Thanks for joining me and Sarah for Meatless Monday today. Hope everyone had a lovely Passover and Easter weekend with friends and family. I feel very lucky to have both my kids home with us this past week. My daughter has been studying in Tel Aviv this semester and her visit home inspired us to make an Israeli themed dinner. This Roasted Chermoula Eggplant with Farro and Spiced Chick Peas could not have been more delicious. I am so excited to share the recipe with you.
Roasted Chermoula Eggplant with Farro and Spiced Chick Peas
This is one of those recipes that looks very complicated and time consuming but really is just the opposite. I promise! It’s an easy sheet pan meal. You know I am all about healthy meals that are easy enough for a weeknight family meal. This Roasted Chermoula Eggplant With Farro and Spiced Chick Peas is no exception.
So what is Chermoula sauce you ask? Chermoula is a spice blend of some of my favorite flavors including garlic, cumin, paprika, coriander, lemon and olive oil. Think a Chimichurri style. These flavors are combined into a paste and then smeared on top of the eggplant before roasting allowing them to ooze right in and create a taste to die for.
I roasted the spiced chick peas right on the same sheet pan as the eggplant. They are tossed in a little siracha powder or chili powder. The perfect way to get a little more protein in. I used Farro for the grain here because I wanted something a little heartier. Sub Brown rice (for Gluten free option) or Cous Cous would also work just as well. We adorned the Farro with some yellow raisins and almond slices for texture.
I threw some fresh Pomegranate seeds on top before serving to add some color and a little bit of sweetness to balance out the savory spices. Not to pat myself on the back or anything but, I was pretty impressed with how amazing this Roasted Chermoula Eggplant with Farro And Spiced Chick peas came out. Hope you try it out! I promise it’s not complicated at all. Gluten free and Vegan.
Roasted Chermoula Eggplant with Farro and Spiced Chick Peas
Ingredients
- For Farro:
- 1 cup of Farro (prepared according to package)
- 1/2 C slivered almonds
- 1/2 C yellow raisins
- handful fresh parsley-chopped
- For Chermoula sauce:
- 2 garlic cloves
- dash of kosher salt
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp coriander
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp red pepper (optional)
- juice of one lemon
- 1/2 C Olive Oil
- For Eggplant:
- 2 baby eggplants -sliced length wise
- salt & pepper to taste
- Olive oil
- 1 Can of Chick Peas-rinsed and drained
- garnish:
- 1/2 C fresh Pomegranate seeds
- fresh parsley and cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Prepare Farro (or grain of choice according to package)
- Mix in raisins and almonds before serving
- Place eggplant on a large sheet pan
- Score the eggplants with X's in both directions so sauce can absorb in
- In a food processor add all Chermoula ingredients and pulse until combined
- Drizzle eggplant with olive oil, salt and pepper
- Smear Chermoula sauce on top of each eggplant half
- Add chick peas to sheet pan
- Sprinkle chick peas with olive oil and chili powder, salt
- Bake for approx 20 min until eggplant is soft
- Serve on top of of Farro
- Sprinkle with Pomegranate seeds and fresh spices
- Serve and enjoy
- Optional add a little Greek Yogurt or Tzatziki sauce on top
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It’s been so long since I’ve eaten eggplant – this truly looks delicious!
We need to change that ASAP!
The Chermoula sauce sounds so good!
It really is! Thanks
This is so lovely! I had never heard of Chermoula sauce but it sounds amazing.
Thanks! It would be great on all kinds of things
This looks delicious and beautiful! Great for a holiday meal.
thanks I was hoping you would like it!
The Chermoula sauce sounds so good! I think it would be good on anything. I love the colors in this dish. Very creative!
I agree it can be used on anything really
I’ve never heard of Chermoula before but it looks super yummy! I always find out about new spices, sauces or foods from your blog and I love it!
Thanks! I was hoping you would like this one!
Looks delicious and healthy! Great recipe to start off the week!
Well thanks so much!
Can I come to your house for dinner? I really wish my family liked eggplant, or even my husband. Wonder if I could make this work with something else for them and eggplant for me. Or just add something to it for a farro buddha bowl for them. I love cooking dishes from around the world and using different spices. Happy you got to have both of your kids home for Easter.
