Rating: 3.60
(65)

Baked Stuffed Eggplant with Fish

July 3, 2024

Baked stuffed eggplant with fish is a nourishing, flavor-packed dish that combines the earthy richness of roasted eggplant with the delicate texture of flaky white fish. Rooted in Mediterranean tradition, this dish is both comforting and refined, perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion that calls for something different yet approachable.

The recipe begins with halved eggplants, hollowed slightly to create space for the stuffing. The eggplant shells are brushed with olive oil and roasted until tender, their flesh becoming sweet and silky in the oven. Meanwhile, the scooped-out eggplant is diced and sautéed with onion, garlic, tomatoes, and herbs like parsley, oregano, or basil. This forms the flavorful base of the stuffing.

Next, tender white fish such as cod, haddock, or sea bass is gently flaked and mixed into the sautéed vegetables. The fish can be precooked or poached in a bit of lemon water or broth for extra flavor. The filling is then spooned generously into the roasted eggplant halves, topped with a light sprinkle of breadcrumbs or grated Parmesan (or a dairy-free alternative), and baked again until golden and bubbling.

What makes this dish truly special is its balance. The richness of the roasted eggplant contrasts beautifully with the lightness of the fish, while the tomatoes and herbs provide brightness and depth. The result is a satisfying, nutrient-rich meal that feels indulgent without being heavy.

Serve the baked stuffed eggplants warm, garnished with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon. Pair them with a simple green salad, herbed couscous, or crusty bread to complete the meal. This dish is naturally gluten-free if you skip the breadcrumbs or use a GF alternative, and it’s a great way to enjoy fish in a creative and wholesome way.

Baked stuffed eggplant with fish is rustic, elegant, and full of fresh, clean flavors that bring the spirit of the Mediterranean to your table.

Baked Stuffed Eggplant with Fish
Baked Stuffed Eggplant with Fish
3.60 from 65 votes
A delicious and healthy recipe for baked stuffed eggplant with fish.
Servings 4 people
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 eggplant large,
  • 1 pound fish fillets
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 Garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup parsley chopped
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Chop the eggplant flesh and set aside.
  • Season the fish fillets with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the fish fillets until opaque and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and flake the fish into small pieces.
  • In the same skillet, heat another tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chopped eggplant flesh, onion, and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
  • In a bowl, combine the cooked rice, flaked fish, cooked vegetables, breadcrumbs, parsley, and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Stuff each eggplant half with the rice and fish mixture. Place the stuffed eggplants in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the eggplants are tender and the tops are golden brown.
  • Serve the baked stuffed eggplants as a main course or as a side dish. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 30gFat: 12gFiber: 8g
Calories: 350kcal
Meal Type: Lunch
Keyword: fish, fish lovers, lunch ideas, Stuffed Eggplant
Cooking Method: Baked
Time: >45 Min
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Join the Conversation
  1. User avatar esperanza.douglas says:

    2 stars
    So much work for a vegitable. If I wanted fish, I’d just grill it. No need for all this stuffing.

  2. User avatar hayden.wilkinson31 says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is a keeper! The fish and eggplant go so well together. Can’t wait to make it again!

    1. User avatar Super Saiyan Vegeta says:

      5 stars
      I totally agree! This dish is so delicious. Gonna make it for my family this weekend!

  3. User avatar chase.bosco27 says:

    2 stars
    Baked?? I thought you were supposed to fry these! I don’t get it. But I guess it’s healthier?

  4. User avatar Daedric Prince says:

    5 stars
    Eggplants are my fave! 5 stars! Easy buT DELISH! 👍🍆

  5. User avatar cassidy.effertz says:

    1 star
    Not for me, sorry. Eggplant is weird and I didn’t really like the texture. Maybe other people like it tho.

  6. User avatar shannon.lowe2004 says:

    5 stars
    I added more cheese, and wow! Super cheesy and delicious. Will be making it again!

  7. 4 stars
    I was skeptical at first about fish in eggplant, but it actually turned out pretty good. Will try again!

  8. User avatar jared.ratke says:

    4 stars
    I have never cooked fish before. This recipe made it simple. Very yummy!

