Recipe: Stuffed eggplant

Dietitian's tip: For a meatless version, saute extra-firm tofu instead of chicken breast along with the vegetables. For another variation, add tarragon and lemon or Cajun spices to jazz up the eggplant stuffing.

High fiber = at least 5 g of fiber per serving

Healthy carb = whole fruits & vegetables, at least 50% whole grains and no more than 1 tsp of sugar per serving

SERVES 2

Ingredients

1 medium eggplant

1 cup water

2 tablespoons olive oil

6 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips 1/2 inch wide and 2 inches long

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped red, green or yellow bell peppers

1 cup canned unsalted tomatoes, drained except for 1/4 cup liquid

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1 cup whole-wheat bread crumbs

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a baking dish with cooking spray.

Trim the ends off the eggplant and cut in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the pulp, leaving a shell 1/4-inch thick. Place the shells in the baking dish and add the water to the bottom of the dish. Chop the eggplant pulp into cubes. Set aside.

In a large, nonstick frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken strips and saute until the chicken is lightly browned and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the diced eggplant, onion, peppers, tomatoes and reserved tomato juice, celery, and mushrooms to the chicken. Reduce heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the bread crumbs and black pepper. Scoop half of the mixture into each eggplant shell.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake until the eggplant is softened and the stuffing is warmed through, about 15 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to warmed individual plates and serve immediately.

Nutritional Analysis

(per serving)

Serving size: 1 eggplant half
Calories	388	Cholesterol	49 mg
Protein	26 g	Sodium	185 mg
Carbohydrate	35 g	Fiber	12 g
Total fat	15 g	Potassium	1,209 mg
Saturated fat	2 g	Calcium	54 mg
Monounsaturated fat	10 g