Dominican Eggplant Roll with Braised Beef, Fried Cheese and Silky Pumpkin Sauce

Name: Dominican Eggplant Roll with Braised Beef, Fried Cheese and Silky Pumpkin Sauce
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 85 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Dominicana
Ingredients: about 1.5 lb large eggplants; 16 oz beef for stewing; 7 oz Dominican frying cheese; 14 oz Dominican pumpkin; 1 cup red onion; 1/2 cup sweet peppers; 1 tbsp garlic; 1 cup tomato; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro; 3 tbsp sour orange juice; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 3 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 1/2 cups beef broth or water; 1 tbsp butter; 1 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper

An original recipe inspired by Dominican flavors: roasted eggplant slices rolled around criollo-style braised beef, golden fried cheese, and served over a silky pumpkin sauce seasoned with garlic, cilantro, and a touch of sour orange.

30 minPrep

55 minCook

85 minTotal

4Servings

Gluten-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

2 approx. 700 g large eggplants (1/3 inch)
450 g beef for stewing (chopped finely or desmechada después of cocer)
200 g Dominican frying cheese (cut en bastones small)
400 g Dominican pumpkin (pelada and diced)
120 g red onion (chopped, divided)
60 g sweet peppers (chopped)
15 g garlic (chopped, divided)
150 g tomato (chopped)
30 g tomato paste
15 g fresh cilantro (chopped, divided)
45 ml sour orange juice (divided)
2 g dried oregano
1 g ground cumin
45 ml vegetable oil (divided)
360 ml beef broth or water (divided)
15 g butter
8 g salt (or to taste, divided)
2 g black pepper (divided)

Nutrition facts

per serving

430 kcal

Calories

29 g

Protein

16 g

Carbs

27 g

Fat

4 g

Fiber

12 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
Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Arrange the eggplant slices on a tray, brush them with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a little black pepper, and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, turning halfway through, until flexible and lightly golden.
2
Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add half of the red onion, half of the sweet peppers, and half of the garlic. Sauté for 3 minutes.
3
Add the beef, dried oregano, ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the remaining black pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking up and browning the meat.
4
Stir in the chopped tomato, tomato paste, and 2 tablespoons sour orange juice. Add 180 ml / 3/4 cup beef broth or water and cook over medium-low heat for 18 to 20 minutes, until the mixture is juicy but thick. Turn off the heat and mix in half of the fresh cilantro.
5
In another small pot, place the pumpkin with the remaining 180 ml / 3/4 cup beef broth or water and cook over medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes until very tender.
6
In a small skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil and sauté the rest of the red onion, sweet peppers, and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes. Add them to the cooked pumpkin along with the butter, the remaining tablespoon of sour orange juice, and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth.
7
Pat the frying cheese sticks dry with paper towels. In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, brown them for 1 to 2 minutes per side until golden outside. Remove and let cool slightly.
8
To assemble, place a portion of braised beef and one stick of frying cheese on each roasted eggplant slice. Roll carefully and arrange the rolls seam-side down in a baking dish.
9
Place the dish in the oven at 190 °C / 375 °F for 10 minutes to heat the filling through and bring the flavors together.
10
Serve a layer of pumpkin sauce on each plate, place the eggplant rolls on top, and finish with the remaining chopped fresh cilantro.

Chef tips

If the eggplants are very wide, you can cut each roasted slice in half and make smaller tapas-style rolls. The pumpkin sauce should be thick but silky; if it gets too thick, loosen it with a tablespoon or two of broth.

Substitutions

You can use ground beef instead of stewing beef. If sour orange is unavailable, use equal parts orange juice and lime juice. Frying cheese can be replaced with halloumi, though the flavor will be less traditional.

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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