Sicilian eggplant and ham meatballs are a burst of flavors: the sweetness of the eggplants perfectly matches the savory taste of the ham, creating a delicious main course or an irresistible appetizer.
Looking for an idea for an easy, quick dish that everyone will agree on? This is the perfect appetizer.
Soft inside and crunchy outside, with a delicious crust, they are ideal for a family dinner or a party with friends.
A classic revisited: forget the usual meatballs! With the addition of eggplant and ham, this dish turns into a unique culinary experience. A mix of flavors and textures that will win you over at the first bite.

Recipes thought for you:

Cost: Very cheap
Rest time: 5 Minutes
Preparation time: 30 Minutes
Portions: 4
Cooking methods: Oven, Frying, Air Frying
Cuisine: Regional Italian
Region: Sicily
Seasonality: All seasons

351.63 Kcal

calories per serving

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Energy 351.63 (Kcal)
Carbohydrates 39.85 (g) of which sugars 5.31 (g)
Proteins 15.64 (g)
Fat 14.70 (g) of which saturated 3.75 (g)of which unsaturated 4.15 (g)
Fibers 4.13 (g)
Sodium 629.50 (mg)

Indicative values for a portion of 150 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA^* and FoodData Central^** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.

^* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ^** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov

Ingredients

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10.5 oz eggplant
2 eggs
4.3 oz cooked ham (or chicken or turkey breast)
2 cups breadcrumbs (Sicilian flavored more to taste click here)
to taste extra virgin olive oil

Sicilian Eggplant and Ham Meatballs

Tools

What I need to prepare

1 Oven
1 Frying pan
1 Mixer
1 Knife

Steps

To prepare

We’ll start with the eggplants, which can be cooked in the oven or air fryer.
In this recipe, I will show you both the eggplant preparations and finally the meatballs that you can cook in the oven, air fryer, or even in a pan or deep fryer for an even crispier result
Cut the eggplants in half and make cross cuts on the surface without cutting the skin underneath, then place them in a baking dish if baking in the oven or in the drawer of your air fryer
Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Cooking: In a convection oven at 392°F for 20 minutes
In an air fryer at 392°F for 15 minutes after preheating.
Once cooked and cooled, remove the pulp and put it in a bowl.
Prepare now the Sicilian flavored breadcrumbs following my recipe click here:
Chop the ham in the mixer until it becomes a cream, if you can’t make it creamy, you can blend it with the eggs you have in the recipe.
Transfer half the breadcrumbs and the ham with the eggs into the bowl with the eggplants
And.. mix to obtain a thick mixture. If necessary, you can adjust with more breadcrumbs if it’s too soft or on the contrary if it’s too hard, a few drops of water.
Form the meatballs. In Sicily, we give this shape so they cook better and also “facilitate” the bite.
Once the meatballs are formed, take the other half of the breadcrumbs and more as needed and..
Bread them.
In a classic oven at 356°F, arrange the meatballs on a sheet of parchment paper, spray oil on top, and bake for about 20 minutes.
In an air fryer. Place a perforated sheet at the bottom of the drawer, spread the meatballs on top, and spray some oil.
Then, after preheating, cook at 356°F for 10 minutes, turning the meatballs halfway through.
In a classic fryer.
Fill the basket with sunflower oil, heat it to 374°F, then immerse the meatballs and fry until golden.
Pan frying: Put sunflower oil in the pan, then immerse the meatballs and cook until golden on both sides. Then place the meatballs on an absorbent paper sheet.
Serve the Sicilian eggplant and ham meatballs nice and hot. Enjoy your meal.