I've been a big fan of the eggplant and za'atar combination since this pizza. If you don't have any, some dried thyme or a bit of oregano would be nice as well. The sumac in za'atar gives just a bit of smokiness that compliments the grilled flavor. You could use millet or another whole grain if you have something else on hand. The following gives you more eggplant to quinoa ratio, if you prefer it the other way, simply double the quinoa salad instructions.
3-4 medium eggplants (maybe 2 larger ones, 4 smaller ones)sea salt
extra virgin olive oil
za'atar seasoning
1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
half of a small red onion, sliced thin
generous handful each of fresh basil, dill and cilantro
2 Tbsp. capers, roughly chopped
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 tsp. honey or agave nectar1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
Add the quinoa to a pot with a pinch of salt and 3/4 cup water or stock. Bring it to a gentle boil, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, fluff with a fork, cover again and leave it to steam another 5 minutes.
Heat up your grill or grill pan (I LOVE this. Obsessed). Press the eggplants between a dishcloth or paper towels to absorb the excess moisture. Brush both sides with olive oil and grill for about 5 minutes per sides until you get nice dark marks and the texture seems pretty soft throughout. I like the softer texture that comes with covering them. Remove to a plate, drizzle a bit more olive oil and sprinkle with za'atar to taste.
To finish the quinoa, toss in the onions, all of the herbs, oil, vinegar, honey or agave and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to mix. Taste and adjust as you like.
Put the eggplants on a plate, top with the quinoa and garnish with the toasted pinenuts.
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