About the Recipe
It's never a bad idea to get more veggies in your meal. Enter this eggplant grilled cheese that's gluten free and tasty to boot. You'll need just a few ingredients and 30 minutes to make this cheezy dinner.
The eggplants, sliced thick will get just tender enough but not mushy - no marinating involved. Depending on the size of the eggplant, you can choose to slice them in discs or lengthwise.
Brush the outsides with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt. You'll need to bake them a little before taking them to the stove top.
Then you'll assemble them, sandwich style with tomatoes and vegan chz slices (shreds will work alternatively).
Grill on both sides briefly just to get the outsides crispy and the cheeze melted.
Serve them up with a salad or soup and dinner is served.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant
Olive oil for brushing
4 slices vegan cheese (e.g., vegan cheddar, mozzarella)
4 tomato slices
Salt to taste
Fresh basil leaves
Preparation
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Slice the eggplant into 1/2-inch thick rounds. You'll need 8 slices in total.
Place the eggplant slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Lightly brush both sides of the eggplant slices with olive oil.
Bake the eggplant slices in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are tender and slightly golden.
Remove the eggplant slices from the oven and let them cool slightly.
Assemble the grilled cheese by placing a slice of vegan cheese, tomato slice, and fresh basil leaves on top of one eggplant slice.
Top with another eggplant slice to create a sandwich. Repeat with the remaining eggplant slices and ingredients to make the second sandwich.
Preheat a skillet or grill pan over medium heat.
Lightly brush both sides of each eggplant sandwich with olive oil.
Place the sandwiches in the skillet or grill pan and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until the cheese is melted and the eggplant is nicely grilled.
Once cooked, remove the sandwiches from the heat and let them cool for a minute before serving.
Notes:
Feel free to add additional fillings like avocado, sliced bell peppers, or caramelized onions to enhance the flavor of the grilled cheese.
Serve the Eggplant Grilled Cheese with a side of soup or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
