Stir Fried Eggplant with Clams Marinara

The workout…..

Today was a day off from any aerobic workout.  I had an extra 45 minutes of sleep.  Worked chest and biceps with weights.  Shane and I had a leisurely 50 minute walk.  Tomorrow, instead of taking the day off, the plan is to run 12 miles.  Saturday will be a long walk with Shane and we will probably run and play in the parks.  Sunday = DUATHLON!  Wahoo! 

Something weird:

 In the past couple of weeks, there seemed to be a “fishy” aftertaste about 45 minutes after consuming my weekday breakfast.  The weekday breakfast is always oats, cream of rye, or cream of rice and whey protein.  Sophia of Burp and Slurp mentioned that she sometimes found Quinoa to have a fishy taste. That got me thinking.  Were my oats bad?  Could a grain go rancid and get a fishy taste?  It couldn’t be the whey protein.   I was all set to go on a mission to explore rancidity in grains.  Then it hit me.  It was my EFA’s!  Essential Fatty Acid supplements.  You know, the ones that contain Omega-3’s and 6’s and all those good for you oils found in fish?  Phew!  That was a relief!  Looking at the supplement, it contains:  “Marine Lipid Oil” which is comprised of anchovy, sardine, and mackerel.  Now I have to find different EFA’s.  One’s that don’t produce “fish burps”.   I can’t eat those kind of fish on a good day, never mind first thing in the morning.  Sometimes you’re just better off not knowing.  🙁

In search of dinner…..

Peering into the refrigerator, I spy a jar of my favorite marinara sauce three quarters full.  Looking down on a lower shelf, I see an eggplant that has been forgotten yet still fit for work. Pondering the many options I have of putting these two favorites together, I come up with the following recipe.  But then there’s a voice from beyond, it resounds…”WHERE’S THE PROTEIN?!!!!”. Ugg!  It’s Ted.  The Protein Addicted King of our castle.  

Moving from the fridge to the pantry with the idea that I only want to make one meal tonight not two (meat and meatless), I spy cans of clams.   No, not fresh but this is a last minute call to the stove top and all improvising with what’s on hand must be undertaken.

This recipe goes together quickly. Not many ingredients but loaded with flavor.

Stir Fried Eggplant with Clams Marinara – Serves 2 – 4

• 1 medium eggplant, peeled and chopped into 1” cubes *As the eggplant gets older, the skin becomes more bitter.  If your eggplant is fresh, you don’t have to peel it.
• 3 TBS olive oil
• pinch salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 green bell pepper
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 6. 5 oz can minced clams, drained
• 8 oz  can whole clams, drained
• 1/2 cup button mushrooms, sliced (optional)

Heat 2 TBS olive oil in a frying pan on medium high heat. 

Mix together the salt, pepper and paprika, add to a large plastic bag, add eggplant cubes to the bag and toss.  

When the oil is hot, add the eggplant and stir fry for 8 minutes or until brown.

Remove to a plate and set aside.

Add 1 TBS olive oil to the frying pan and add the onions and peppers and stir fry for 3-4 minutes.

Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. 

Add the eggplant back to the pan and add all the remaining ingredients.

Let simmer, covered, for 10 – 15 minutes.  Serve over pasta or, if you are avoiding starches, serve with Haricot Verts.

Top with shaved Parmesan cheese.

More cheese please!

Other alternatives:  If you prefer more of a texture variation to this dish, you can add 2 TBS flour to the paprika mixture in the bag.  Then turn the eggplant onto a dish to coat with beaten eggs (about 2 whole eggs with a tsp of water), and roll in breadcrumbs.  Proceed as directed for stir frying. 

If you use pasta, this dish will most certainly serve 4 and, using whole wheat pasta would add more nutrients to your meal.

Do you like whole wheat pasta better than regular pasta?  Or do you just eat whole wheat pasta because it is promoted as having more nutrition, really preferring regular pasta?

Stir-Fried Eggplants With Chillies

Joanne