GRILLED VEGETABLE TOWERS

Grilled Vegetable Towers image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Time 20m

Yield 8 vegetable towers

Number Of Ingredients 8

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Six 1/2-inch-thick slices country-style bread
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 Japanese eggplants, cut into sixteen 1/4-to-1/2-inch-thick rounds
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup goat cheese, at room temperature (4 ounces)
Zest of 1 large lemon
16 jarred sun-dried tomatoes, drained
Special equipment: 1 3/4-inch round cookie cutter; 8 toothpicks

Steps:

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill.
Using a pastry brush, brush the bread on both sides with 1/3 cup oil. Using a 1 3/4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 4 circles from each slice of bread. Grill the bread rounds until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes each side.
Toss the eggplant rounds with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and season with the salt. Grill until tender, about 3 minutes on each side.
In a small bowl, mix together the goat cheese and lemon zest until smooth. Spread about 3/4 teaspoon of the mixture on 8 grilled bread rounds. Place an eggplant round on each and top with a sun-dried tomato. Repeat the layers and top with the remaining bread slices. Gently press the layers together. Secure with toothpicks and serve.