains, creating a nutrient-dense, portion-appropriate meal.

Mediterranean Diet

This recipe is a quintessential Mediterranean dish, featuring extra virgin olive oil as the primary fat, quinoa as a whole grain, abundant vegetables including eggplant and tomatoes, and heart-healthy ingredients like pine nuts and feta cheese. It emphasizes plant-based ingredients with herbs and lemon for flavoring, perfectly embodying Mediterranean Diet principles.

MIND Diet

This recipe aligns with MIND Diet principles by featuring brain-healthy ingredients including olive oil as the primary fat, vegetables, nuts (pine nuts), whole grains (quinoa), and herbs, while avoiding red meat, butter, and fried foods.

Mindful Eating

This recipe is ideal for mindful eating with its diverse colors, textures, and aromas—from the caramelized eggplant to fresh herbs and crunchy pine nuts—encouraging sensory appreciation and conscious consumption of whole, minimally processed ingredients.

Plant-Based Diet

This recipe can be made plant-based by simply omitting the feta cheese, as it already features quinoa for complete plant protein, abundant vegetables, legume-like quinoa, nuts, and olive oil—all whole, minimally processed plant foods that are nutrient-dense and high in fiber.

Vegetarian Diet

This vegetarian recipe provides complete nutrition through quinoa's plant-based protein, dairy from feta cheese, and an abundance of vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats from olive oil and pine nuts, making it a satisfying meat-free meal.

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

5 min
2

Rinse the quinoa thoroughly in a fine-mesh strainer under cold running water for about 30 seconds to remove any bitter coating.

1 min
3
18 min

In a medium saucepan, combine the quinoa and water or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy.

4

While the quinoa cooks, cut each eggplant in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, carefully scoop out the flesh, leaving about 1/4-inch border around the edges to create boat shapes. Reserve the scooped flesh.

5 min
5

Chop the reserved eggplant flesh into small cubes, about 1/2-inch pieces.

2 min
6

Brush the inside and outside of each eggplant boat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil total. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.

2 min
7

Place the eggplant boats cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until tender and slightly golden.

25 min
8

While the eggplant roasts, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat.

2 min
9
5 min

Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened and translucent.

10
7 min

Add the minced garlic and chopped eggplant flesh to the skillet. Cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the eggplant is soft and golden.

11
4 min

Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook until they begin to soften and release their juices, about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

12

Remove the quinoa from heat and fluff it with a fork. Add the cooked quinoa to the skillet with the vegetables.

1 min
13

Stir in the chopped parsley, dried oregano, lemon juice, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well to combine all ingredients.

1 min
14

Remove from heat and fold in half of the crumbled feta cheese, reserving the rest for topping.

15

Remove the roasted eggplant boats from the oven. Carefully spoon the quinoa mixture evenly into each eggplant boat, mounding it generously.

3 min
16

Sprinkle the remaining feta cheese over the top of each stuffed eggplant boat. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

1 min
17

Return the stuffed eggplants to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the filling is heated through and the feta is slightly golden.

15 min
18

Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with toasted pine nuts and fresh basil if desired before serving.

5 min

Frequently Asked Questions