Stuffed Eggplant with Couscous & Almonds
Smoky almonds, meaty eggplant and whole-grain couscous with herbs make this meal plenty satisfying. Harissa gives the creamy sauce a little kick.
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup water plus 1 tablespoon, divided
- ½ cup whole-wheat couscous (see tip)
- ½ teaspoon salt, divided
- 2 medium eggplants (about 1 pound each)
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons harissa paste or 1/2 teaspoon harissa seasoning
- ½ cup chopped smoke-flavored almonds
- ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
Directions
- Preheat grill to medium-high.
- Combine 2/3 cup water, couscous and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat, cover and set aside.
- Halve eggplants through the stem; brush the cut sides with 2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Grill the eggplants, flipping once halfway, until charred and tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mash garlic with the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt on a cutting board with a fork. Combine the garlic paste, mayonnaise, harissa and the remaining 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl.
- Leaving a 1/4-inch-thick wall, carefully scoop out the eggplant flesh and chop. Stir the eggplant flesh into the couscous along with almonds, parsley and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Mound the filling in the eggplant shells. Serve with the sauce.
