Skip to main content

Eggplant Cakes with Ricotta

If you think you don’t like eggplant, I bet this recipe will change your mind. And if you do like eggplant, feel free to make these bigger for a yummy eggplant burger!

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients

Extra virgin olive oil
2 onions, cut into 1/2-inch dice
Kosher salt
Pinch of crushed red pepper, plus more for topping
2 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped
3 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 eggplant, strips of skin removed lengthwise (it should look striped!), cut into 1-inch dice
1/2 bunch of fresh oregano leaves, finely chopped
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano
1/2 cup bread crumbs, plus more for coating
1 cup ricotta cheese

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 400°F.

    Step 2

    Coat a large sauté pan with olive oil and bring to medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt and red pepper, and cook until soft and very aromatic, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes, stirring frequently.

    Step 3

    Toss in the tomatoes and eggplant and sprinkle with more salt. Cook for 30 minutes, or until the mixture is dry and mushy (you WANT it mushy!), stirring frequently to keep it from burning. Let the mixture cool until you can handle it, about 20 minutes.

    Step 4

    Toss in the oregano, Parmigiano, and bread crumbs and stir to combine; taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

    Step 5

    Put some bread crumbs in a small bowl. Using a tablespoon, scoop out balls of the eggplant mixture and roll them in the bread crumbs. When the balls are well coated, gently flatten them and put them on a baking sheet.

    Step 6

    Drizzle the “cakes” with olive oil and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden and crispy. Top each cake with a dollop of ricotta and a couple flakes of crushed red pepper, and serve.

Cook Like a Rock Star
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
Juicy peak-season tomatoes make the perfect plant-based swap for aguachile.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
This no-knead knockout gets its punch from tomatoes in two different ways.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion are coated with a melty sauce—warm with the flavors of pepper jack, and stabilized with a block of cream cheese.
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.