Baked Aubergine Meatballs

Heat your oven to 200°C.

Finely slice your onion. Dice your aubergines into small chunks. Finely chop your garlic and parsley.

Heat a saute pan over a medium heat with a little olive oil. Add your sliced onion and cook until softened, about 10 mins.

Drain your lentils, then tip them onto a baking tray. Bake for 15 mins until they have dried out slightly.

Add your aubergine chunks to the same pan as your onions with a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Fry for 5 mins until totally soft and tender. Tip in half of your garlic and cook for another 2 mins.

Allow your aubergines and lentils to cool slightly, then tip them into your food processor, along with your onions, 150g breadcrumbs, parmesan, all but a tbsp of your parsley and salt and pepper. Whizz to a paste.

Roll your mixture into 12 equal sized balls.

Place them on a parchment lined baking tray, then drizzle with a little olive oil.

Bake for 40 mins until crisp.

Meanwhile, make your tomato sauce. Heat a little olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat.

Add your remaining garlic and chilli flakes, and cook for 1 min. Tip in your tinned tomatoes and add a sprig of basil. Simmer for 25 mins until reduced.

Whizz up with a stick blender if you like it smoother, then season to taste with salt and pepper.

Heat your grill to high.

Mix your remaining 25g of breadcrumbs with chopped parsley.

Pour your sauce into a baking dish. Add your meatballs, then tears over your mozzarella. Grate over a little parmesan and sprinkle on your breadcrumbs, then grill for 5 mins.

Top with basil leaves, then serve.

*Cost per serving based on proportion of ingredients used to make the dish. Total cost of ingredients £9.67. Prices correct as of 13.05.22; subject to change