One of the biggest joys of cooking is going to a farmer’s market and discovering seasonal fruits and vegetables. I loved seeing these graffiti eggplants with their whimsical purple and white lines. I knew I had to bring them home and make a delicious dinner with this edible art canvas. Graffiti eggplants, also known as Sicilian eggplants, are named for their striking appearance, which resembles street art. These eggplants are a variety of the larger eggplant family, hailing from the warm, sunny regions of the Mediterranean. They are cherished not just for their beauty but also for their versatility in cooking.

Cooking with graffiti eggplants allows you to bring a piece of that Mediterranean joy into your kitchen, transforming simple ingredients into a work of art on your plate.

Stuffed Graffiti Eggplants Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 medium graffiti eggplants
• 1 LB ground lamb or beef
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup pine nuts (optional)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 TBS dried mint
• 1 TBS dried dill
• 1 TBS dried cilantro
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 TBS Aleppo pepper
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 TBS olive oil 
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half 

Prepare the Graffiti Eggplants:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Cut the graffiti eggplants in half lengthwise. With a knife, make slashes inside the flesh, keeping the shell intact. 
3. Sprinkle the inside of the eggplant with salt and brush it with olive oil. Transfer it to the oven, keeping the skin side down. 
4. Meanwhile, in a nonstick frying pan, add the remaining olive oil, once warm, add the onion and fry until golden colors, add garlic and cook for another two minutes. 
5. Add the ground meat, pinenuts, and remaining spices and herbs. Cook until browned.
6. Once cooked, remove the eggplants from the oven and gently crush the inner part with a spoon to make it creamy and add the meat equally to each eggplant, place some tomatoes on top and bring it back to oven for another 10-15 minutes.
7. Serve:
   • Serve the stuffed graffiti eggplants with a side of Greek yogurt or tzatziki, and garnish with fresh mint or parsley. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice will enhance the flavors.