Eggplant Involtini

This Eggplant Involtini recipe is a healthier, lighter, and more satisfying take on the old-school Italian classic. Eggplant slices are first baked in the oven (rather than fried) and stuffed with a soft and creamy ricotta mixture, then finished in a rich tomato sauce. Serve it as a hearty vegetarian meal or side dish to accompany any main dishes. ​Eggplant is most certainly one of my favorite vegetables. While I love any Italian dish with eggplant like Eggplant Baked Ziti, a fun Mediterranean vegetarian stuffed eggplant, or a classic like Turkish Stuffed Eggplant, transforming eggplant into involtini is quick, easy, and delicious.

Why Should You Try This Recipe?
Eggplant and ricotta are a match made in heaven – and for good reason. An America’s Test Kitchen recipe that stood the test of time, I make this easy vegetarian recipe during the eggplant season. I know you will love it because:
Healthy and satisfying: Baking eggplant slices in the oven cuts down on prep time (and all the unwanted fat and calories from frying) and allows the meaty texture of eggplant to shine.
A feast for eyes: I always make this involtini recipe when I am entertaining. It’s one of those dishes that make people swoon as soon as you place it in the middle of the table. First, the smell hits them, and then the beauty of rolled eggplant with ricotta cheese simmering in tomato sauce.
Hearty and vegetarian: I love a vegetarian meal that can stand up on its own. Serve it with a crisp green salad such as my Spring Mix Salad or Butter Lettuce Salad on the side for a summery feel.

Yields: 4 servings   Prep Time: 20 mins    Cook Time: 40 mins    Total: 1 hr.

​For the eggplant, you will need two large eggplants, olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper.
To make the filling, gather together ricotta cheese, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves, lemon juice, and lemon zest. For the tomato sauce, you will need olive oil, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, canned diced tomatoes, and fresh basil.

Ingredient Substitutions and Notes
Eggplant: When you are shopping for eggplant, I recommend buying shorter and wider ones that are similar in size. I buy globe eggplants that are widely available.
Ricotta Cheese: I use this Homemade Ricotta Cheese recipe, but you can use storebought full-fat ricotta as well. 
Breadcrumbs: Use unseasoned regular breadcrumbs. Feel free to swap them out for gluten-free breadcrumbs instead.
Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese can be used interchangeably.
Fresh Herbs: Feel free to add more herbs to the ricotta cheese mixture, such as fresh parsley or oregano. Garnishing with fresh chopped parsley adds a special finishing touch.
Tomato Sauce: I like to make a simple tomato sauce from scratch. Or, if you want to save on time, use one jar (half a recipe) of this Homemade Tomato Sauce or any leftover marinara sauce you have in your fridge.

How to Make
The simplicity of this eggplant stuffed with ricotta really brings the eggplant into focus. Here’s how to make it:
​
Step 1: Bake Eggplant
Below are the basic steps to precook the eggplant slices for this recipe. However, if you wish to learn more about it, be sure to check my detailed post on Baked Eggplant Slices.

​Prep equipment: Preheat the oven to 400 F degrees. Set up two large baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray.
Slice the eggplants: Cut the stem end off, then peel each eggplant with a vegetable peeler. Slice eggplant lengthwise into ½-inch thick slices. Trim the rounded ends for even cooking.
Coat with olive oil: Brush eggplant slices with olive oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
Bake: Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the eggplant is tender and soft to touch. Flip the eggplant slices and switch and rotate the sheets halfway through baking. 
Step 2: Prepare The Ricotta Filling
Mix all ingredients: Combine ricotta cheese, breadcrumbs, grated cheese, chopped fresh basil, lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.

​Step 3: Make the Tomato Sauce
Saute aromatics and seasonings: In a 10-inch ovenproof skillet, add olive oil and heat for 1 minute over medium heat. Add the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, oregano, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for 30 seconds.
Cook tomatoes: Stir in the canned diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat, until thickened for about 12 to 15 minutes.
Add basil: Once tomatoes have thickened, add the chopped basil, give it a large stir and turn off the heat.

