Description
Rich Mediterranean flavors highlight this Spanish roasted garlic eggplant recipe from Andalusia’s culinary landscape. Robust herbs and olive oil create an authentic Spanish side dish you’ll savor with passionate delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 eggplant
- 2 tomatoes
- 5 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsps (8 g) finely chopped parsley
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- Handful freshly chopped chives
- Manchego cheese
- 2 tbsps (35 ml) extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preparation: Slice eggplant into half-inch uniform circular rounds, then place in a colander and generously salt to extract moisture for 30 minutes.
- Garlic Infusion: Crush garlic cloves with sea salt in a mortar, creating a fragrant paste. Blend with chopped parsley and extra virgin olive oil to form a rich, aromatic mixture.
- Eggplant Conditioning: Rinse eggplant slices thoroughly, then pat completely dry with kitchen towels. Arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking tray.
- Flavor Layering: Distribute freshly ground black pepper across eggplant slices, then spread the garlic-herb mixture evenly. Top with delicate tomato rounds and sprinkle generously with grated Manchego cheese.
- Roasting: Position in a preheated oven at 210 degrees Celsius using both bottom and top heat. Roast for 15 minutes until edges caramelize and cheese melts beautifully.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish with finely chopped chives, adding a vibrant, fresh element to complete the Spanish-inspired dish.
Notes
- Salt Sweating Technique: Drawing out excess moisture from eggplant prevents soggy texture and helps achieve crispy, caramelized edges during roasting.
- Garlic Paste Preparation: Grinding garlic with salt creates a more intense, smooth flavor base that distributes evenly across the eggplant slices.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Using Manchego adds a rich, nutty dimension and creates a golden, bubbly topping when roasted at high temperature.
- Herb Finishing Touch: Sprinkle fresh chives just before serving to introduce a bright, sharp contrast to the roasted, deep flavors of the dish.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Spanish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg