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5.0 from 84 votes

Balsamic Grilled Eggplant

A mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic makes for a flavorful grilled eggplant. It's an easy recipe - mix the simple marinade, brush the eggplant, and grill.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 120 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean

Ingredients

  • 1 eggplant large, unpeeled, about 1 pound
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil extra-virgin
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon of any other salt, including Morton kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat a grill, a grill pan, or a dual-contact electric grill over medium-high heat.
  2. Trim the eggplant's edges and slice it crosswise into ½-inch-thick rounds. You should get about 12 slices.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  4. Brush the eggplant slices with the mixture on both sides. Set aside any remaining marinade.
  5. Grill the eggplant slices until golden brown and fork-tender, about 5 minutes on each side. In my dual-contact electric grill, I grill for 5 minutes on one side, then 2 minutes on the second side.
  6. Brush the eggplant slices with the remaining marinade and serve.

Notes

  • The peel of mature eggplants can be slightly bitter, but the marinade and grilling take care of that. Leaving the skin on is pretty! However, if you prefer, go ahead and peel the eggplant.
  • When making this recipe, you'll walk a fine line between having the eggplant turn out undercooked or overcooked and mushy. While ideally, you want it just right, it's better to err on the side of slightly overcooking it. Undercooked eggplant is bitter, while overcooked one is delicious, even if its texture is not ideal.
  • You can keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days. I don't reheat them. I enjoy them cold, like antipasti. But if you prefer to reheat the leftovers, do so gently in the microwave at 50% power. I don't recommend freezing the leftovers. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 0.3recipe Calories 120kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Fat 9g (14%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Sodium 193mg (8%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 5g (10%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 120

% Daily Value*

Serving 0.3recipe
Calories 120kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 193mg 8%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 5g 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.