A hearty and healthy Mediterranean stew filled with eggplant, tomatoes, spinach, orzo, and a sprinkling of feta on top.
eggplant mykonos

So I’m beginning to think this boyfriend of mine is a bad influence.

This weekend he pretty much forced me to watch the new Miley Cyrus video. And the uncensored Robin Thicke video.

The two of which, combined, have pretty much enough nipple action to fill a soft-core porn video.

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He may or may not be trying to tell me something.

But to be honest, all I got out of the experience was a strong desire to give Miley a tetanus shot. It’s the (future) doctor in me.

For real though, all that naked gyrating on/licking of metal surfaces cannot be good for keeping Clostridium out of your bloodstream. Just saying.

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If you haven’t seen the videos, consider yourself in the lucky minority, because I’m not sure my eyes or my short-term memory will ever recover. (Though it is good to know that after all these years, I still have some doctoral instincts coursing through my veins.)

And if you have. I feel your pain.

Let’s support group it out, eggplant stew style.

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Because this meal, filled with eggplant, tomatoes, spinach, and all the Mediterranean flavors your heart can desire, is possibly just wholesome enough to make you forget about all the unsavory things in this world.  (Pun very much intended).

And, at the very least, will transport you back to a time where music videos were actually about music and you could get dinner on the table in under thirty minutes and have it actually be good for you.

Sigh. The good old days.

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One year ago…Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Cupcakes

Two years ago…Peanut Butter Honeycomb Pie, Honey Curry Bread, Warm and Spicy Cashew Tomato Soup

Three years ago…Mexican Sweet Potato Risotto

Four years ago…Zucchini Carbonara, Baked Heirloom Squash with Brown Sugar and Butter

Eggplant Mykonos with Orzo and Feta
 
A hearty and healthy Mediterranean stew filled with eggplant, tomatoes, spinach, orzo, and a sprinkling of feta on top.
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped onions
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 medium eggplant, cubed
  • 2 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped
  • 28 oz canned diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup water
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • 6 oz baby spinach
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
  • 1 lb orzo
  • 4 oz feta, crumbled
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a soup pot on low heat. Add in the onions, garlic, red pepper flakes and salt and cook until onions are translucent, about 10 minutes.
  2. Stir in the eggplant and cook for 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Add in the bell peppers, tomatoes, and water. Bring to a boil and then simmer, covered, for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently.
  3. Stir in the black pepper, spinach, lemon juice and dill, cooking for a few minutes or until the spinach wilts. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  4. Prepare orzo according to package directions. Toss with the eggplant stew. Top each bowl with the feta cheese.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: ⅙th of recipe

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69 Responses to Eggplant Mykonos

  1. Looove this dish! Comfort in a bowl. The addition of the feta makes this over-the-top delicious for me!
    I have avoided all things Miley Cyrus over the past few weeks. Ugh!!

  2. Beth says:

    Looks delicious, whether or not we have unhealthy images to be washed out of our minds! I’ve heard Robin Thicke’s song hundreds of time, but haven’t seen the video and don’t plan to. Some things are better left unimagined!

  3. Ah! Just the title of this made me miss the feta in Greece (I vacationed there a few months ago!) … love this dish, looks perfect for right now on this gloomy day in NYC… beautiful!

  4. I was honestly just thinking of making this over the weekend. I defaulted to tamarind roasted eggplant and chickpeas but I have 2 eggplants left. It will be hard not to remake the tamarind eggplant dish but perhaps you have convinced me. 🙂

  5. Margarita says:

    Yes, that Miley video was nothing short of horrific. I don’t even understand why she would think all those weird moves could be considered sexy. Poor girl. And that dude, he was gross too. I love this dish. Light eggplant stew, orzo, feta… Delish!

  6. Joanne,
    Time to put your foot down!! Miley and Robin Thicke? Nothing like taking one for the team but enough is enough. Thankfully this delicious looking recipe seems like it could effectively detoxify even that. Love this idea, and the beautiful photos!!

  7. SallyBR says:

    Haven’t seen the videos. Will not get close to them, per your advice.

    now, the recipe, I can get cozy with…. perfection!

  8. It has everything I love! Indeed a bowl of comfort and deliciousness.

  9. I love everything about this meal! Particularly the eggplant and orzo (perhaps my favorite of all pastas 🙂 ). I totally want a bowl right now, even if it is breakfast time!

