Description
Smoky Grilled Eggplant is a flavorful and healthy Mediterranean dish featuring tender eggplant slices infused with a smoky paprika marinade, grilled to perfection and garnished with fresh parsley and balsamic glaze. Ideal as a side or main course, this recipe offers a delicious way to enjoy vibrant tastes and wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
Eggplant
- 2 medium eggplants, sliced into 1/2 inch rounds
Marinade
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Prepare the Eggplant: Slice the eggplants into 1/2 inch rounds and place them in a colander. Sprinkle with salt and let them sit for 15 minutes to draw out moisture, which helps reduce bitterness and prevents sogginess when grilling.
- Make the Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and freshly squeezed lemon juice until fully combined to create a smoky, tangy marinade.
- Marinate the Eggplant: Rinse the eggplant slices under cold water to remove excess salt from drawing out moisture, then pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Brush both sides of each slice generously with the prepared marinade.
- Grill the Eggplant: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Place the marinated eggplant slices on the grill and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side, until tender and marked with nice grill lines, indicating they are cooked through and flavorful.
- Serve: Remove the grilled eggplant from the grill and arrange on a serving platter. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley to add brightness and a hint of acidity before serving.
Notes
- Salting the eggplant helps to remove excess moisture and bitterness, resulting in a better texture.
- Adjust the amount of smoked paprika to vary the smokiness to your preference.
- Use a grill pan or outdoor grill depending on availability.
- For a vegan option, ensure the balsamic glaze contains no added animal products.
- Serve grilled eggplant warm as a side or cool as part of a Mediterranean platter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main, Side
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