​Step 4: Assembly
​Roll the eggplant: Evenly distribute the ricotta cheese mixture onto the widest end of each eggplant slice (bottom third of each slice). Then, gently roll eggplant slices with your hands. Place seam side down, in the pan with the tomato sauce.
Simmer, then broil: Once all the eggplant slices are in the pan, bring it back up to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes, then broil for 5 more minutes in the oven.
Finish and serve: Sprinkle with the remaining grated cheese and chopped basil. When serving, place a rolled eggplant on a plate and spoon tomato sauce over. 

Vertical Divider

Ingredients:

For Baked Eggplant Slices
▢2 globe eggplants each approximately 1 to 1/2 half lbs.*
▢5 tablespoons olive oil divided
▢Kosher Salt and Pepper
For Ricotta Mixture
▢1 cup homemade ricotta cheese or full fat store bought ricotta cheese
▢3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese Or Pecorino Romano cheese
▢1/2 cup breadcrumbs
▢1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
▢1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
▢1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
For Tomato Sauce
▢1 tablespoon olive oil
▢3 cloves of garlic minced
▢1/4 teaspoon oregano
▢Pinch of red pepper flakes
▢1 can diced tomatoes 28 oz of can
▢1/2 cup fresh basil loosly packed and roughly chopped
As Garnish
▢2 tablespoons fresh basil roughly chopped
▢2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese​

​Notes

• When you are shopping for eggplants I recommend buying shorter and wider ones that are similar in size. I also recommend making sure that they are sliced around 1/2-inch thick, which should give you 5-6 slices per eggplant.
• Sweating eggplants: As you can see in the recipe, I did not salt the eggplants as I was making this recipe during the eggplant season. However, if you prefer salting yours, feel free to do so before baking the eggplant slices in the oven. If you are new to it, be sure to check out my guide on How To Prepare and Salt eggplant before cooking.
• Not a fan of broiling? Alternatively, you can place the skillet in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition
Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 381mg | Potassium: 641mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 404IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 376mg | Iron: 2mg

Instructions:
To prepare eggplant:

• Pre-heat your oven to 400 F Degrees.
• Peel the eggplants. Cut them lengthwise into 6 slices. Each slice should be about 1/2 inch thick. Trim the rounded ends so that they will lay flat.
• Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper and spray them generously with cooking spray. Place 6 eggplant slices on each baking sheet.
• Start with the first baking sheet. Brush each eggplant slice with two and a half tablespoons of olive oil (you use the 2 1/2 tbs olive oil to brush all of the slices) and season it with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Flip each slice and do the same thing for the other side. Repeat the same process for the second baking sheet.
• Place both sheets in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until they are tender and lightly browned. To ensure even baking, flip eggplant slices and switch and rotate sheets halfway through the baking process.
• When eggplants are baked, let them cool for 5 minutes.

To make the filling:

• Place 1 cup of homemade ricotta cheese (or full-fat supermarket ricotta cheese), 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir until they are all combined. Set aside.

To make the tomato sauce:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet (I used a 10-inch skillet). Add the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, oregano, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.
• Stir in the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, on medium-low heat, until it thickens, 12-15 minutes.
• At the very end, add the chopped basil, give it a large stir, cover, and set aside.

​To assemble:

• With the widest side of the eggplant slices facing you, evenly distribute approximately 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of ricotta mixture onto each slice. Starting from the widest end, gently roll each piece and place it, seamed side down, in the pan with the tomato sauce.
• Bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Allow it to cook for 5 minutes.
• Turn the broiler on, place it in the oven, and broil* for 5 minutes until the eggplants and cheese are warmed thoroughly.

To finish:

• Sprinkle it with 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese and 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil.
• When ready to serve, place a few eggplant rolls onto a plate and spoon a generous amount of tomato sauce over it.