• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Entrees
    • Lunch
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Dog-Friendly
  • Life
    • Travels
    • Gift Guides
  • About
    • About Sues
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Newsletter

We are not Martha logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Life
    • About
    • Contact
    • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Γ—

    Home Β» Entrees Β» Baked Orzo with Eggplant

    Sep 20, 2012 Β· Modified: Mar 5, 2020 by Sues Β· This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads Β· View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer Β· 21 Comments

    Baked Orzo with Eggplant

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Baked Orzo with Eggplant is a great meat-free meal option that also makes for great next-day leftovers. But you can also enjoy it as a side dish to any meal!

    Overhead view of baked orzo with eggplant with lots of veggies and gold spoon taking out a scoop and recipe title at top

    (This recipe for Baked Orzo with Eggplant was originally published in September 2012, but was updated with new photos in 2019).

    Hallelujah to this week being almost over! Though, to be honest, I've been so busy lately that my days absolutely fly by. Which means my weeks fly by, too. Which also means my weekends do. I need a big giant pause button. There's nothing quite like having a fun-packed weekend, except that it's over before you can breathe out a little sigh and say, "man, I love life." That's exactly how I felt this past weekend.

    On Saturday, we celebrated my fabulous mom's birthday, which was on Monday. In true Anderson family fashion, we all gathered together for a celebratory dinner. It was an extra exciting event as it was also the first dinner party at my sister and Adam's brand new house. Which is conveniently about 2 miles from our apartment. Which, in the suburbs, may as well be 2 blocks. Which was the distance between us in the city. Needless to say, I'm so happy to still be so close by to them.

    I whipped up this Baked Orzo with Eggplant dish before heading over since my sister mentioned my mom saw it on the fabulous Smitten Kitchen's website and liked the sound of it. We decided to make a sort of Mediterranean-inspired meal and actually cooking together was half of the fun of the evening. Like it always is. That's just what it means to be in my family.

    BAKED ORZO WITH EGGPLANT RECIPE

    This baked orzo with eggplant dish is technically an entree, but it also makes a wonderful side dish. The first time I made it for my mom's birthday party, we enjoyed it as a side dish along with hake and artichokes. If you eat it as a side dish, chances are you'll have a glorious amount of leftovers!

    To start, you'll need to dice your eggplant and sprinkle it generously with salt and let sit in a colander for about 30 minutes. This is to get rid of the excess moisture in the eggplant. You can continue on with the rest of the recipe while waiting (the chopping will keep you busy!).

    Overhead view of chopped eggplant in a colander

    So. much. chopping. But once 30 minutes has gone by, rinse your eggplant and pat it dry.

    Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees now if you're planning to bake this right away. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. This is the first time I got to use my All-Clad 13-Inch Skillet(affiliate link) and I'm in absolute love! It was a serious dream. Add the olive oil and once oil is shimmering, you can add the eggplant, which you'll fry for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove eggplant from pan with slotted spoon to paper towel lined plate and add carrots and celery to skillet to cook for about 3 minutes. If you find yourself needing a little more oil, add it here. I did.

    Now throw in garlic and onion and cook for another 5 minutes and stir in the orzo and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.

    Take the skillet off the heat and toss in the oregano, mozzarella, parmesan, tomatoes, eggplant, lemon zest, and some salt and pepper. Also, pour in the vegetable stock. Stir well.

    Collage showing process for making baked orzo with eggplant, including carrots, celery, and onions in a pan; orzo and tomato paste added to the pan; and eggplant, tomatoes, and mozzarella added to the pan

    Put mixture in an 8x11 baking dish, cover in foil, and put it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, 20 with the foil covering the dish and 20 without.

    The first time I made this, I ended up popping my dish in the fridge and baking it later when I got to my sister's. I just had to add about 5-10 minutes to the baking time. Before I even put it in the oven, I was in love with all those gorgeous colors.

    Overhead view of baked orzo with eggplant in a blue casserole dish before it went into the oven

    But baking made the orzo nice and crispy so there was a little bit to this dish! It also made the mozzarella cheese a bit gooey and melded all those delicious flavors together.

    Overhead view of full casserole dish of baked orzo with eggplant with lots of bright veggies

    I don't cook with eggplant nearly enough so I was glad to have a specific recipe to make and not just boring old eggplant parmesan (which, to be honest, is not boring at all, but just… not very unique).

    Whether you're vegetarian or just like to load up on vegetables from time to time, this is baked orzo with eggplant recipe is perfect. I actually kind of think sausage would go well in it, too. Maybe chicken sausage? You could even toss in tofu. That would make it even more of a meal!

