Eggplant Melitzana Vegetarian Recipe - The Best from Greece

Posted on: 06/Jan/2010 Eggplant is perfect for simple, creative, delicious dishes

Appetizers to entrees, Eggplant is popular around the world, and gives the sophisticated home chef a chance to create the classic eggplant dishes as well as experiment with a wide range of recipes and fully explore this extraordinary ingredients use. Eggplant is wonderful in salads, soups, main courses, casseroles and side dishes.
Exotic in taste and texture, eggplant can be prepared in a variety of different ways. From oven roasting to grilling eggplant can be a staple in any diet. Eggplant is largely made from water, so some care in properly preparing it for the cooking method of choice definitely comes into play. Eggplant gives best results when used immediately or within a day or two of bringing it home from the market.

Grilled Eggplant Sandwich

Ingredients:

Eggplant:
4 teaspoons Olive Oil
1 clove Garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped, Fresh Basil
Salt, to taste
Fresh Ground Black Pepper
2 small Eggplants
Sandwiches:
1/2 cup Cream Cheese, Low-Fat Whipped, or Goat Cheese
4 pieces Focaccia or other good quality bread, sliced in half, lengthwise
2/3 cup Spinach, washed and dried
4 slices Tomato

Preparation:

Eggplant:
Preheat grill to medium heat.
Add olive oil, garlic, salt, and fresh ground pepper and  teaspoon fresh chopped basil to small bowl. Stir to combine.
Brush both sides of eggplant slices with olive oil mixture.

Grill eggplant over direct heat, 3 minutes per side.

Sandwiches:
Mix cream cheese, 1-tablespoon fresh chopped basil, salt, and fresh ground pepper in small bowl.

Spread 4 halves of focaccia bread with cheese mixture.

Top with spinach, slice of tomato and focaccia bread slice.

Anna Sfendoni & The Friends of Greece Club