Grilled Eggplant Tuscan Style Recipes

ITALIAN GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH BASIL AND PARSLEY (MELANZANE GRIGLIATE AL BASILICO E PREZZEMOLO)

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Brush eggplant lightly with olive oil on both sides. Stir together remaining olive oil, garlic, and salt in a small bowl.
• Arrange eggplant slices on the preheated grill and cook, turning occasionally, until tender and browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Arrange grilled eggplant on a platter. Brush with the olive oil and garlic mixture until eggplant has absorbed the oil. Sprinkle with the chopped basil and parsley and serve.

GRILLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush the vegetables with 1/4 cup of the oil to coat lightly. Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred all over, about 8 to 10 minutes for the bell peppers; 7 minutes for the yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms; 4 minutes for the asparagus and green onions. Arrange the vegetables on a platter. The key to getting those great grill marks is to not shift the vegetables too frequently once they've been placed on the hot grill.
• Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, parsley, basil, and rosemary in a small bowl to blend. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the herb mixture over the vegetables. Serve the vegetables, warm or at room temperature.

GRILLED EGGPLANT TUSCAN STYLE

Steps:

• Slice eggplant into 1/4-1/2 inch thick round slices. Drizzle olive oil over slices and squeeze lemon over eggplant and let sit several minutes until absorbed. Sprinkle oregano, red pepper and salt and pepper to taste, over slices. Grill over a medium fire 5-8 minutes on each side until slightly charred. Slice tomato and cheese into thick slices. Layer eggplant with tomato and cheese topping with a final slice of grilled eggplant. Dress with a final drizzle of fresh, extra-virgin olive oil and thinly sliced fresh basil. Serve room temperature or chilled.

GRILLED EGGPLANT CAPONATA

Steps:

• Soak currants in hot water for 15 minutes. Drain and put aside.
• Brush eggplant and onion slices with olive oil on both sides, using the 1/3 cup oil.
• Grill onion slices over a medium-hot fire until lightly charred but cooked through, about 7 minutes per side. Grill eggplant slices for about 5 minutes on each side, until slices are soft inside and outsides have become slightly charred.
• Remove eggplant and onion slices and cool briefly. Remove outer skin from onion slices.
• Drain tomatoes, reserving juice. In a large bowl mix reserved tomato juice with cocoa powder until cocoa dissolves. Chop tomatoes and add to mixture. Then mix in currants, capers, anchovies, green olives, calamata olives, jalapeno pepper and parsley. Coarsely chop eggplant and onions and fold into tomato mixture. Stir in vinegar and the 1/4 cup olive oil. Season with kosher salt. Let stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

GRILLED ITALIAN EGGPLANT SLICES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first six ingredients., Grill eggplant, covered, over medium heat for 3 minutes. Turn slices; spoon Parmesan mixture onto each. Top with tomato; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Grill, covered, 2-3 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

PANZANELLA WITH GRILLED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat grill or broiler. Grill or broil eggplant slices until nicely browned, turning once to brown both sides. Coarsely chop slices; set aside.
• Slice the bread one-half-inch thick and lightly toast the slices on the grill or under the broiler. Rub each slice with the cut side of the garlic. Dice the bread and mince the garlic.
• Combine tomatoes, onion and eggplant in bowl. Add minced garlic. Fold in vinegar and olive oil. Fold in bread, mixing well so it becomes moistened with vinegar, oil and juice of tomatoes. Fold in basil and season salad with salt and pepper. Set aside at least one-half-hour before serving.