    Head-on view of blue casserole dish filled with baked orzo with eggplant with lots of veggies

    Not to say it isn't just lovely as is. Because it is.

    One of my favorite things about this dish? It's the kind of dish you make on a Sunday evening and then have leftovers with all week long. And they're the kind of leftovers you can easily pop in a Tupperware and bring to work. Also the kind that will make your co-workers quite jealous.

    Overhead view of baked orzo with eggplant with lots of veggies and gold spoon taking out a scoop

    So, what did we serve with the baked orzo with eggplant at my mom's birthday? My sister and I made a Grilled Mediterranean Hake. Hake is a white fish kind of like haddock. The adventure of the evening is that we had our first go with fresh artichokes. We started to get a little bit nervous when we realized how we needed to prepare them and neither of us had done it before. But cooking new things with my sister is the best; we have so much fun together.

    And obviously my whole family has fun eating together!

    Collage showing me, my sister, Chris, Adam, and my mom and dad at my mom's birthday dinner

    Happy new home to Beth and Adam! Their house is absolutely beautiful and you know Chris and I will be over lots and lots in the coming days. Hopefully they'll still want to come to our place for a Dateline evening now and then!

    Collage showing photos of me and Chris, Beth and Adam, and my mom and dad at my mom's birthday dinner

    Of course, we ended the evening with a cake. Another fabulous recipe from Smitten Kitchen that Beth made. Happy Birthday, Mama! I know I say she's the best mom all the time, but she really is. Don't be jealous πŸ™‚

    Mom Birthday.jpg

    I'm so lucky to have such an amazing family. There's nothing I enjoy more than spending a day cooking and chatting with them. In our super busy lives, birthdays are a nice excuse to get together for some quality time. And now, let's do this Thursday and Friday. We've got two days to get through and then it's off to celebrate Katie's bachelorette party!

    Do you cook with your family?

    If you're looking for more delicious eggplant recipes, check out my Mediterranean Turkey Stuffed Eggplant or this Greek Eggplant Dip from Eating European.

    Baked Eggplant with Orzo -- This Baked Orzo with Eggplant is a great meat-free meal option that also makes for great next-day leftovers. But you can also enjoy it as a side dish to any meal | wearenotmartha.com

    Baked Orzo with Eggplant Recipe

    This Baked Orzo with Eggplant is a great meat-free meal option that also makes for great next-day leftovers. But you can also enjoy it as a side dish to any meal!
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Entree, Side
    Cuisine: American, Eclectic, Middle Eastern
    Keyword: Eggplant Entrees, Eggplant Side Dishes, Vegetarian Dinners
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Eggplant Draining: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Makes: 6 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 large eggplant (about 1 ΒΌ lb.)
    • ΒΌ-1/2 cup olive oil
    • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
    • 2 celery stalks, diced
    • 4 garlic cloves, minced
    • 8 oz. orzo
    • 1 tsp tomato paste
    • 2 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
    • 2 Tbsp lemon zest
    • 4 oz. firm mozzarella cheese
    • Β½ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • 3 medium tomatoes, diced
    • Salt and pepper
    • 1 Β½ cups vegetable stock

    Instructions

    • Dice eggplant and sprinkle it generously with salt. Let sit in a colander for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, rinse eggplant and pat it dry.
    • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ΒΌ C olive oil and once oil is shimmering, add eggplant. Fry the eggplant for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove eggplant from pan with slotted spoon to paper towel lined plate.
    • Add carrots and celery to skillet and cook for about 3 minutes. If you find yourself needing a little more oil, add it here.
    • Add in garlic and onion and cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in orzo and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
    • Take the skillet off the heat and add in oregano, lemon zest, mozzarella, parmesan, tomatoes, eggplant, lemon zest, and some salt and pepper. Pour in the vegetable stock and stir well.
    • Put mixture in an 8Γ—11 baking dish, cover in foil, and put it in the oven at  for about 40 minutes, 20 minutes with the foil covering the dish and 20 minutes with the foil removed.

    Notes

    • Recipe from Smitten Kitchen
    • You can prep this dish the night before, cover it, and keep it in the fridge overnight. You may need to add 5-10 minutes onto the bake time.
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!
    Baked Orzo with Eggplant
    Tweet
    Share
    Pin71
    Yum
    Share
    71 Shares
    « Pumpkin Doughnuts with Maple Bacon Frosting
    Coffee Avocado Milkshake »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. leslie says

      September 20, 2012 at 9:09 am

      Happy Birthday to your Mom!!!! Looks like a fun b-day.

