• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Aline Made logo
  • Recipes
    • Vegan
    • Breakfast
    • Sides & Snacks
    • Lunch & Dinner
    • Desserts
    • Basics
    • Baking
    • Drinks
    • Vegan Summer E-Book
    • Measurement Conversion Chart
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Deutsch
  • Nav Social Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Meet Aline
  • Deutsch
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Grilled Eggplant

    Jul 6, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    2 shares

    Read in: Deutsch

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Grilled Eggplant Recipe makes a delicious vegetable side dish that can accompany so many main dishes to make a healthy and hearty meal. It’s so easy to make and is ready in just 20 minutes, or even quicker if you prep it the day before!

    Grilled Eggplant topped with parsley on a serving platter
    Jump to:
    • 🔥 Tips For Grilling Like A Pro
    • 🍽️ Tips For Serving
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 👩‍🍳 Visual Step-by-Step Instructions
    • 🫙 Make-Ahead & Storage Instructions
    • 🍆 More Grilling Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Eggplant is a tender summer vegetable and, therefore, particularly suitable as a healthy grilled vegetable. Eggplants are rich in fiber, contain vitamins, are low-carb, and low in calories. Moreover, the skin of eggplant, especially the purple one, contains antioxidants.

    They are relatively easy to grow at home and can be prepared in lots of different ways! This post will tell you everything you need to know about how to grill eggplant to make this side dish taste irresistible for family and friends. 

    Grilled eggplant is very aromatic, especially with added smoky flavors from an outdoor grill. The marinade is made with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and dried herbs. These ingredients blend so well together to make an irresistible tangy flavor.

    Grilled Eggplant on a serving platter

    Eggplant on the grill is a very popular vegetable side dish, but can also be served as a main course. Tips on how to do this are below.

    🔥 Tips For Grilling Like A Pro

    • It is enough to turn the eggplant once in the marinade (does not require an extended “marinating time”). To prepare it in advance, you can leave the sliced eggplant in the marinade for up to an hour at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator and then grill it directly.
    • The grill or grill pan should be well-preheated and rubbed with a splash of oil.
    • If you want beautiful grill stripes (like in the pictures), you must not move the eggplant while grilling. Turn it just once to cook evenly, and no more!
    • Get creative and adjust the marinade to your own taste! 😉

    🍽️ Tips For Serving

    • Crumble feta cheese (or vegan feta) over the grilled eggplant and decorate with some fresh parsley and red pepper flakes. Serve it as a light vegetarian main course with rice or pasta on the side. It also works well on its own as an appetizer. 
    • Put a light layer of parmesan cheese on top while the eggplant is still on the grill for cheesy grilled veggies.
    • Serve with chimichurri sauce for extra flavor. 
    • Drizzle balsamic cream over the top. 
    • Garnish with lemon zest for an added burst of citrus flavor. 
    • Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice.
    • Mix tahini with lemon juice and ice water and drizzle over the eggplant. Add a few pomegranate seeds and cilantro if desired, and you have a vegetarian oriental main dish. Serve with bulgur or quinoa!
    • Put the grilled eggplant slices back into the marinade (what was left in the dish) and let it sit for a short time. Gladly also overnight. So it tastes very tasty even cold.

    🛒 Ingredients

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Grilled Eggplant Ingredients
    • Eggplant → Use a medium eggplant. Doesn’t matter if you cut it lengthwise or in round slices. 😉
    • Salt → Rub the sliced eggplant with salt. This removes excess water from the eggplant, so it becomes more aromatic once grilled.
    • Fresh Parsley → To garnish!
    • Olive oil → Nothing works without oil when grilling, I prefer to use a neutral cooking oil like olive oil, but you could use canola oil, avocado oil, or grapeseed oil too. 
    • Balsamic Vinegar→ The aged balsamic vinegar provides a slightly acidic note. The vinegar can be substituted with a little lemon juice or lime juice.
    • Spices: Salt, Black Pepper, Dried Herbs → Provide flavor. Feel free to add minced garlic, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, or mustard to the marinade.