    1. User avatar raguel.rohan10 says:

      5 stars
      That’s awesome! I’m glad you found it simple. Fish can be intimidating, but it’s so good when it’s cooked right.

    2. 2 stars
      Yummy? Hmmm, fish isn’t my thing. I think I’d try it with something else, like chicken maybe?

  9. User avatar eric.gleichner says:

    3 stars
    I tried this and it was okay, but I think it needed more spices, maybe some cayenne? Also, my fish fell apart too much.

  10. User avatar Eddie the Computer says:

    3 stars
    I tried this and it was… okay. The fish was too bland for me. Maybe some lemon would help?

    1. User avatar martina.kohler2024 says:

      4 stars
      I totally agree! A squeeze of lemon would brighten it up a lot. Maybe some herbs too! 🍋

  11. User avatar joaquina.ferry58 says:

    2 stars
    I don’t know about this one… my kids are super picky eaters. They said NO WAY. Maybe I should try without the fish?

    1. 4 stars
      Maybe try veggies instead of fish? My kids love stuffed eggplant with just cheese and rice! Worth a shot!

    2. User avatar laurence.jerde92 says:

      2 stars
      Nah, my kids wouldn’t touch this either. Fish is too fishy! Stick to pizza, trust me.

  12. User avatar wade.brekke2004 says:

    1 star
    Too many steps for me. Cooking is hard and I’m not sure how to handle fish. 😩

    1. 4 stars
      I get it! Fish can be tricky, but once you try it, you might love it! Maybe start with simpler recipes first? 😊

  13. User avatar nelida.auer33 says:

    2 stars
    I tried this and it didn’t turn out great. The eggplant was too mushy for my taste and I think you might need to cook the fish longer.

  14. User avatar merle.kshlerin says:

    1 star
    Baked Eggplant? Nah, I’m not sure that sounds good. Fish with eggplant? Sounds weird.

  15. User avatar jaimee.brakus19 says:

    2 stars
    Why would someone stuff eggplant with fish? That just sounds wrong! Eggplants are for baking with cheese! 😒

    1. User avatar filiberto.mclaughlin5 says:

      5 stars
      I think that’s a unique combination! I’ve always enjoyed trying new things, and this sounds delicious to me. Eggplant can really take on flavors well. 😋

    2. User avatar steve_maga says:

      1 star
      Ugh, fish and eggplant just don’t mix! You might as well use jelly with it! Stick to cheese and tomato sauce, please.

  16. 5 stars
    Yum! I added some spice to it and it turned out fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

    1. 4 stars
      That sounds delicious! I might try adding garlic powder too next time. 😊

    2. User avatar deandre.toy37 says:

      3 stars
      Spice? What kind? I don’t think eggplant can handle too much. 🤷‍♂️

  17. User avatar Billy Medhurst says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is amazing! I made it for my family and they loved it! So flavorful.

    1. User avatar erin.bednar says:

      5 stars
      I totally agree! This recipe is a game changer. My kids devoured it too! 🌟

    2. User avatar marla.auer1985 says:

      3 stars
      Sounds good, but isn’t eggplant kinda bitter? Just wondering if it really tastes alright.

  18. User avatar clint.cruickshank3 says:

    4 stars
    Quick and tastes great! Olive oil drizzles enhance the flavor. Will recommend to my friends.

    1. User avatar alva.rohan says:

      2 stars
      Sounds good, but fish in eggplant? Hmm, I dunno about that. Might stick to just veggies.

    2. 5 stars
      I totally agree! Olive oil really brings out the flavors. This dish is a hit at my home too!

  19. 2 stars
    My eggplant turned out mushy. What did I do wrong? Not sure about baking this way.

  20. User avatar billy.kuhic5 says:

    3 stars
    I don’t know about fish in eggplant… sounds a bit weird. Can it work?

  21. User avatar Glossu "Beast" Rabban says:

    3 stars
    I’m not much of a cook. Can anyone tell me if I can skip the fish? Sounds complicated.