    2. Judy Miller says

      September 20, 2012 at 9:48 am

      Looks like the best birthday "gift" a mother could ask for! You did a great job ladies (and gentlemen!). I'll be trying the eggplant orzo (with chicken sausage), especially since I love using my Chef' n gadgets so much! Again, Happy Birthday, to my Sister!

    3. Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says

      September 20, 2012 at 10:21 am

      My family eat more together than cook together πŸ™‚ You're so lucky you live so close to your sister! Happy birthday to your mom!

    4. Lawyer Loves Lunch says

      September 20, 2012 at 11:21 am

      Love that your gorgeous family cooks together! Happy birthday to your mom!
      PS: Will I see you at FBFest this year?

    5. Nicole says

      September 20, 2012 at 11:30 am

      What a nice weekend! I love the sound of the eggplant dish. I definitely need to cook with it more, too. I'm loving your sister's red dress, too πŸ™‚

    6. Michelle Collins says

      September 20, 2012 at 1:23 pm

      Looks like such a wonderful birthday celebration! I usually just eat with my family...one of us will cook, but we all always eat together. πŸ˜‰

    7. Erica @ In and Around Town says

      September 20, 2012 at 1:26 pm

      Great weekend! Love the dishes you served the baked orzo in!

    8. Pam says

      September 20, 2012 at 1:40 pm

      What a wonderful meal for the birthday celebration.

    9. Rachel Cooks says

      September 20, 2012 at 1:45 pm

      Love the idea of baking orzo!

    10. Odetta says

      September 20, 2012 at 2:07 pm

      What a pretty fall-like dish. I need more eggplant in my life! And family time too!

    11. sweeter salt says

      September 20, 2012 at 3:48 pm

      looks great! i keep seeing eggplants all over the farmer's market, now i'm inspired - yum.

    12. Meghan says

      September 20, 2012 at 3:54 pm

      I love orzo and eggplant, so I think I would love this! Looks like a fun family celebration!

    13. kate says

      September 20, 2012 at 4:50 pm

      wow, big post, lots to love, congratulations on a warm family moment

    14. Shannon says

      September 20, 2012 at 4:55 pm

      oh, i wanted to try that orzo bake too! yum. happy birthday mom πŸ™‚ we usually eat together, not necessarily cook together, but there was one time my mom's side all got in on some pierogi making!

    15. Megan says

      September 20, 2012 at 10:32 pm

      The orzo and the artichokes both look amazing! Happy birthday to your mom!

    16. Beth says

      September 21, 2012 at 6:24 am

      Great recap of the weekend Sues! Is Dateline on tonight?

    17. Mary says

      September 21, 2012 at 10:05 am

      What a wonderful meal! The food was great but I suspect the best part of it for your mom was having everyone together.There's no doubt she had a happy birthday. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

    18. lena says

      September 21, 2012 at 10:24 am

      what a great family party! i eat a lot of eggplants but hv not tried baking them before , except for some grilling and stir frying. It sounds good and yes, me too got a lot of help from youtube as well! you look great, sue and lovely family photos! have a good weekend! i know you will!

    19. 5 Star Foodie says

      September 21, 2012 at 8:37 pm

      Sounds like nice time with family and the orzo with eggplant sounds excellent!

    20. Erica says

      September 22, 2012 at 2:35 am

      Your family is so darn cute. What a great celebration. I love eggplant- I need to cook with it more. And that app sounds just perfect

    21. Dara @ how_to_eat says

      September 23, 2012 at 9:34 am

      I've had this orzo recipe bookmarked since I first saw it on Smitten Kitchen. Your version looks delicious! It has now been added to my meal plan for next week!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Sues

    Hi and thanks for visiting! I started We are not Martha to show you how to make recipes that impress without stress, including easy weeknight dinners, delightful desserts, + lots of cocktails.

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Easter Recipes:

    • Cadbury Creme Egg Ice Cream
    • Easter Oreo Bark
    • Cadbury Mini Egg Scones
    • Chai Carrot Cake Scones
    • Jelly Bean Ice Cream
    • Apple Spice Glazed Ham

    Mother's Day Recipes:

    • Shaved Asparagus Salad
    • Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
    • Iced Lavender Latte
    • Strawberry Crepes
    • Lemon Pepper Asparagus
    • Strawberry Souffle

    Popular Now

    • Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce
    • Momofuku Milk Bar's Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
    • Blueberry Vodka Lemonade
    • Chicken Dog Treats

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Sues
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY AMAZON SHOP TO DISCOVER SOME OF MY FAVORITE COOKING AND BAKING ITEMS THAT I USE IN MY OWN KITCHEN. WE ARE NOT MARTHA IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. ORDERING ANY PRODUCTS MENTIONED HERE ARE AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

    Copyright Β© 2022 WE ARE NOT MARTHA