This grilled eggplant is topped with feta cheese, colorful ripe cherry tomatoes, and a zesty quinoa with herbs and dill. How to grill eggplant.
Alex and I recently visited our friend’s urban farm in south Indianapolis. It was a beautiful sight: a green oasis between garbage dumps and concrete. We picked up shiny cherry tomatoes and shiny purple eggplants from the farm stand and chatted with farmer Amy while she was busy picking onions. If you had told me years ago that I would buy vegetables from urban farms and use them to make meals, I would have said, “You are crazy.Lo and behold, this visit resulted in a delicious Eggplant Quinoa recipe that’s a perfect recipe for a summer dinner. That’s how it’s done!
Just a little story… of when seasonal food wasn’t on our radar
Ten years ago I had little interest in food. My dinners consisted of cereal and hot packs and microwave dinners. YES, it is 100% true. It was a lonely way to eat. I felt isolated. I shopped at large grocery chains and felt depressed after I left. Of all the reasons I got involved with food, this one got me hooked community.
I started going to farmers markets. At the market I was able to speak to the person who grew the food! It was breathtaking. I was fascinated by personal relationships. Little by little, Alex and I tried to figure out what to do with those bright tomatoes, eggplants, and cucumbers that were so different from the flimsy ones at the grocery store.
It’s a very condensed version of how Alex and I got to where we are today by making things like herbed quinoa with farmer’s market eggplant. It sounds like hippie vegetarians of us, but actually we never wanted to be. We just fell in love with the people behind the food. And over time we fell in love with the food too.
Make herbed quinoa with eggplant
Enough about us… let’s talk about this recipe! We hope you fall head over heels in love with this Herbed Eggplant Quinoa. It is a Mediterranean style recipe with a fresh and spicy taste. The smoky flavor of eggplant contrasts fabulously with the dill and feta of quinoa. Here’s how to grill eggplant, which you can use in any other recipe you like (they would be perfect painted with BBQ sauce, too!). This herb quinoa would be just as delicious on its own as it would be as a side dish for a summer barbecue!
How to make herb quinoa
This Herbed Quinoa showcases the best flavors summer has to offer! Here are the basic steps to make it:
- Boil 1 cup of quinoa. Prepare a pot of quinoa using our Perfect Quinoa Method (or our Instant Pot Quinoa if you have a pressure cooker).
- Stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil and white wine vinegar. This gives chewy quinoa a kick of flavor.
- Mix in 6 tablespoons of mixed chopped herbs. Mix it up with fresh herbs of your choice! We used 2 tablespoons of fresh dill, basil, and cilantro. (If you don’t grow herbs at home, it’s pretty easy! You don’t even need space in the garden—just pots and a sunny ledge. Here’s how to grow herbs.)
- Add the sliced cherry tomatoes and the feta crumbs. The icing on the cake is the feta; there is a salty and savory undertone. Using multicolored tomatoes gives brilliant colors!
Fancy more with quinoa? Here are our best easy quinoa recipes.
How to grill eggplant
Now, to make quinoa with eggplant: We grilled the slices lengthwise on a charcoal grill until charred and tender. Here’s how!
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Slice eggplants lengthwise into 3/4-inch slices and sprinkle generously with Kosher salt. Put it in a colander for 15-30 minutes (this will take away the bitterness and help the eggplant soften).
- Brush the aubergines on both sides with olive oil.
- Place the eggplants on the grill and cook 4 minutes on each side, until tender and grill marks appear.
Want more with eggplant? Try our best eggplant recipes, from eggplant marinara to eggplant parmesan to grilled eggplant sandwiches.
This eggplant quinoa recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten free.
The description
This grilled eggplant is topped with feta cheese, colorful ripe cherry tomatoes, and a zesty quinoa with herbs and dill. How to grill eggplant.
- 1.2 eggplant pounds (1 big or 2 few)
- 1 cup dry quinoa
- 5 tablespoons olive oil, shared
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill (A handle)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (A handle)
- 2 tablespoons chopped coriander (A handle)
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Prepare the quinoa according to Perfect Quinoa’s directions or our Instant Pot Quinoa Method.
- Cut the eggplant into ¾-inch slices and season generously with salt. Place the slices in a colander, overlapping if necessary. Let stand 15 to 30 minutes, then pat dry with kitchen paper (this step will eliminate the bitterness of the eggplant before grilling).
- Brush the sliced sides of the aubergines liberally with olive oil (about 4 tablespoons total). Place on a grill and cook, turning once, until tender, about 4 minutes per side.
- Halve the cherry tomatoes. Chop the dill, basil and cilantro. When the quinoa is cooked, toss with the tomatoes, herbs, feta crumbs, white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and kosher salt.
- To serve, place two or three aubergine slices on a plate and top with the herb, quinoa and tomato mixture.
- Category: main course
- Method: Goal
- Kitchen: Inspired by the Mediterranean
Keywords: Grilled aubergines, quinoa with herbs,
Looking for more BBQ ideas?
Aside from this Grilled Eggplant with Herbed Quinoa, here are some other grilling ideas:
Updated January 2020