  22. User avatar stasia.collier86 says:

    4 stars
    Eggplants are my fave! This is my new go-to dinner recipe. So easy and so good. YUM!

  23. User avatar Lumberjack says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is amazing! I’ve made it twice already and my family loves it.

  24. 4 stars
    Delicious! I didn’t have parmesan, so I used cheddar. Not bad, just try it out!

  25. User avatar joe_banana says:

    4 stars
    Super easy to make! But I might add some chili flakes next time for a kick. Thanks for the recipe!

    1. User avatar natisha.oberbrunner says:

      5 stars
      Chili flakes sound like a great idea! I think it’ll give it a nice flavor. I made it last week and it was super tasty!

  26. User avatar riley.grady2002 says:

    3 stars
    Great idea but the steps are a bit confusing. How do you ‘scoop out’ the eggplant? I just kinda hacked at it and ended up with a mess. Still tasted ok tho.

    1. User avatar frederic.pagac92 says:

      4 stars
      I totally get it! Scooping out eggplant can be tricky. I usually use a spoon and go slow. Glad it still tasted good!

  27. User avatar ardis.moen says:

    5 stars
    This is a fantastic recipe! My family loved it and it was so easy to follow.

  28. User avatar emmaline.fritsch says:

    5 stars
    Easy to make! My kids loved it, especially the cheesy top. I’ll make it again for sure! 😊

  29. 4 stars
    OMG, so yum! I added some extra spices I had laying around which made it even better! Who knew eggplant could taste this good?!

  30. User avatar ezequiel.towne0 says:

    5 stars
    Delicious! But I forgot the breadcrumbs… Still turned out great, lol. Will make again for sure!

  31. User avatar aurelia.hansen says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was fantastic! The fish and rice combo was a winner, and my family loved it. Will definitely make again.

  32. 5 stars
    Tasted like a restaurant dish! I actually surprised myself. 🙂

  33. User avatar scotty.gerhold says:

    5 stars
    Super easy and so delicious! I added some extra cheese on top.

    1. 5 stars
      Sounds amazing! I love cheesy dishes. Can’t wait to try it!

    2. User avatar Grandpa Gohan says:

      3 stars
      Extra cheese? Isn’t that a bit too much for a healthy dish? Just saying…

  34. User avatar marisa.kunde18 says:

    3 stars
    Baked eggplant?? Aint that just a veg? But this looks interesting. How many servings tho?

  35. User avatar lyle.pfannerstill96 says:

    4 stars
    I didn’t have this kind of fish so I used chicken instead. It smell good but not sure if it’s a real recipe.

    1. User avatar dana.quigley20 says:

      4 stars
      That’s interesting! Chicken is a good substitute, but it might taste different. I’ve used it for similar dishes before. Still looks delicious!

  36. User avatar blair.rowe1960 says:

    3 stars
    Gonna try with chicken instead of fish. Hope it works out!

  37. User avatar hollis.towne27 says:

    1 star
    Yuck. Just not my thing. Don’t like the texture of eggplant.

  38. User avatar timothy.lehner0 says:

    3 stars
    Just okay for me. I like the fish but the eggplant was a little mushy. Meh.

    1. User avatar joe_banana says:

      4 stars
      I had the same problem with the eggplant! It really can get mushy if overcooked. Maybe try less baking time next time?

  39. 5 stars
    This recipe is amazing! I can’t believe how tasty the eggplant turned out. Definitely a 5-star dish!

    1. User avatar casandra.mertz60 says:

      5 stars
      I tried this recipe too, and it was so good! Eggplant can be tricky, but this dish turned out fantastic.

  40. 5 stars
    Is it really 1/4 cup of parsley? I put more and it was better. So fresh!

  41. User avatar daisey.parker73 says:

    2 stars
    Eggplants are too bitter! Had to add a lot of sugar to make it better! LOL

    1. User avatar Falmer Nightprowler says:

      4 stars
      I don’t think they are bitter if you cook them right! Maybe just try salting them before cooking instead of sugar. 😊

  42. User avatar Jessica Atreides says:

    2 stars
    Baked Eggplant? Who eats that? I think it’s weird.

3.60 from 65 votes
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