Grilled Eggplant + Goat Cheese Salad



Still on my salad kick...I have another good one for you!  We bought some eggplant at the local Farmer's Market because they looked so good.  Then I realized...I have NO idea what to do with eggplant.  Enter this salad.  The eggplant substitutes the meat but it super hearty and tasty.  And really, if you add goat cheese, all tastes good in my book.

Adapted from Giada de Laurentiis

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
7 Japanese eggplant, ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch wide slices
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
3 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1/3 cup basil, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Handful lettuce of your choice

Method

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Drizzle the olive oil over the slices of eggplant and toss to coat. Grill the eggplants until tender and grill marks appear, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Place the eggplants over a bed of lettuce. Sprinkle with the pine nuts, goat cheese, tomatoes and basil. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Have you cooked with eggplant before?  What's your favorite recipe?

xo natasha

12 comments :

  1. I really love Eggplant Parmesan. Totally not the healthiest but it taste so good! I am sharing a salad recipe today too!

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  2. I love eggplant! My in laws are great at cooking it since it's used a lot in the middle east. My favorite eggplant dish is eggplant parmesan or baba ganoush.

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  3. I am a huge fan of eggplant. This looks delicious and perfect for summer.

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  4. mmmmm this looks so yummy and delicious! xo

    http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/

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  5. Big eggplant fans here... usually eggplant parm, mixed in a veggie lasagna, or sautéed with pasta or a naan pizza. We'll have to try this next!

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  6. Too funny, because last week at the farmer's market I thought the eggplant looked delicious. And my thought as well was - I have no idea what to do with that. Well now I do!

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  7. Yum! I'm really into these type of gourmet salads lately. They are anything but boring! And I love goat cheese ;)

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  8. This looks so amazing. I am the same with eggplant. I have this eggplant casserole recipe from my grandmother that I make often but that is the only way I cook eggplant. I must try this!

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  9. Yum! I love the idea of grilled veggies on a salad. And the goat cheese is just an added bonus! :)

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  10. Wow this looks like a delicious salad I will have to try!!

    Nicole
    www.eleganceandclutter.com

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  11. I love eggplant. The only dish I've made with eggplant is Eggplant Parmesan. This salad looks delicious! Great list of ingredients and I'm a fan of goat cheese. Can't way to try it!

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  12. I'll take the goat cheese! My husband can have the eggplant ;)

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