An easy grilled eggplant recipe
Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant is the perfect example of how easy eggplant can be to work with – despite the common belief that it is fussy, bitter, or complicated to work with. In reality, when eggplant is prepared properly it is tender and hearty that you can even use it in place of meat. I’m all about grilling vegetables, anything from vegetable kabobs to zucchini rounds. Grilling eggplant is no more difficult than grilling other vegetables, especially with this recipe. You do not have to peel eggplant before cooking, and you do not have to soak it either. But I’m a big fan of salting your eggplant (more on this later). From there, all it takes for the perfect, charred and smoky eggplant is a brush of good extra virgin olive oil and a hot grill or indoor griddle (I’m a fan of cast iron griddles and I use one in my video below)! The sky is the limit when it comes to adding flavor, but I like to top it with my garlicy, jalapeno infused olive oil sauce and serve it Mediterranean-style with my whipped feta and wedges of pita!
What kind of eggplant is best to use in this recipe?
You can almost grill any kind of eggplant you find. Globe eggplants are the most readily available here in the US, and because they are large and hearty, they lend themselves well to slicing and grilling in this recipe. Rosa bianca eggplants–the ones with the beautiful purple and white markings–are smaller and tend to be less bitter or even white eggplant, and are also great for grilling. You may also be able to try Japanese eggplant or white eggplant, but their shapes are a little more tricky to work with in a grilled eggplant recipe like this one.
Should I salt eggplant before cooking it?
Unless you’re grilling eggplant whole to make Baba Ganoush or Melitzanosalata, two dips I love, you’ll want to budget a few extra minutes to salt your eggplant. I do believe salt enhances the flavor and texture. Especially if you run into an older, bitter eggplant with too many seeds. Beads of water will surface when you salt your eggplant slices and allow them to sit for a few minutes. While drawing out moisture, salt helps the eggplant sweat out some bitterness and, at the same time, it breaks down the eggplant’s spongy texture, resulting in a more velvety, tender grilled eggplant. It is an optional step and requires you to budget 20 to 30 extra minutes, but I do it almost every time I work with eggplant. Unless I’m grilling eggplant whole for something like an eggplant dip, whether I’m grilling, roasting, or making something more involved like eggplant parmesan or caponata.
Do not peel eggplant before grilling
Eggplant skin is completely edible and has some nutrition benefits. And in this eggplant recipe, the skin will hold the thin eggplant slices so they won’t fall apart while cooking.
How to grill eggplant (step-by-step)
Here are the basics of how to grill globe eggplant:
Flavor and serve grilled eggplant immediately!
Given eggplant is hearty and neutral tasting, it will take to any number of flavor combination. I highly recommend season the eggplant hot off the grill. In this recipe, I made a quick sauce with good extra virgin olive oil infused with garlic and jalepeno peppers, which is a hit! To serve this Mediterranean eggplant recipe, add whipped feta and wedges of warmed pita bread. I love slathering the pita with a bit of whipped feta and then staking my seasoned eggplant on top. The best! Check out the video to see how I do it!
How to store leftovers
Leftover grilled eggplant should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Note that it’s best when enjoyed fresh but it will last in the fridge for up 3 days. Reheating it will make the texture extra soft, so I recommend enjoying it cold instead. It adds fantastic to add to something like this chickpea salad.
More eggplant recipes:
Easy Vegan Eggplant “Meatballs” Baba Ganoush Eggplant Pizza with Spinach and Mushrooms Eggplant Lasagna Grilled Eggplant Salad with Za’atar Pita Crisps
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