Eggplant croquettes with minced meat

I learned this recipe from my mother. A new way to present eggplant, especially if the latter is not appreciated by young or old.

These croquettes have a pleasant taste, as if they contain fish.

for our knowledge, note that eggplant is full of water, fiber, vitamins ( especially B1, B6 and B9 ) and mineral salts ( potassium, manganese, copper, and selenium ); on the other hand, this food is low in calories.

I was very surprised when I learned that eggplant stores nicotine, including: “ A cigarette contains about 7 mg of nicotine, of which 1 mg is absorbed. In other words, 100 g of eggplant contains 0.01 mg of nicotine, and 10 kg of eggplant is equivalent to a cigarette ”.

The recipe is detailed as follows

Recipe: 

§  Ingredients :

·     2 eggplants (dark purple, burgundy or white in color);

·     Cottage cheese (to spread);

·     200g of minced meat (veal or lamb): you can also use minced chicken breast  ;

·     1 onion ;

·     1 clove of garlic (or ½ teaspoon of dried garlic powder);

·     Spices: salt, black (or white) pepper, red pepper, cumin and "ras el-hanout"*: these last two spices are essential for this recipe . 

·     Oil for frying;

·     1 egg (or two: depending on the number of croquettes);

·     Flour and breadcrumbs for coating.

§  Preparation:

1.       Peel the eggplants using a peeler, then dice them;

2.       Steam (these dice);

3.       Mash the eggplant - cooked - mashed with the cheese: set aside.

4.       Mix the minced meat with the onion, garlic and spices;

5.       Add this last mixture to that of the eggplant: mix well - for one last time - (you can add a little chopped parsley): leave in the fridge for - minimum - one hour.

6.       In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat;

7.       Take a bunch of the eggplant mixture (taken out of the refrigerator); pass in the flour, then in the beaten egg, then in the breadcrumbs, so that this "ball" ends up in the pan;

8.       Fry on both sides to obtain golden brown croquettes;

9.       Drain on absorbent paper.      

Serve these delicious croquettes - aubergine with minced meat - as they  are (preferably hot), with a soup or a soup, or even accompanied by a tomato sauce or a chick-weight sauce and / or a salad… and bon appétit. 

*: “Ras el hanout or rass el hanout (Arabic: راس الحانوت‎ ) is a spice mix found in varying forms in North African countries. The name in Arabic means "head of the shop" and implies a mixture of the best spices the seller has to offer. Ras el hanout is used in many savory dishes, sometimes rubbed on meat or fish, or stirred into couscous, soup, stew...”       

Mrs. MAMCHAOUI Djazila marries HAMIMED