GRILLED EGGPLANT BRUSCHETTA

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



Grilled Eggplant Bruschetta image

Fancy toast. That's what this recipe is all about. Between the zesty garlic-rubbed bread, creamy ricotta, sweet honey-roasted tomatoes and smoky grilled eggplant, it's like a party in my mouth!

Provided by Kardea Brown

Categories     appetizer

Time 1h15m

Yield 8 to 10 large bruschetta

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 eggplant, sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 loaf sliced Italian bread
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Nonstick cooking spray, for the baking sheet
1 pint multicolor grape tomatoes
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
3 cloves garlic, halved
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped, plus more for garnish
One 15-ounce carton ricotta

Steps:

  • Place the eggplant in a colander. Sprinkle generously with salt and let stand 30 minutes. (This removes the excess water from the eggplant.) Rinse the eggplant and arrange in a single layer on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Pat dry. Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high heat (see Cook's Note).
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Brush the eggplant and bread slices with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle the eggplant with salt and pepper.
  • Line a small rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil and coat with nonstick cooking spray. Toss the grape tomatoes, vinegar, honey and the remaining tablespoon olive oil on the foil. Bake the tomatoes until they burst, about 6 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, grill the eggplant until browned and tender, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Grill the bread until toasted and grill marks appear, 1 minute on each side. Rub the cut sides of the garlic on the bread. Set aside.
  • Transfer the tomatoes to a medium bowl. Coarsely chop the eggplant and add to the tomatoes. Add the chopped basil, then season with salt and pepper.
  • Spoon the ricotta onto the grilled bread. Top with the eggplant mixture and garnish with additional basil. Cut the bread in half, if desired.

There are no comments yet!