This tortang talong recipe with giniling takes the basic eggplant omelet recipe to another level, as this nutritious dish is filled with sautéed ground beef and vegetables that pairs perfectly with banana ketchup or vinegar!
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For this tortang talong recipe with giniling, I use my Spiced Tortang Talong Recipe as a starting point before I add my sautéed ground beef!
This grilled eggplant omelette recipe is a Filipino favorite, and when stuffed is sometimes referred to as rellenong talong.
Get ready for a filling eggplant dish, with detailed tips on how to perfectly stuff the eggplant and how to flip it without losing the stuffing!
This post will go over everything you need to know to create this tortang talong recipe with giniling.
Recipe difficulty: Moderate (Don’t get discouraged, it won’t be hard!)
The tortang talong with giniling ingredients are extremely simply and budget friendly! There are only 6 ingredients that go into the sauteed ground beef, with two of the ingredients being salt and pepper. (See? Don’t sweat!) There are also 5 ingredients that go into making the Filipino eggplant omelette and is described in further detail in my Spiced Tortang Talong Recipe!
Sam’s Pro Tips for this Tortang Talong Recipe with Giniling
Broiling the Eggplant
- How long do I broil the eggplant, and will the skin peel off easily? These tips are discussed further in the Spiced Tortang Talong Recipe, but I wanted to reiterate a couple pointers! The technique for grilling the eggplant varies, but I like to use the oven to broil my eggplant so that I can do multiple at once. When putting the eggplant under the broiler, it will take 10-14 minutes on each side. You are looking for the skin to be blackened and charred just enough that the skin blisters. Don’t leave it in for too long as the inside of the eggplant will spill out. You will also hear a popping noise which signals it’s ready! Remember, while the eggplant is hot is the easiest point to peel the skin. Subsequently, wait 5-10 minutes to cool slightly, and peel away!
Don’t Overstuff the Eggplant
- What is the easiest way to stuff the eggplant? After the eggplant is dipped in the egg mix, use a fork to separate the eggplant carefully. You want to widen the eggplant on either side. In the pan, spoon more of the egg mix on top of the eggplant to get it drenched. After that, try to make a little well in the center of the eggplant and spoon just enough of the giniling (meat mixture) to cover the well. Pour more of the egg mix on top, almost like another coating, and have it cook for about 3-4 minutes. You don’t want to put too much of the giniling, otherwise it won’t flip as easy. Lastly, using the back of a spatula, press down on the meat mixture to further seal it in!
How to Flip the Tortang Talong with Giniling
- How do you flip the tortang talong with giniling without losing the meat? Make sure to have the eggplant cook in the frying pan for about 3-4 minutes on each side for the meat to set in. The easiest way to flip the eggplant omelette with meat is to hold the stem with one hand, and with the other hand using a spatula, flip the eggplant carefully. Don’t be too rough, otherwise the eggplant can split, and your stuffing will spill out. Use a spatula to transfer to a plate. Above all, the flip will only work if you didn’t overstuff the eggplant with meat!
Key Ingredients – Tortang Talong Recipe with Giniling
Below are some key ingredients for this recipe:
Giniling (Sautéed Meat)
- Ground beef: You will use one pound ground beef and try to get it as lean as you can! I discuss this more in my Filipino Beef Giniling to Warm the Soul, but I love using 96% lean. That way I don’t feel as guilty when I don’t strain the oil, and it’s a little healthier. (I know it’s still ground beef, but hey it’s 96% lean!)
- Onion: Only a ½ onion is needed but adds great flavor! Try to use a large yellow or white onion, either one is fine.
- Garlic: Of course, this giniling recipe would have garlic! Almost all my recipes do! Set aside 3 cloves to mince for a nice, herbed flavor to the meat.
- Tomato: ½ a tomato for some juice and extra flavoring. Tomatoes on the vine are fine or a type of larger tomato.
- Salt and Pepper: That’s all the seasoning you need! Just the basics for this dish! See how I was saying this is definitely budget friendly? Season this tortang talong recipe with giniling with salt and pepper to taste. I personally like to use more pepper!
Tortang Talong (Eggplant Omelet)
- Chinese Eggplants: Make sure to use Chinese eggplants as it is different! Chinese eggplants are long and skinny compared to the traditional tear-drop eggplants and work the best for this recipe. No joke, I have tried using the traditional eggplants in a pinch and because of how wide it is, it doesn’t set right when dipped in the egg and fried. I totally have more pictures of this in my Spiced Tortang Talong Recipe.
- Eggs: The eggs are whisked together for at least 30 seconds to get air incorporated into the mixture, which makes the egg mix nice and foamy. You can even put a little flour mixed into the egg to get it to stick more onto the eggplant and thicken the egg mix. This is totally optional as you don’t need a lot of the flour, but not necessary.
- Red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper: The red pepper flakes are my secret ingredient! It’s a tortang talong with a twist! The red pepper flakes with the salt and pepper are added to the egg mixture and whisked together until foamy. You totally only need the basic spices in this recipe!
More Variations to this Recipe
There are a few ways you can variate this tortang talong recipe with giniling. Here’s how:
- Add more vegetables and spices to the giniling: For this totang talong recipe with giniling, I did the absolute basic stuffing for the eggplant! If you would like to add more to the meat mixture, try adding diced potatoes, peas, carrots, or even habaneros for an extra kick! This is very similar to my Filipino Beef Giniling to Warm the Soul, all done in one pan!
- What can I pair with this dish? So white rice is most commonly paired with tortang talong, or even Filipino Garlic Fried Rice. Spicy banana ketchup is really popular served with this dish (this can be found in the Asian market) or vinegar. Additionally, try combining vinegar with minced garlic, pepper, and a touch of hot sauce like Tapatio to spoon over the eggplant. This vinegar hot sauce recipe is included in our Filipino Style Spam Garlic Fried Rice. Super easy to do and addicting with rice!
- Filipino Beef Giniling to Warm the Soul | Meat Stew
- Spiced Tortang Talong Recipe | Grilled Eggplant Omelet
- Spicy Filipino Sardines Recipe with Habaneros| Ginisang Sardinas
- Chicken and String Beans Recipe | Ginisang Sitaw
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cook tortang talong?
Tortang talong consists of grilling the eggplant over a gas stove or in the oven. Coat the grilled eggplant with an egg mixture and fry.
What is the English of tortang talong?
Tortang talong is an eggplant omelette that is a favorite Filipino dish.
How to store tortang talong with giniling?
Keep the tortang talong recipe with giniling in the refrigerator and consume within 3 days.
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