Eggplant Roll-Up Appetizer (Slavic Version)

In Slavic culture, you can always expect these eggplant roll-ups to make an appearance at everything from weddings to important family get-togethers. Served cold, they are a refreshing mouthful of garlic and texture. You’re going to love them!

Naturally gluten-free and low-carb, you can also enjoy them as a healthy snack whenever a craving hits. For those of you out there that are obsessed with eggplant, you’ll soon find these a part of your regular appetizer rotation!

How to Make This Eggplant Appetizer

Making these eggplant roll-ups requires under 10 ingredients and is a super fun process. Who doesn’t like stuffing and rolling? Below, find a quick rundown of the recipe before you get started.

• Clean and Slice the Eggplants: First, rinse the eggplants under cool water. Using a mandolin slicer or sharp knife, cut them into circles and strips.
• Bake the Eggplant: Place the eggplant on a baking sheet and brush each slice with oil on both sides. Next, bake them at 450°F for about 5 minutes, or until they soften slightly.
• Make the Stuffing: Clean and grate the carrot. Next, dice the onions and clean the garlic cloves. In a skillet preheated with a bit of oil, cook the carrots and onions until they soften. Add the tomato paste and mayo, stirring until well-combined. Finally, press the garlic into the mixture and season it to taste with salt and pepper.
• Assemble the Roll-Ups: Place a spoonful of the veggie stuffing at the end of each eggplant strip and roll it up. For the circular pieces, place the veggie mixture in the center and fold up both sides. Keep the roll-ups refrigerated until you’re ready to serve them. Enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

Below, find a handful of tips and tricks to help you make the best eggplant appetizer roll-ups.

• Use a mandolin slicer to cut the eggplant. If you want beautiful, consistent slices, use a mandolin slicer on a 1/4-inch thick setting to cut the eggplant.
• Don’t overbake the eggplant. You want the eggplant to soften slightly, not roast. If you overcook it, it will be hard to work with and roll.
• Don’t overstuff the eggplant. Resist the temptation of overstuffing the eggplant, or they’ll be super hard to roll. You also don’t want to overstuff them so much that they don’t stay sealed.

Serving Eggplant Appetizers

Eggplant roll-ups are an amazing starter for special occasions. In Slavic communities, they are almost always served as weddings, holidays, and birthday celebrations. Add them to your appetizer spread of crab mushroom canapés and mushroom and bell pepper canapés, or place them right next to your charcuterie board. If you want to keep things traditional, serve them as a starter before a meal of cabbage rolls and creamy herbed potatoes.

Storage Tips

If you’re planning to eat the eggplant roll-ups within a week, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. This will keep them from turning stale, while also preventing them from soaking up any lingering smells in your refrigerator.

FAQ

Other Tasty Finger Foods

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• Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings – No-guilt chicken wings
• Pigs in a Blanket – Quick! (Only 4 Ingredients) – Mini hot dogs in puff pastry
• Air Fryer Cheesy Jalapeño Poppers (Only 5 Ingredients) – Bacon-wrapped, cream-cheese jalapeños

Recipe

Eggplant Roll Up Appetizer (Slavic Verison)

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Servings

6 servings

Prep Time 40 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 1 hr

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

These eggplant appetizer roll-ups are stuffed with a garlicky mixture of carrots, onions, mayo, and tomato paste. A classic Slavic finger food!

Ingredients

• 2 medium eggplants
• 2 large carrot grated
• 1 small yellow onion
• 8 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp oil
• 5 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp salt adjust to taste
• 1 tsp ground black pepper

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Rinse the eggplants under cold water. Slice them into 1/4-inch thick circles or lengthwise strips.
  
• Preheat oven to 450°F or low broil. Place the eggplant slices on a baking sheet. Brush each one with oil on both sides. Next, bake the eggplant until it softens (about 5 minutes). Alternatively, you can use the grill to cook the eggplant if you want a smokier flavor.
  
• Preheat a skillet over medium-heat with tablespoons of oil. Cook the carrots and onions until they soften. Next, add the tomato paste and mayonnaise, continually stirring the mixture to prevent it from burning. Add the pressed garlic and season the mixture to taste with salt and pepper.
  
• Place a spoonful of the sautéed veggie mixture at the end of each of the eggplant strips and roll them up. For the round pieces, place a spoonful of the veggie mixture in the center and fold both sides over.
  
• Keep the eggplant roll-ups refrigerated until you're ready to serve them. Enjoy!
  

Nutrition Facts

Eggplant Roll Up Appetizer (Slavic Verison)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 66 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Cholesterol 1mg0%

Sodium 88mg4%

Potassium 463mg13%

Carbohydrates 12g4%

Fiber 5g20%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 1875IU38%

Vitamin C 6mg7%

Calcium 20mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.