- GRILLED EGGPLANT ROULADE WITH BALASMIC VINAIGRETTE
In the Springtime, the vegetables are bountiful and it inspires cooking lighter fare. Eggplant not only yields a lot with just one eggplant but it is heartier for meatless cooking. When selecting your eggplant, look for eggplants that have unblemished skin and are firm to the touch. The eggplant recipe that follows is great served at room temperature which makes it an easy dish to transport for beachside lunches or BBQ’s.
GRILLED EGGPLANT ROULADE WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE
Ingredients
1 Eggplant
3-4 oz goat cheese
1 roasted yellow pepper, cut into julienne slices
3-4 oz baby arugula
Olive oil for brushing eggplant
Directions
Slice eggplant lengthwise into ¼” slices.
Brush both sides with olive oil
Place on grill and “mark” the eggplant until golden brown.
Remove and set aside\
On a cutting board, lay out the eggplant with the short side facing you.
Place 3-4 leaves on the bottom end of the eggplant,
Top with 1t of goat cheese and top with 3-4 slices of roasted yellow peppers.
Roll each eggplant. Arrange decoratively on a platter.
Garnish with a sprig of parsley or individual parsley leaves.
Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1t dijon mustard
Pinch of Kosher salt
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Directions
Using a small bowl or small covered jar, whisk together vinegar, mustard and salt or cover the jar and shake vigorously. Add olive oil slowly in a steady stream and combine again to emulsify into a dressing.
Chef Michele Liguori is a Personal Chef residing in Weston, CT and is currently available for private and corporate dinners & events. She is a 4th generation chef from a family whose culinary achievements have delighted the most discerning palates for over 50 years in Europe & at the world renown Waldorf Astoria & Carlisle Hotels. She teaches private cooking classes and is also a writer and recipe developer, penning two cookbooks on entertaining and vegan cuisine. She can be reached at www.vipchef.com or 203-221-7711.
For more dinner party ideas visit Chef Michele’s blogs on Facebook or Orble. We welcome your comments and questions to help you create spectacular dinner parties with ease.