Grilled Eggplant Salad with Red Onion, Tomatoes, and Basil
If you can find an eggplant recipe that does not involve frying or loading up with cheese, I say go for it. You’re in luck because I have one right here! As I mentioned before in my previous eggplant recipe, eggplants are a very nutritious food that is full of antioxidants, low in calories, and low in carbohydrates. Next time you are planning to grill, pick up a few eggplants. The combination of the grilled eggplants, lemon juice, basil, and red onion made this recipe fresh, tasty, and perfect for the summer!
Heart healthy: yes
Diabetic diet: yes
Guilt-free: yes
Low carbohydrate: yes
Low calorie: yes
Serves 5 to 6
Ingredients:
Two large eggplants, sliced ¼ inch thin circle slices
¼ red onion sliced thin
Two tomatoes, cut in half and sliced thin
A hand full of fresh basil leaves
Two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Lemon juice of one small lemon
¼ teaspoon of black pepper
¼ teaspoon of salt
Directions:
To grill the eggplants, clean them first then slice in ¼ inch thin circle slices.
Temperature and cooking time of the eggplants may vary depending on if you use gas or charcoal grill. In this recipe, we used a gas grill.
Preheat the grill to 350 degrees. Brushing the grill with a very light coat of oil prior to heating will prevent the eggplants from sticking to the grill.
Lower the grill heat to medium and place the eggplants flat on the grill.
Let cook for 4 to 5 minutes until you start seeing dark grill marks, like the picture, then you know it is ready to turn to the other side.
When the eggplants are done grilling, cool in room temperature, then cut the eggplant circles in half.
Slice the tomatoes and onions lengthwise into thin slices.
Cut half of the basil leaves thin and keep the other half of the basil leaves intact.
In a large bowl, add the eggplants, sliced tomatoes, onion, and basil.
In a separate small bowl mix the olive oil, salt, lemon juice, and black pepper. Mix well with a spoon or fork and add to the large bowl. Toss the eggplants, and the rest of the ingredients, place in a serving plate and garnish with basil leaves. Et voila!