dinner, pasta

One-Pot Dish with Eggplant and Spinach (Ready in 15 Minutes)

Posted by Zoë Portaels on

One-Pot Dish with Eggplant and Spinach (Ready in 15 Minutes)

This dish comes together quickly, and you only really need to dirty one pan. It’s one of those dishes that’s perfect for unwinding after a long day. The method is designed so that you can prepare most of the dish while the pasta is cooking. By the time the pasta is done, the sauce is ready too, and then you just mix everything together. Easy, right? 

By the way, you can also get creative with this recipe to find a tasty way to use up the vegetables you didn’t end up using last week. That way, you can also minimize your food waste. 

About the Ingredients

In this dish, we’re using eggplant, an incredibly versatile vegetable that shines in so many different dishes. This pasta is no exception. Eggplants contain, among other things, a good amount of folic acid.1 This is important for the production of red blood cells. Folic acid is essential for the formation of our DNA and RNA.² One of the functions of RNA is to transmit instructions for the production of new proteins—which can be read from the DNA—to the cellular structures responsible for this process.3 An extra folic acid supplement is recommended for pregnant women because it contributes to the normal development of the baby’s brain and spine.

In addition to all their health benefits, eggplants are also simply a super delicious and versatile addition to your meal. You can prepare them in countless ways. However, eating raw eggplants is not recommended. This is because they contain solanine, a heat-sensitive substance that is toxic (but becomes harmless when cooked). 4

Another vegetable in this dish is bell pepper, which is a top source of vitamin C.1 This is a vitamin that we absolutely need for our immune system, for example, and that also helps the body absorb iron. This vitamin is also beneficial for the formation of new connective tissue. It’s best to peel bell peppers before cooking, as many people have trouble digesting the skin. Peeling is quick and easy with a vegetable peeler. 

The Recipe

Ingredients:(serves 2)

Sauce:

  • 1 eggplant
  • 1 pointed bell pepper
  • 3 handfuls of mushrooms
  • 5 handfuls of baby spinach
  • 125 g cream cheese spread
  • Salt and pepper

Pasta:

  • Bouillon cube 
  • 160 g pasta

Preparation:(15 minutes)

  1. Pour the water for cooking the pasta into a pot and place it over high heat. Add a bouillon cube. Once the water comes to a boil, you can add the pasta. 
  2. Cut the eggplant into small cubes. 
  3. Put them in a pan with a little olive oil. 
  4. Peel the bell pepper, remove the seeds, and cut it into strips. 
  5. Add it to the pan. 
  6. (Reminder: As soon as the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and let it cook for about 10 minutes until it's done.)
  7. Cut the shiitake mushrooms into pieces and add them to the pan. 
  8. Add the spinach. 
  9. Season with salt and pepper. 
  10. Let it cook for a moment until the spinach has wilted and the shiitake mushrooms have browned slightly. 
  11. Then add the cream cheese and mix well. 
  12. Drain the pasta and mix it into the vegetables. 

Enjoy your meal!

Zoë, what should I do with the leftover ingredients?

  • Mushrooms

You can use the leftover mushrooms in this super delicious tomato sauce .

  • Spinach

In this recipe for asparagus rolls with spinach cream, you can definitely use up any leftover spinach. This spinach salad is definitely worth trying, too.

Recipe Video

Cook along with me live in this video. As I cook, I'll share some fun facts about the ingredients and walk you through everything step by step.

Love this recipe? Then share it with everyone you love. That way, together we can help the world enjoy healthy food!

Sources:

1. Nutritional Value Table for Fruit Vegetables. (2019). In Nice-info. https://www.nice-info.be/sites/default/files/uploads/TABEL%20VRUCHTGROENTEN.pdf

2. Folic Acid/Folate. (n.d.). Orthokennis.https://www.orthokennis.nl/nutrienten/foliumzuur-folaat

3. Transcription and Translation (Protein Synthesis). (n.d.). Mr. Chadd Academy. https://www.mrchadd.nl/academy/vakken/biologie/de-transcriptie-en-translatie-eiwitsynthese

4. Is eating raw eggplant healthy? (October 19, 2023). http://www.test-aankoop.be. https://www.test-aankoop.be/gezond/voeding/voedselveiligheid-en-additieven/antwoord-van-expert/aubergine

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