Herb and Garlic Grilled Eggplant (Aubergine)

Submitted by Sharon123

"Eaten either hot or at room temperature, this is one of those simple, but ultimately satisfying dishes that goes with almost anything and is so good eaten on its own. Adapted from The Splendid Table, by Lynne Rossetto Kasper. This doubles easily."

 

• Ready In: 25mins
• Ingredients: 7

ingredients

• 2 medium eggplants, sliced into 1/4-inch thick round slices (about 2 pounds)
• 157.80 ml extra virgin olive oil (approximately)
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 118.29 ml fresh basil, minced (tightly packed)
• 118.29 ml Italian parsley, minced (tightly packed)
• 0.61 ml black pepper
• salt

directions

1. Marinating the Eggplant:

2. Lightly brush both sides of each eggplant slice with oil. Blend together the garlic, parsley, basil and pepper. Spread a little of the herb blend over each slice. Lay the slice side by side on a large platter, stacking them if necessary. Lightly cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature 2 to 4 hours.

3. Cooking Eggplant on an Outdoor Grill:

4. Burn down a charcoal fire (using real wood charcoal briquets if possible), until a white ash has formed on the briquets. Heat should be moderate. Sprinkle the slices with salt. Grill the undrained eggplant slices about 10 minutes, turning once, or until deep golden brown on each side and soft when pierced with a knife. Spoon any seasonings left on the platter over each slice after turning. Transfer the finished slices to a platter and serve.

5. Cooking Eggplant Inside:

6. Grill undrained slices over medium heat on a gridded skillet or stove-top grill, until deep, golden brown on each side.
7. Spread any seasonings left on the platter over each slice before turning. Do this in several batches unless your cooking surface is large enough to hold all the slices in a single layer. Or you may preheat broiler, placing eggplant about 4" from the flame. Spread any leftover marinade over the slices, and have them in a single layer. Broil slowly until slices are deep golden brown on each side, and eggplant is soft when pierced.
8. Serve as a first course or main dish after topping the warm slices with long furls of Parmigiano-Reggiano or sheep cheese carved with a vegetable peeler. Enjoy!

Reviews

[Abba Gimel]

I love to BBQ & not just meat. These were sooooo easy and tasty too. I doubled the garlic, because that is how I like it. I can not wait to make this again!!!

 

[Leggy Peggy]

I love eggplant -- which is surprising because my mother hated it. Dad used to buy it, and mum used to kick it off the back porch when he wasn't looking (she was very sneaky). I don't think I really tasted eggplant until I was in my late 20s, and straightaway I realised it was great. I think this recipe might have converted mum. Thanks for a tastier and more interesting version of grilled eggplant than the one I have made in the past. Yummo!

 

[Liara]

I'm usually not a big eggplant fan, but I really enjoyed them cooked this way. Love the garlic and herbs that come through. Thanks!

 

[kiwidutch]

Loved it. This was my first attempt at cooking eggplant so I was a little nervous. The outcome was good though and we liked this a lot. It really wasn't BBQ weather today so I needed to do these under the grill in the oven and I was pleased at how easy it went. DH and I both want to persue more eggplant recipes now so that we can get more confident with a veggie that we always liked the look of but didn't really have the confidence to cook before now. Please see my rating system: 4 wonderful stars for a garlicy introduction that we enjoyed. Thanks!

 

[Mamas Kitchen Hope]

Made this as an OAMC type thing. I grilled these until slightly underdone and froze them for future use. I DID completely cook one for lunch and made a wrap with it. Great flavor! LOVE the garlic and herbs in this. Thanks for a great recipe!