Hope you have a wonderful week Deborah!
Yes of course just bring along some of that sour dough you are always showing! 🙂 I think it would be great with zucchini as well.
Another great looking recipe! I haven’t had eggplant in years and never tried chick peas! Are chick peas in hummus? Yum!
Yes chick peas are in hummus too. I think we need to change that asap!!
I just love eggplant, its so buttery! This recipe sounds absolute amazing and I am thinking about making it for my mom for her birthday now!! She’s a vegetarian and would love this. I am so glad you got to visit with your kids this past week! Tel aviv…wow that is so far away I bet she has some really interesting stories to tell you.
She has had some great adventures so far! My mom’s birthday is this week too. Happy birthday to them both and I hope she enjoys this meal
This is the perfect meatless dinner! Love all of the flavours, especially that sauce!
Thanks the sauce was pretty tasty! Can’t wait to make it again
This sounds delicious! How cool that she is studying in Tel Aviv! I hope she’s loving it!
she is loving studying over there! I miss her a ton though
This sounds fantastic! I’m excited to find new ways to spruce up eggplant and the Chermoula sauce sounds Divine 😉
Thanks so much! I loved the sauce too and I am thinking of other ways to use it
Ok, Friend, I have never (to my knowledge or memory LOL) tried eggplant, but this recipe looks like I need to go shopping. Oh my!!!
What?! really? We need to change that asap. Have you ever had eggplant parm? Also delicious!
What a great way to use eggplant! Looks like a delicious recipe!
Thanks so much I was really happy with how it turned out
This recipe looks delish! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for checking it out
This dish looks gorgeous! And who doesn’t love eggplant? Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much! I hope you try it out
What a beautiful Mediterranean salad with two of my favorite ingredients – eggplant and farro. Yum!
2 of my favorite ingredients as well!
This looks so pretty and sounds wonderful! What a great experience for your daughter. It’s been eons since I’ve been to Tel Aviv.
She is having the best time there!
Oh, wow, that spice paste sounds awesome. I’m not a huge fan of eggplant but I do like it once in while.
It’s vegan too for your daughter! I think this spice rub would be great on zucchini as well or anything really!
I love this meatless recipe. So many great veggies in one dish!
thanks so much!
Wow. This is gorgeous and sounds absolutely delicious! Even for me who doesn’t love eggplant! Chimichurri is one of my favorite condiments, and I bet it would be awesome with all those other ingredients, including the chick peas. Yum!
It really is delish although I might be a little biased
I’m not a fan of eggplant, but this does look really good 🙂
You might have to try it again! 🙂
I really like eggplant but it has been ages since I’ve cooked it. The chermoula sauce sounds really good!
Oh thanks I hope you try it out
Mouth watering recipe! I will be making this one day soon!
I am all about the textures in this! I love the fruit add too. So much goodness going on here!!!
Thanks so much! I really loved how all the different textures came together
So, I really don’t like eggplant BUT this looks and sounds so delicious that I might actually give it a shot! The Chermoula sauce, specifically, is of interest to me!
I think the sauce would be great on other veggies as well maybe zucchini?! Hope you give it a try
OMG does this look and sound delicious! I am going to try it and let you know how it goes! (I will probably have to make less because my husband doesn’t like eggplant but I LOVE it!!!! or… maybe I will trick him…haha!)
I am very excited that you are excited to try it. Yes please let me know how it goes!
The Chermoula sauce sounds amazing. I had never heard of it before. Will have to try it out for sure. I love Chimmichuri.
Great same concept with some different spices-hope you try it
What a tasty recipe!! I love the use of eggplant like this!
Thanks so much I think you would like it
That is a gorgeous looking dish! You are so creative with your recipes. Can’t wait to try this one.
Well thanks so much I hope you do try it out and enjoy it
I’ve never heard of Chermoula before. My interest is definitely peaked.
It is really quite simple and the spices were just delicious
Ooh, Mediterranean food is one of my favorites- this looks so good! And what a cool opportunity for your daughter.
Thanks and yes she is loving having the chance to study over there and explore
This looks delicious Deborah. I forget, is farro gluten free?
No it’s not but I mentioned that you could sub out with rice and then it would be gluten free