Description
Savory eggplant caprese salad showcases Mediterranean flavors with crispy garlic and aged balsamic drizzle. Fresh ingredients and simple preparation invite you to enjoy this classic Italian-inspired summer dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large eggplant (aubergine), sliced into 0.5 cm (0.2 inches) thick disks
- 8 cherry tomatoes, halved (1 large tomato can be sliced instead)
- 3 oz (80–90 g) mozzarella cheese, soft (buffalo mozzarella is best), sliced
- 10 medium basil leaves
- 5–6 tbsps olive oil or macadamia oil, more if needed
- 0.5 tsp sea salt
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp aged balsamic vinegar
- Extra sea salt and pepper to season
Instructions
- Preparation of Eggplant: Salt eggplant rounds and allow moisture to release for 10 minutes, creating a foundation for optimal caramelization and minimizing oil absorption during cooking.
- Sautéing Technique: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Blot eggplant slices dry and arrange in a single layer, developing rich, bronzed exterior with even caramelization. Rotate midway to ensure uniform cooking until both sides achieve a deep golden color.
- Garlic Crisp Creation: In the same skillet, quickly toast garlic slivers until they transform into delicate, crisp golden medallions that will provide a crunchy flavor accent.
- Salad Composition: Layer grilled eggplant as the foundational base, strategically placing creamy mozzarella rounds, vibrant tomato halves, and fragrant basil leaves atop each slice.
- Final Flourish: Scatter crispy garlic fragments across the arranged salad. Drizzle aged balsamic vinegar elegantly over the ingredients, creating a cascading effect. Enhance with a delicate sprinkle of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to complete this rustic Mediterranean masterpiece.
Notes
- Drain Moisture Strategically: Salting eggplant removes bitterness and prevents excess oil absorption during cooking, creating a perfect caramelized texture.
- Achieve Golden Perfection: Use medium-high heat and single-layer arrangement to develop rich, even grill marks on eggplant slices without burning.
- Crisp Garlic Technique: Quick toasting transforms garlic slivers into crunchy golden medallions, adding intense flavor and textural contrast to the salad.
- Layering with Precision: Arrange ingredients deliberately, allowing each component to shine while creating a visually stunning and flavor-packed Mediterranean-inspired dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg