Aggie's Kitchen

Giada’s Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad

Do you ever see a recipe on a cooking show and just have to make it immediately?

Giada's Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad

I had to make this salad. I’ve been thinking about it all week (there I go again, being obsessive about food…)…but you know what I mean right? I know a lot of you are not in grilling weather right now, and to be honest with you it is cold, dreary and rainy here in FL right now. But that wasn’t going to stop me, I grilled these babies indoors… if you don’t have a grill pan, it is so worth the investment, I use mine all the time.

Giada's Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad(Zebra Eggplant from the Lake Mary Farmer’s Market…aren’t they pretty?…)

I have been craving really fresh and healthy food lately…I think having hamburgers and pulled pork in the same week does that to you…I’ll have to plan better next time. This salad definitely hit the spot. The flavor combination could not get any better…grilled eggplant, goat cheese, toasted pine nuts and basil…simply dressed in a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar. So good.

Thank you Giada.

Giada's Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad

Print Recipe

Giada's Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad

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
  • 1/3 cup basil, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped mint (I left this out)
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

  1. 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.
  2. Place the eggplants side-by-side on a serving platter. Sprinkle with the pine nuts, goat cheese, basil, and mint. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
  3. Cook's note: Plating the eggplant salad this way allowed the cheese to stay bright white. The salt and pepper showed up on it. The herbs remained green and fluffy. The grill marks on the eggplant were distinct.

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Giada's Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad
Thank you so much to all of you who shared your favorite Asian recipes with me on my last post. Wow!! I have printed most of them and they are on standby…as a matter of fact I’m trying one of the stir frys tonight! Everything sounds delicious!

If are looking for new Asian recipes to try, go check out the comments in the Mongolian Beef post…you will find several to choose from.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

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15 comments on “Giada’s Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad”

  1. Love goat cheese, and love eggplant (I have never seen the zebra kind before!) – looks great!!

  2. Grilled Eggplant Salad sounds delicious! I love everything you make. Next time I’m in Florida, I’m coming to your house for dinner. 🙂

  3. Hi hi! So I was reading through your post and hit the picture of the eggplant and said outloud “wow those are really pretty” and then read your comment below the picture haha. This dish looks really yummy. I love Giada so much! I totally think about certain foods or recipes all the time, so I can relate to your obsession with food 😉 Have a great weekend!

  4. I wish I could eat some right now!!

  5. This does look good. i don’t have a grill pan but I use my George Foreman as a substitution.

  6. Aggie- that looks so good to me right now. I am in love with eggplant and jealous that you have a farmers market with such cute oneS!

  7. That looks like a nice eggplant treat!

  8. Ha! I have seen something on a cooking show and just had to make it. That’s why I do so much cooking on Saturdays when I’m off work. It’s when all the cooking shows are on on PBS. 😀

  9. Looks good. Although I am not a huge fan of eggplant I’d give this a try!

  10. What an unusual salad. Sounds delicious. Love the flavor combination. Picture is gorgeous!

  11. I just love eggplant, I should eat it more often! I’ve not had it prepared this way, and, ohhhh yeahhh, does it look good. Those stripey eggplants are so pretty to look at … and then eat! YUM!

  12. The salad sounds delicious and I love eggplant!

  13. I really like the combination of flavors you have going on, never seen they type of eggplant but I am very fond of eggplants for their flavor and juiciness. I have to agree this not only looks pretty but seriously-fabulously-divine.

  14. You have to love Giada to come through with a great recipe. I absolutely love grilled eggplant but I have a hard time getting hubby to enjoy it. Maybe served this way I can slip it by him with the cheese on it!!

  15. Giada always has such wonderful recipes and this looks like a winner! I know what you mean, I want to leave work and go home and make this now!