Grilled Baby Eggplant Recipes

GRILLED BABY EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Slice off the green tops and cut the eggplants in half. Score in a criss-cross pattern using a knife. Salt and leave the eggplants for one hour. Pat dry.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Sprinkle the eggplant with garlic and breadcrumbs. Place the eggplants in an oiled baking tin. Trickle on the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake the eggplants for 20 to 30 minutes or until they are soft and golden. Sprinkle with basil and serve at room temperature.

GRILLED MARINATED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Finely chop the parsley with the capers and garlic. Add the oregano and peperoncini and chop everything together. Put the mixture in a bowl, stir in the oil, season with salt and pepper, and reserve.
• Preheat an outdoor charcoal or gas grill or a grill pan until smoking hot.
• Put enough eggplant slices on the grill to cover it without crowding. Cook the eggplant until well marked, 3 to 6 minutes, then turn the slices over. Cook until tender, about 3 minutes more. Remove the eggplant from the grill.
• Pour the vinegar into a shallow bowl. While still hot, dip each eggplant slice into the vinegar and set it aside on a plate. Continue grilling and dipping the eggplant until all the slices are cooked and seasoned.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons of the parsley mixture onto a platter and spread it evenly with the back of a spoon. Arrange half of the grilled eggplant on the parsley in a single layer. Smear each slice of eggplant with more parsley. Place a second layer of eggplant on top and spread the remaining parsley on it. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and set aside to marinate at room temperature for about 2 hours (or refrigerate for longer). Serve at room temperature.
• Chef's notes:
• You could make the parsley mixture in a food processor, but I don't. I find hand chopping gives me the somewhat drier texture I prefer.
• For this recipe, I don't salt or oil the eggplant; I grill it dry. This way, it has a nice chewy texture. I marinate the eggplant as soon as it comes off the grill so the flavor of the marinade penetrates.

GRILLED LEMONS, BABY ARTICHOKES, AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Cook baby artichokes in large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender when bottom is pierced with sharp knife, about 8 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to cool. Cut artichokes in half through stem; pat dry. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• Prepare Barbecue ( medium heat). Brush cooked artichokes, Japanese eggplant, and cut side of lemons with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill vegetables until tender and slightly charred, about 2 minutes per side. Grill lemons, cut side down, until charred, about 2 minutes. Transfer vegetables to platter. Garnish with grilled lemons for squeezing over.

GRILLED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Peel the eggplant, and then cut into 3/4-inch slices.
• Combine butter, garlic salt, and Italian seasonings; stir well.
• Brush eggplant slices with butter mixture, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Place eggplant on grill; grill over medium heat 10 minutes or until tender, turning and basting occasionally.

GRILLED BABY EGGPLANTS WITH FRESH RICOTTA AND FARM STAND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and parsley in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature while you prepare the eggplant or for up to 2 hours.
• Combine the ricotta and lemon zest in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the eggplant or for up to 2 hours.
• Heat a grill to high or a grill pan over high heat.
• Brush the eggplant on both sides with the canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the eggplant, cut-side down, until golden brown and caramelized, about 4 minutes. Flip the eggplant and grill until the bottom is golden brown and the eggplant is tender, about 3 minutes more.
• Transfer the eggplant to a platter, cut-side up, and top each half with a large dollop of the ricotta. Spoon the tomatoes over the top and serve.