Best 3 Whole Grilled Eggplant With Rice Pilaf Recipes

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**Grilled Eggplant with Rice Pilaf: A Delightful Fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Flavors**

Embark on a culinary journey with this delectable grilled eggplant dish, where smoky eggplant mingles harmoniously with fluffy rice pilaf. This recipe is a delightful fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors, offering a symphony of textures and a feast for the senses. Accompanied by a refreshing tomato sauce and a creamy tahini sauce, this dish promises an explosion of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. For those seeking a vegetarian main course or an impressive side dish, this grilled eggplant with rice pilaf is the perfect choice. With its vibrant colors and captivating aromas, it's sure to be the star of your next gathering. Additionally, the article offers tempting variations to cater to diverse preferences, including a flavorful vegetarian rice stuffing and a tangy tomato-based sauce. Get ready to indulge in this culinary masterpiece!

Let's cook with our recipes!

TURKISH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PILAF (PATLICANLI PILAV)



Turkish Eggplant (Aubergine) Pilaf (Patlicanli Pilav) image

Really good. From The Complete Middle East Cookbook By Tess Mallos. This is really nice served with Recipe #322921.

Provided by UmmBinat

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 50m

Yield 6 , 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 oval eggplants (aubergines, 1 lb in all)
salt
1 large onion
1/3 cup olive oil (be sure to use a good one!)
2 cups tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
2 teaspoons of fresh mint, chopped
2 cups basmati rice
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
6 paper towels
yogurt, for serving (or Cucumber Salad With Yogurt (Middle East, Palestine) which is even better)

Steps:

  • Cut eggplants into large cubes with skin on. Place in a colander and sprinkle liberally with salt. Leave for 30 minutes.
  • Rince and dry eggplant with paper towels.
  • Half onion lengthwise and slice.
  • Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a heavy pan and fry eggplant cubes until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
  • Add the remaining oil and gently fry the onion until transparent. Add tomatoes, seasoning, herbs and fried eggplant. Bring to a boil.
  • Wash rice until the water runs clear. Drain and place on top of the eggplant mixture. Add chicken stock.
  • Bring to a boil without stirring. Reduce heat, cover pan and leave to simmer gently for 30 minutes.
  • Turn off heat, place a few paper towels over the rim of the pan and replace the lid (This is important don't ignore this part or your pilav won't be as fluffy!).
  • Stir gently and turn into a heated serving dish.
  • Serve with yogurt and then enjoy the delicious taste.

GRILLED WHOLE EGGPLANT WITH HARISSA VINAIGRETTE



Grilled Whole Eggplant with Harissa Vinaigrette image

Nestle a whole eggplant in the dying embers of a charcoal grill (or char it on the grates of your grill) and it'll soften into a deliciously smoky, spoonable mush. An easy harissa vinaigrette poured over the top adds sweet, spicy flavor to this summertime appetizer.

Provided by Anna Stockwell

Categories     Eggplant     Grill/Barbecue     Lemon Juice     Honey     Parsley     Bread     Soy Free     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Summer     Fall     Dinner     Appetizer

Yield 4-6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 large eggplant (about 1 1/2 lb.)
1 tsp. kosher salt, divided
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. harissa paste
1 Tbsp. honey
1/4 cup chopped parsley
4-6 (1"-thick) slices crusty bread, toasted on grill if desired

Steps:

  • Prepare a charcoal fire in a grill. Let coals cool to medium heat (coals should be covered with ash and glowing red with no black remaining).
  • Grill eggplant directly on coals, turning occasionally, until skin is blackened and flesh has collapsed, 15-20 minutes. (Alternatively, grill on the grate of a gas or charcoal grill over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, 20-25 minutes.) Transfer to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and let cool slightly.
  • Carefully remove skin from eggplant, leaving stem intact. Season on all sides with 1/2 tsp. salt. Let sit on rack until excess water is drained, 20-30 minutes.
  • Whisk oil, lemon juice, harissa, honey, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt in a small bowl to combine.
  • Using a paring knife, make several slits down length of eggplant on each side. Transfer to a plate and pour dressing over. Top with parsley and serve with bread alongside.
  • Do Ahead: Eggplant (without parsley) can be dressed 8 hours ahead. Let sit at room temperature up to 4 hours. Chill, if waiting longer, and let sit at room temperature 1 hour before serving.

EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH RICE AND TOMATOES



Eggplant Stuffed With Rice and Tomatoes image

Travel anywhere in the Mediterranean region, and you will find stuffed vegetables. In Provence, they tend to be filled with meat (a way to stretch leftover stews), but in the Middle East and Greece rice and grain fillings prevail. Regional cooks make abundant use of fresh herbs like parsley, dill and mint, and sweet spices like cinnamon and allspice. Fragrant stuffed vegetables can be made ahead of the meal and served hot or at room temperature. They don't require a lot of patience to assemble - they just need a long simmer and then a rest to let the flavors mingle and intensify. Eat them as a main dish or a side, and serve up leftovers for lunch. The filling for these irresistible stuffed eggplants is also good for peppers and squash. Substitute the chopped flesh of the summer squash for the eggplant, and just use the rice and tomatoes for peppers. Make these a day ahead for best results.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     dinner, weekday, main course

Time 2h15m

Yield Serves six

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 1/2 to 3 pounds small or medium eggplants
Salt to taste
1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, grated on the large holes of a box grater
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 to 6 garlic cloves to taste, minced
1/2 cup uncooked long-grain or basmati rice
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro
3 tablespoons finely chopped mint
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Juice of 2 lemons
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons tomato paste

Steps:

  • Cut the eggplants in half. With a grapefruit spoon or a small knife, remove the flesh to within 1/2 inch of the skins.
  • Sprinkle the eggplant shells with salt, and let sit for 30 minutes while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Chop the flesh, and steam for 20 minutes, until tender.
  • In a large bowl, combine a third of the tomatoes, the steamed eggplant, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, all but 1 clove of the garlic, the rice, herbs and the juice of one of the lemons. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Oil a large flameproof casserole or an earthenware casserole set over a flame tamer. Combine the remaining tomatoes, olive oil, allspice, cinnamon, lemon juice, sugar, tomato paste and remaining garlic in the casserole. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Fill the eggplant shells with the rice mixture, and arrange in the casserole in a single layer. Add water if necessary to cover about a third of the eggplant. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, cover tightly and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 45 minutes to an hour until the eggplant and rice are tender. Remove from the heat.
  • Using two spatulas (the eggplants are soft at this point), transfer the eggplants to a platter. Bring the sauce to a boil. If it is not already thick, reduce until thick and fragrant. Pour over the eggplants, and allow to cool to warm or room temperature. They're good chilled as well. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro if desired.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 210, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 35 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 882 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams

Tips:

  • Choose the right eggplant: Look for eggplants that are firm and have smooth, unblemished skin. Avoid eggplants that are soft or have bruises or cuts.
  • Prepare the eggplant properly: To prevent the eggplant from becoming bitter, slice it in half lengthwise and score the flesh in a crosshatch pattern. Then, sprinkle the eggplant with salt and let it rest for 30 minutes. This will help to draw out the bitter juices.
  • Grill the eggplant over medium-high heat: This will help to caramelize the flesh and give it a slightly smoky flavor.
  • Cook the rice pilaf according to package directions: While the eggplant is grilling, you can cook the rice pilaf according to the package directions. This will save you time and ensure that the rice is cooked perfectly.
  • Serve the eggplant with the rice pilaf and your favorite toppings: Once the eggplant and rice pilaf are cooked, you can serve them together with your favorite toppings. Some popular toppings include tahini sauce, yogurt sauce, pomegranate seeds, and chopped nuts.

Conclusion:

Whole grilled eggplant with rice pilaf is a delicious and healthy dish that is perfect for a summer meal. The eggplant is grilled to perfection and has a slightly smoky flavor, while the rice pilaf is fluffy and flavorful. This dish is also very easy to make, and it can be customized to your liking with different toppings. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy summer meal, give this whole grilled eggplant with rice pilaf a try!

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