    👩‍🍳 Visual Step-by-Step Instructions

    This visual step-by-step instruction will help you along the way – definitely recommended if you’re a cooking beginner! 😉

    • Prepare Eggplant: Wash eggplant well and cut lengthwise into ½ inch (1cm) thick slices. Sprinkle with salt and let it sit for 15 minutes. Pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess liquid.
    • Make Marinade: Mix all the ingredients for the marinade in a large bowl. Add eggplant and mix well (easiest with clean hands). → Can be marinated up to an hour in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
    How To Grill Eggplant Recipe Step 1-4
    • Prepare the Grill: Heat your outdoor grill or grill pan by rubbing a little oil on the grill pan before cooking on it.
    • Grilling Eggplant: Grill the marinated eggplant on both sides for about 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat.
    How To Grill Eggplant Recipe Step 5
    • Serve: Arrange them on a serving platter, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and enjoy!

    🫙 Make-Ahead & Storage Instructions

    You can marinate the eggplant in the marinade and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a day ahead of cooking it. When you’re ready to cook it, remove it from the fridge and grill it immediately!

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stays fresh for 2 days.

    I love to use leftovers to prepare this delicious Eggplant Parmesan Recipe.

    🍆 More Grilling Recipes

    • Grilled Zucchini
    • Grilled Asparagus
    • Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
    • Grilled Tofu
    • Grilled Peach Salad

    If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. 

    Please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or sign up for my free newsletter to never miss the newest recipes. I would be thrilled to welcome you to my community & thank you so much for your support! 💕

    📖 Recipe

    gegrillte aubergine auf einer servierplatte

    Grilled Eggplant

    Aline Cueni
    This Grilled Eggplant Recipe makes a delicious vegetable side dish that can accompany so many main dishes to make a healthy and hearty meal.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Vegan
    Servings 4
    Calories 67 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 eggplants
    • ½ tsp salt
    • some parsley minced

    Marinade

    • 4 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tsp dried herbs
    • ¼ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Wash eggplant well and cut lengthwise into ½ inch (1cm) thick slices. Sprinkle with salt and let it sit for 15 minutes. Pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess liquid.
    • Mix all the ingredients for the marinade in a large bowl. Add eggplant and mix well (easiest with clean hands). → Can be marinated up to an hour in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
    • Heat your grill or grill pan by rubbing a little oil on the grill pan before cooking on it.
    • Grill the marinated eggplant on both sides for about 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat. Serve with minced parsley!

    Notes

    Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can use leftovers to prepare this delicious Eggplant Parmesan Recipe.
    Serving Suggestions:
    • Garnish the eggplant with crumbled feta cheese, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley before serving. 
    • Serve with Chimichurri.
    • Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
    • Mix tahini with lemon juice and ice water and drizzle over the eggplant. Add a few pomegranate seeds and cilantro if desired, and you have a vegetarian oriental main dish. Serve with bulgur or quinoa!

    Recommended Products

    Knife Set
    Cast Iron Skillet Grill
    Cast Iron Skillet Grill

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Grilled Eggplant
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 67 Calories from Fat 9
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 1g2%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Sodium 77mg3%
    Potassium 528mg15%
    Carbohydrates 14g5%
    Fiber 7g29%
    Sugar 8g9%
    Protein 2g4%
    Vitamin A 63IU1%
    Vitamin C 5mg6%
    Calcium 26mg3%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Recipe Ideas

    • a stack of homemade pita bread
      Homemade Pita Bread
    • ramen eggs on a plate
      Ramen Eggs (Ajitsuke Tamago)
    • Kale salad with apples, figs, walnut and goat cheese in a salad bowl
      Kale Salad with Apples
    • two hand holding a bowl of Apple Celeriac Soup
      Apple & Celeriac Soup

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Aline Cueni | Founder & Blogger Aline Made

    Welcome

    Hi, I’m Aline!

    I’m a girl who loves to cook and bake delicious homemade food.  Let me help you to incorporate more plant-based foods into everyday life! Vegetarian & vegan recipes can be anything but boring. More about me!

    DON’T MISS A RECIPE

    Sign up now to get new recipes delivered to your inbox, plus my top 10 recipes ebook absolutely free!

    Popular Recipes

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Connect

    Join our community on social media!

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Change language

    EN | DE

    About

    • Meet Aline
    • Work With Us
    • Contact
    • Press
    • Resources
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 Aline Made

    2 shares