  10. I have a bag of orzo sitting in my pantry – I know what to do..I have no comments on Miley Cyrus and tetanus shot sounds about right to me..

  11. This looks hella good, lady! And um, I cannot even think about Miley without gagging a little… so I’ma focus on the food 😉

  12. Jessie says:

    Ah, you are a true future doctor. I’ve not seen these videos, but I’ve heard enough about them to know I’ll be actively avoiding them. Is it possible to get tetanus from just watching that video?? :O

    This eggplant dish looks so delicious, and I love the new (?) bowl! Gorgeous photos, as always!

  13. This looks amazing – I love new ideas for eggplant always on the lookout. And now I feel the need to watch these videos even though I really don’t want to – you know like a car wreck when you cant look away.

  14. I don’t know what possessed me to watch her new video on YouTube, but I wish I could delete it from my brain, too. What the what with the phallic chain business? Good Lord.
    That being said, with the weather decidedly a bit cooler lately, Eggplant Stew sounds like it would help my grossed-out-ness!

  15. This meal would definitely make me feel better after my face had been doing this :O! while watching the aforementioned videos.

  16. I guess I’m among the lucky few who have not seen either of the videos! But you’re making me curious…
    This looks fantastic! I have an intense desire to make this in the near future!

  17. Kate says:

    I haven’t seen either of the videos, but I’ve certainly heard plenty of chatter about them.

  18. Adrian Fleur says:

    Another beautiful recipe, thank you!

  19. Pam says:

    Miley makes me sad.

    The eggplant mykonos with orzo, on the other hand, makes me super happy! I love everything about it.

  20. Omg. I was totally thinking of giving Miley a tetanus shot too!! I watched it in class last week instead of paying attention…it’s…just…wrong.

  21. Yes, once you’ve seen that Miley video it cannot be unseen. Unfortunately. I’ve been obsessing about Mykonos and didn’t realize it was also a name of a dish that I would LOVE!

  22. Haha, you definitely can’t un-see that miley cyrus performance! This stew looks phenomenal, though!

  23. Chewthefat says:

    I was pretty shocked when I saw both of those videos, too! Tasteless and not even clever–although I like the song! I grew up when MTV was ALL videos. A more innocent time..

  24. sandra says:

    I happen to be one of the few who have not seen – nor plan to see – these videos. Thanks for the heads up.

  25. Yay, I’m part of the lucky minority… and I plan things to keep this way for a long time: no way I want to watch it!
    This looks super amazing, I can’t believe it’s so healthy, quick and easy. I loooove it 🙂

  26. Jeanette says:

    Love the Mediterranean flavors in this dish Joanne! I only saw a snippet from the video, enough to make me hit the close button on that page – it’s a sad state of affairs. Hoping Miley turns things around. I don’t have any daughters, but it’s sad that she can’t be a positive role model.

  27. I will never be the same after watching that video…Excuse me while I go take a shower (clean the x-rated dirt off of me)! And then make this meal…

  28. You had me at Mykonos.. I thought you were going to talk about Greece. 🙂
    Anyway, this eggplant recipe is so brilliant..reminds me of a chipotle bowl, only orzo and eggplant. LOVE IT! I hate Miley too, Robyn is too hot to dislike. 🙂

  29. Meg says:

    Whew, this looks amazing — like food for the soul! Definitely good for forgetting unsavory things. 🙂

  30. Dude, you need to stay away from those Miley videos!! But at least it brought back the doctor side of you lol! I’m glad the scientist is taking over ;p. This definitely looks amazing and I love eggplants!

  31. Amy says:

    Both those videos are so….ew. I’m scarred for life. I need a bowl of this to dull the pain.

  32. Ashley says:

    This sounds fantastic! Love all the Mediterranean flavors at play here.

  33. I felt dirty after watching Miley’s other video and don’t think I need to see this one… ugh!

    Seriously wishing I had some eggplant on hand to make this for dinner.

  34. I haven’t watched the Miley video yet and thanks for your review now definitely won’t- but this bowl of heartiness I don’t think I could resist indulging in!
    This eggplant orzo looks delish!

  35. My dad is a big eggplant fan so I’d love to make this for him on his next visit!

  36. Great flavors Joanne – eggplant has been super cheap here lately and i have been buying a lot of this. I’m printing this!

