This eggplant beef Involtini really is one of those best dinners that become a family favorite dinner very quickly. It's versatile in that you can omit the meat or use the meat if you're not vegetarian like us. Beautiful rich tomato sauce, beef mince and parmesan cheese to bake, a quick and easy meal that's simply delicious!
Our Involtini spice which is part of our Italian Spice Collection is a very simple umami bottle that stems from our connection to Italy, Melanzane (eggplant) and beef roll ups. This Eggplant Beef Involtini is beef mince, tomato sauce and parmesan cheese rolled up in grilled eggplants and then baked.
For some reason I clearly have nostalgia to a simmering tomato sauce on the stove. When I have eggplants that seems to be the place I go to without giving it much thought at all. I have a lot of love for Eggplant Parmigiana as I do these Involtini (which means 'roll ups').
The difference with Eggplant beef Involtini is that you don't fry the eggplants in a batter and ther eare no layers when baking which already cuts your time down tremendously. I must say that dipping the Eggplants in a batter and frying them for Eggplant Parmigiana was the whole idea for me! We love the process and although time consuming its never a chore it's more a time when family gathers and creating memories.
Fried eggplant from my Eggplant Parmigiana recipe that I have to stop hands from stealing while I assemble.
Always worth the effort.
Eggplant Beef Involtini
Now back to this equally inviting weeknight friendly eggplant beef Involtini.
Eggplants: First slice them up and either oven bake or grill the slices
Beef mince: Heat olive oil and sauté the beef mince. Add Involtini spice or your favorite umamai spice. Cook until it changes color from pink to brown. No need to over cook the meat it cooks finish in the oven.
Tomato sauce: You can use store-bought tomato sauce but my homemade sauce will steal the show for sure!
Assemble To Bake The Eggplant Beef Involtini
Layer the tomato sauce over each grilled eggplant followed by the beef mince and a sprinkle parmesan cheese.
Roll each one up and place into a baking dish layered with tomato sauce. That's it!
You can add more sauce over the eggplant beef Involtini. As much as I love those charred character grill marks to show a little I'm also a sucker for grilled cheese on top!
All On The Blog
- Eggplant Parmigiana
- Eggplant, Tomato and Bocconcini Salad
- Roasted Eggplant (Melanzane Aubergine)
- Easy Tomato Sauce With Parmigiano-Reggiano Rind
Eggplant Beef Involtini
Serve this easy oven bake with Homemade Ciabatta Bread, or if you still have some.of this Easy No Knead Bread Recipe. This oven bake is a meal on its own with the tomato sauce and beef mince but a light Tomato Cucumber Salad or a Cucumber and Onion Salad can always be served in the side.
Tips and Suggestions
I love to share a few tips and suggestions that can help you make it stress free.
To oven bake the eggplant slice it fairly thick, brush with olive oil and place on baking tray with paper. Bake for 8 minutes on the one side, take them out flip them over and bake the other side for 5 minutes.
Check halfway through. If they are soft enough to roll bake them for a shorter time on the opposite side.
Recipe
Eggplant Beef Involtini
Ingredients
- 2 eggplants
- olive oil
- 3 cups tomato sauce
- 5 00 grams lean beef mince
- 2 tbsps Involtini Spice Rub - Smell & Taste
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: If roasting the eggplants Preheat the oven to 220 C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Cook the beef mince: Heat a pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the beef mince and 1 tablespoon Involtini seasoning. Add a pinch of salt and pepper Combine and leave to cook for 10 minutes on medium heat. Stir once or twice and turn heat off once the meat is all brown and cooked through.
- Prepare the eggplants: While the beef mince cooks slice the tops off the eggplants and discard. Slice lengthwise, brush the slices with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, both asides. To roast:Lay on the prepared baking tray and roast for 8 minutes, flip them over and bake for 5 minutes.To grill: Grill on high heat until charred marks appear. 5 minutes on the first side and 3 to 4 minutes after flipping. Cooling: Set aside and cool.
- Easy recipe for tomato sauce
Assemble the Involtini
- Spread a couple spoon fulls of sauce into a 9 x 13 size baking dish.
- On a board or work surface lay the eggplant slices down and start with a spoonful of tomato sauce on each slice. Add the beef mince and parmesan cheese. Don't overfill the eggplant slices with meat and sauce it will be more difficult to roll unless you already know how.
- Roll each one firmly yet gently to avoid the slices from tearing. Repeat for all the slices
- Add a spoon of tomato sauce over with a generous amount of cheese.
- Bake until the cheese has melted and the top osngolden brown. Approximately 18 to 20 minutes.
- Serve with ciabatta, garlic bread or potato sides.
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