Creole rice and smoked eggplant bake with spiced beef and melted farmhouse cheese

Name: Creole rice and smoked eggplant bake with spiced beef and melted farmhouse cheese
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Argentina
Ingredients: 1 cup long-grain white rice; 2 cups water; 1 lb 5 oz eggplants; 1.1 lb ground beef; 1 1/4 cups onion; 1 cup red bell pepper; 4 cloves garlic; 1 1/4 cups crushed tomato; 7.8 oz Argentine farmhouse cheese; 1 oz grated hard cheese; 3 tbsp olive oil; 2 tsp sweet paprika; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1/4 cup fresh parsley; 1 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp black pepper

A hearty Argentine-inspired savory bake combining cooked rice, oven-smoked eggplant, sautéed beef with onion, bell pepper, and paprika, finished with a golden layer of farmhouse-style cheese. Comforting, flavorful, and original, perfect for a family meal.

30 minPrep

50 minCook

80 minTotal

6Servings

High Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

200 g long-grain white rice (crudo)
480 ml water (for cocinar the arroz)
600 g eggplants (2 medium, diced small)
500 g ground beef (preferentemente magra)
180 g onion (chopped)
150 g red bell pepper (chopped diced small)
12 g garlic (chopped)
300 g crushed tomato (skinless)
220 g Argentine farmhouse cheese (grated or en hebras)
30 g grated hard cheese (for gratinar)
45 ml olive oil (divided)
4 g sweet paprika
2 g ground cumin
2 g dried oregano
15 g fresh parsley (chopped)
8 g salt (or a taste)
2 g black pepper (freshly ground)

Nutrition facts

per serving

497 kcal

Calories

28 g

Protein

29 g

Carbs

28 g

Fat

4 g

Fiber

25 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

Dairy

Instructions

1
1. Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Toss the eggplant cubes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Spread on a baking tray and roast for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and browned at the edges. Set aside.
2
2. Meanwhile, rinse the rice if desired and place it in a saucepan with the water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. Turn off the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
3
3. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and red bell pepper and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
4
4. Add the ground beef and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink and lightly browned. Season with the sweet paprika, ground cumin, dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the remaining black pepper.
5
5. Stir in the crushed tomato and cook over medium-low heat for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the filling is juicy but not watery. Add the fresh parsley and mix well.
6
6. Lower the oven temperature to 200 °C / 400 °F. Lightly grease a baking dish. In a bowl, combine the cooked rice with half of the farmhouse cheese. Spread half of the rice mixture over the bottom of the dish.
7
7. Cover the rice with half of the roasted eggplant, then spread all of the beef mixture over it. Add the remaining eggplant and finish with the rest of the rice. Top with the remaining farmhouse cheese and the grated hard cheese.
8
8. Bake the casserole at 200 °C / 400 °F for 18 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and golden around the edges. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving so it can set.
9
9. Serve hot, slicing even portions so each serving includes rice, smoked eggplant, spiced beef, and melted cheese topping.

Chef tips

For a smokier flavor, place the eggplant under the broiler for the final 3 to 4 minutes. If the beef releases too much liquid, cook it 2 extra minutes before assembling the bake.

Substitutions

You can replace the farmhouse cheese with firm mozzarella or drained quartirolo-style cheese. The long-grain rice can be swapped for cooked brown rice, though the texture will be more rustic.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
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Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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