Honestly, I have to force myself to like eggplant. I WANT to like it, but every time I try it, it just tastes mushy. However, I keep buying it because I want to like it!
I saw this recipe for eggplant and tomato bite sized rounds, and thought it sounded good! So off I was to find some eggplant. And success – I liked it! Of course, the eggplant was surrounded by pesto and cheese, so what is not to like!
I have been having a hard time going completely dairy free. My stomach actually has been feeling a lot better, but I just am having problems completely giving up cheese!! I just love it so much! However, that is the only dairy I have been having, so I have cut it back a lot. I’m not sure if that is what was giving me problems or something else, so I am sticking with it for now.
However, recently I found this at Costco, and all I can say is LOVE!
I have a coworker who is lactose intolerant, and I gave her some of this to try, and she loved it too! She said a lot of times sheep’s milk can taste… different .. but this cheese is so good, and it is 100% sheep’s milk!
I topped these rounds with the sheep’s milk cheese. So tasty!
You can also double or triple this recipe to make more rounds. I only used one (smallish) eggplant because I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not.
Eggplant and Tomato Rounds
Adapted from Eating Well
Print this recipe!
1 medium eggplant, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup spinach pesto or pesto of your choice
1 roma tomato, cut into slices
Feta, or cheese of your choice to top
Cut the eggplant into 1/2 inch slices. Depending on the size of your eggplant, you may get 6-8 slices.
Brush the slices with olive oil on each side, and sprinkle with salt. Grill 4-5 minutes on each side – either using a grill, or a grill pan on the stove.
Meanwhile slice the tomatoes and prepare the pesto (if you are making it).
When the eggplant is cooked, assemble the rounds.
I couldn’t decide which one I liked better –
Eggplant – tomato – pesto – cheese. OR eggplant – pesto – tomato – cheese.
Broil if you would like to melt the cheese, or serve as is.
I’m not sure what kind of eggplant I used; it was purple and white. I got it at Costco – big surprise huh
I can’t help it, I love that place!!!
Question: Do you have any good eggplant recipes for me to try??? I need an eggplant intervention!
This is linked to Fat Tuesday and Allergy Free Wednesdays, and Keep it Real Thursdays.
YES for Costco, I made a journey there over the weekend and stocked up on all sorts of goodies. As for eggplant, why not push it ALL the way into smushy and make baba ghanoush? Garlicky, lemony, tahini-y dip–what’s not to love?
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Thanks for the idea! I think I have tried that once before… I thought it turned out gross, but I will try it again! I KNEW you would have eggplant ideas
Oh these look delicious Jane. I actually really like eggplant. Probably my favorite way to eat it is to simply roast it with a spritz of olive oil and salt and pepper. I also love Costco!
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Cool, thanks Aimee! I think it just a texture thing with me, but I will give that a try!
I love eggplant. We’ve been eating a lot of it this month. Have one in the garden ready to pick, that would be perfect for your recipe. I feel I’m really missing out on life, we have no Costcos around here. Probably the nearest is a couple hundred miles away. Oh, the things we must give up when we live in the boondocks! I read an article recently, that cheese is one thing that dairy intolerant people can tolerate because cheese has less lacto in it. But of course, who knows if that is correct. I know I can’t drink a tablespoon of milk or eat a spoonful of ice cream without doubling over in pain, but I can tolerate a bit of cheese.
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Interesting! Yes, there isn’t a Costco or much of anything at our house in the mountains, but there is one in town, so I always stock up when we go! For the mountains and the views we get, I will definitely give up a local Costco! I don’t know what it is about cheese … I’m posting my latest cheese attempt on this coming Friday, blue cheese!
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I nominated you for a One Lovely Blog Award.
http://veggiev.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/one-lovely-blog-award/
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Thanks!
I love eggplant curry!! I have a recipe on the blog…. or The Daily’s Garnish’s lentils and eggplant! I have never made eggplant like this before!
Brittany (Delights and Delectables) recently posted..A Day in the Life of a Birthday Girl
I feel the same about eggplant, I have yet to have it where I LOVED it. Your photos are so cute !
Rhonda recently posted..The Best Thing I Ever Ate – Cheesy Goodness
What great looking eggplant stacks! I do an eggplant stack but it’s much more complicated. I love the simplicity of yours! I do love eggplant and have several recipes but none on my blog. However, I do have one going up on Friday so be sure to check it out. I think you’ll love it and you can use some of that delicious sheep’s feta with it! So stay tuned!
mjskit recently posted..Cooking en Papillote (in Parchment): July 2012 Daring Cooks’ Challenge
I will make sure and look for that!
Hmm, did you ever try slicing the eggplant, salting it, and letting the salt draw the bitterness out of it for a few hours? Eggplant can be horrible when it’s prepared wrong– the soggy eggplant sandwiches which were the only vegetarian food available on two legs of a long-ago plane flight kept my husband and I from eating it for about ten years after that, no kidding. BTW the speckled eggplant in your photo are very pretty. I think the little eggplants like those may be better than the honking big ones.
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I believe you about not eating eggplant for 10 years! I have tried the salting method … but you are right, soggy eggplant can be terrible!!! I liked the speckled eggplant
These were pretty small, so they could have a different taste.
SEriously, try this, it is SO good: http://veronicascornucopia.com/2012/03/10/low-carb-eggplant-parmesan-with-fire-roasted-tomato-sauce-fried-garlic-gluten-free/ (you can probably bake it instead of frying but it’s so good fried! and at least it’s healthy oil. lol) Your rounds look good and I love that they’re topped with cheese. Cheese makes everything, even eggplant, better.
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Thank you! I will have to try that .. it does look really good!