Description
Mediterranean roasted eggplant salad delivers Mediterranean flavors through herb-infused, smoky eggplant slices. Fresh parsley, garlic, and olive oil create a harmonious blend you’ll savor with crusty bread or grilled meats.
Ingredients
Scale
- 500 g (1.1 lb) eggplants
- 360 g (12.7 oz) tomatoes
- 100 g (3.5 oz) uncooked millet or quinoa
- 360 g (12.7 oz) cooked chickpeas (canned)
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 bunch parsley
- olive oil
Instructions
- Roasting Preparation: Heat convection oven to 392°F (200°C), ensuring optimal vegetable caramelization and even cooking.
- Vegetable Preparation: Slice eggplants into uniform thin rounds, quarter fresh tomatoes, and distribute whole peeled garlic cloves and chickpeas across a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer.
- Seasoning Process: Generously season vegetables with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, then drizzle extra virgin olive oil to coat each piece thoroughly.
- Roasting Technique: Roast vegetable mixture for 25-30 minutes, rotating midway to develop golden, crispy edges and intensify flavor profiles.
- Grain Preparation: Simultaneously cook millet or quinoa according to package instructions, aiming for fluffy, perfectly textured grains.
- Cooling and Combining: Allow roasted vegetables to rest 5-7 minutes, then gently merge with prepared grains in a large mixing bowl.
- Final Garnishing: Sprinkle finely chopped fresh parsley over the salad and complete with a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette or sun-dried tomato dressing for enhanced complexity.
Notes
- Slice Precisely: Create uniform 1/4-inch eggplant rounds to guarantee even roasting and prevent uneven cooking textures.
- Spread Strategically: Arrange vegetables in a single layer on parchment paper to maximize caramelization and prevent steaming.
- Season Generously: Use kosher salt and black pepper liberally to enhance the natural vegetable flavors and create depth.
- Cool Carefully: Allow roasted vegetables to rest 5-7 minutes after cooking to concentrate flavors and improve overall taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg