Eggplant Involtini
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Eggplant Involtini recipe is a breeze to make yet keeps all of the original delicious flavors. The eggplant is baked then rolled around creamy ricotta and simmered in a basic tomato sauce. Serve it with a side of garlic bread and a Caesar salad for a simple main course meal.
I made us Eggplant Involtini! Wait, eggplant invol-what in the what?
You heard me, my friends. These soft and cheesy pasta-like rolls smothered in garlic bread dip worthy tomato sauce are called Eggplant Involitini. They are my everything right now.
But let's back it up.
Eggplant Involtini is an Italian dish that is made by wrapping ricotta and parmesan cheeses inside soft cooked eggplant and then baked nestled in a tomato sauce. It reminds me of baked cannelloni, only a gluten-free/ pasta-free version.
Made the traditional way, eggplant involtini takes ages to make, dirties every pot in your kitchen, and is borderline too greasy even for someone like me who has a big soft spot for greasy food.
So what the heck is an eggplant involtini recipe doing on a blog that's supposed to be about easy to make and healthy recipes?
Well, I gave these babies a makeover.
I was thinking, with Valentine's Day coming up next week, that this would be the perfect date night dinner recipe. (Once I made them easier to make and not greasy at all.)
Traditionally, eggplant involtini is made by frying thin strips of eggplant. I've got nothing against the odd crispy, deep fried treat, but have you ever tried to cook eggplant in oil before? It's like a thirsty oil sponge. Honestly, it's kind of disturbing how much oil eggplant can soak up.
I did away with the frying step to partly because I'm too lazy to deep fry on your average weekday night. (Mostly cause I'm too lazy.) The added bonus is that the dish is lightened up considerably without all that extra oil.
What I've done instead, is baked it with a drizzle of oil. The roasted eggplant strips are soft and pliable, just like the fried ones, but are not greasy at all.
Your Eggplant Involtini game plan:
ā” Cut two eggplants into long, thin strips. Bake them in your oven until they are soft.
ā” Mix together some ricotta, parmesan, and a squeeze of lemon.
ā” Simmer a simple tomato sauce.
ā” Roll the lemony ricotta in the eggplant and bake with the sauce poured over top.
ā” Eat!
See how easy that was?
You'll have the ricotta and the tomato sauce made by the time the eggplant strips come out of the oven. All you'll need to do then is quickly roll them, pop them in the oven, and pour yourself a glass of wine.
Pour one for me too and I'll come over to help you eat!
If you make this Eggplant Involtini Recipe make sure you snap a pic and tag #theendlessmeal on Instagram so I can like and comment on your photos. I love seeing TEM recipes you create!
Eggplant Involtini Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large globe eggplants
- Olive oil (for drizzling)
- Ā¼ teaspoon sea salt
- Ā½ cup grated parmesan (plus extra to serve)
- Ā½ cup basil (plus extra to serve)
Tomato Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Ā¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Ricotta Filling
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta
- Ā½ cup grated parmesan
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Sea salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the tops and bottoms off the eggplants and then thinly slice them lengthwise into 4-5 slices each. Drizzle them with the olive oil and sprinkle with the sea salt. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until soft.2 large globe eggplants, Olive oil, Ā¼ teaspoon sea salt
- While the eggplants are roasting, prepare the rest of the meal. Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add all the other tomato sauce ingredients and bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat to a gently simmer.1 tablespoon olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon sea salt, Ā¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir all the ricotta filling ingredients together.1 cup whole milk ricotta, Ā½ cup grated parmesan, Juice from 1 lemon, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, Sea salt and pepper
To assemble the easy eggplant involtini
- When the eggplants come out of the oven, set them aside to cool for a minute. (Keep the oven on.) Pour the tomato sauce into an oven proof baking dish.
- Divide the ricotta filling between the eggplant slices, heaping the filling on the wide end of the eggplant, and top with the basil. Carefully roll the eggplant around the filling and place, seam-side down, in the tomato sauce in the baking dish.Ā½ cup basil
- Sprinkle the parmesan over the top and bake in the oven until bubbly, about 15 minutes. Serve with extra parmesan and some basil sprinkled over the top.Ā½ cup grated parmesan
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our vegetarian recipes and all of our dinner ideas!
