Grilled Eggplant and Roasted Pepper Salad

Grilled Eggplant Salad with Roasted Red Peppers and Feta

Ingredients:

• 1 (1-pound) eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 2 tablespoons salt, or more as needed
• 8 tablespoons olive oil
• teaspoon salt
• teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (12 ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• cup chopped green or black olives, or a combination
• cup minced fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

Step 1: Dust the eggplant slices liberally with 2 tablespoons of salt and place them in a colander. Let them sweat out their bitter flavor for 30 to 60 minutes.

Step 2: Preheat the outdoor grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grill grate.

Step 3: Rinse the eggplant slices to remove the salt and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Step 4: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Brush the mixture on both sides of each eggplant slice.

Step 5: Place the eggplant slices on the preheated grill and cook until soft and moist, about 6 minutes per side.

Step 6: Remove the eggplant from the grill and set aside to cool for about 10 minutes, or until they are cool enough to handle. Then, chop them into 1-inch cubes.

Step 7: In a large bowl, combine the grilled eggplant, roasted red peppers, crumbled feta cheese, chopped olives, fresh parsley, balsamic vinegar, and minced garlic. Stir gently to combine, taking care not to mash the eggplant too much.

Step 8: Season the mixture with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Step 9: Serve the salad as-is and enjoy!

Cook's Note: I typically make my own roasted red peppers and use about 2 medium-sized peppers instead of the 12-ounce jar.

Nutrition Facts (per serving):

• Calories: 332
• Total Fat: 29g (38% Daily Value)
• Saturated Fat: 9g (46% Daily Value)
• Cholesterol: 37mg (12% Daily Value)
• Sodium: 3352mg (146% Daily Value)
• Total Carbohydrate: 11g (4% Daily Value)
• Dietary Fiber: 4g (13% Daily Value)
• Total Sugars: 6g
• Protein: 8g (16% Daily Value)
• Vitamin C: 37mg (41% Daily Value)
• Calcium: 244mg (19% Daily Value)
• Iron: 2mg (9% Daily Value)
• Potassium: 224mg (5% Daily Value)

Note: Nutrition data includes the full amount of salt. The actual amount of salt consumed will vary depending on individual preparation and taste preferences.