  37. Christine says:

    Fortunately, I haven’t seen the videos and now will make sure I don’t. Thank you! This dish looks so packed full of goodness. Serious yum factor. 🙂 Supposed to get in the low 90’s/high 80’s towards the end of the week, so I might just be making this!

  38. Monet says:

    I haven’t seen those videos..but now I’m so curious. I need to stay away! This stew however? I’m all for it! It would be perfect for this dreary day we’re having. Thank you for sharing! Another delicious post and a great start to the week. I hope you had a beautiful Monday!

  39. gloria says:

    Joanne dear, i dont see the video but yesterday in cable show some images and find not sexy, well is still a girl I think!
    I love eggplants so much!!! and this sounds delicious!!

  40. It really should be called “healthy comfort food that does not suck!”
    I mean seriously girl, you make healthy food look and sound good!

  41. christina says:

    Haha I will be eating this as I continue to avoid that video!

  42. I go through phases with eggplant. Usually for several months at a time I’ll eat it almost daily. Lately though I haven’t had much of the stuff. This looks like such a lovely and simple dish! I’ll have to try it out!

  43. Tracey says:

    LOL, I haven’t seen either video and hope to keep it that way! 🙂 Anyway, Shane’s mom just brought me a few eggplant and I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with them. This is perfect, thanks for the idea!

  44. I tried to lick my screen…but it wasn’t very satisfying…

  45. Megan says:

    I seriously want a huge bowl of this. Love everything in it. What a great dish!!

  46. Kristi says:

    I have to say that I have been one of the lucky ones not to see the Miley video 🙂

  47. Love that mound of feta on top!

  48. Ahhh …eveything in this dish is wonderful !! We can eat this alone as a meal! Great recipe!

  49. Reeni says:

    I love that it’s comfort food time! Bring on this delicious stew with a generous helping of feta on top! That just seals the deal for me!

  50. Juliana says:

    Beautiful dish Joanne, like the orzo and feta cheese with eggplants…what a delicious and flavorful combination…
    Have a nice week 😀

  51. Sues says:

    I’ve been trying to avoid Miley’s new video. So far, successful. If I happen to see it, I’ll just stare at the photos of your eggplant mykonos instead… because it’s beautiful!!

  52. Never heard of the dish but as I went through the recipe, I am familiar with the flavors. Love love this one, can I have a huge bow of your orzo.

  53. Oh Joanne, this meal screams my name! This is my kind of cooking. Love it!

  54. I’m one of the lucky ones… I have not seen the video. haha! Love this bowl of comfort food. Eggplant and feta? YUM! My kind of meal for sure. Thanks for posting Joanne!

  55. I would rather poke sticks in my eyes that watch the video! And I would rather devour this dish over anything 🙂

  56. Faith says:

    I’m sorry to say that I’ve had the misfortune of seeing the Miley video too…support group definitely needed, lol! And I can’t get enough eggplant lately…I’d love to dive into this beautiful bowl!

  57. Abby says:

    Ugh I watched the Miley video but now know to stay away from the Robin Thicke one!! At least there’s always this bowl of awesomeness to calm my frazzled mind 😉 I miss the good old days!

  58. I am so glad there is a support group. Miley has scarred a few souls with that video! Did she get a tongue implant? Dang!

    And this bowl of delicious veggie goodness, bring.it.on!

  59. 🙂 I’m glad that cooking wholesome is a way to get over Miley-shock. I still have it so I probably have to make this.

  60. tigerfish says:

    Simple yet hearty meal! Love.

  61. This sounds like a wonderful dish. I am one of the lucky ones I have not seen the Miley video.

  62. Lynn says:

    I’d like to view this eggplant dish in person – guess I’ll have to make it. 🙂

  63. Sam says:

    Looks amazing! I just wish my CSA had eggplant this year. I might just have to pick one up and hope I get the rest of those veggies eaten!

  64. elly says:

    This looks fantastic. I’ve been slow to love eggplant, but I’m getting there. I have yet to watch the Miley video. 🙂

  65. I LOVE Greek food, especially since I am half Greek and I LOVE the flavors in this, totally pinning this baby!!

  66. What a hearty and delicious Mediterranean stew, and I’m a huge fan of orzo salads.

  67. How the heck did I miss this post the other day. It looks ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS!!! And perfect for a fall day.

  68. Courtney says:

    I have a confession: the only way I ever cook eggplant is with pasta. I have no idea why, though, and I’m totally making this soup soon because it looks phenomenal.

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