My Mediterranean Grilled Aubergine recipe is easy to follow. Grilling aubergine on the barbecue results in soft and smoky slices of aubergine that I then marinated in an Italian marinade, making these griddled aubergines the perfect accompaniment to any anti-pasti or sharing platter.
This Mediterranean grilled aubergine recipe is one of my favourite recipes on the blog. I love aubergine, or eggplant as it is also known, and this is a delicious way to enjoy it. I find that even family members who are less keen, enjoy my Mediterranean grilled aubergine with the Italian marinade, as the flavors work so well together.
Grilled aubergine slices are a great way to use up a glut of aubergines that anyone might have growing in their greenhouses over the Summer months.
Mediterranean grilled aubergine is quick to make and once done will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks, ready to add as a side dish or sharing platter. Make make them the star of the show in a grilled aubergine salad, or serve as a simple lunch, with a side of freshly baked sourdough bread and a bowl of olives.
Grilled aubergine features in Nadiya Hussein's Coronation Aubergine recipe, created for the Coronation of King Charles. While I have used the BBQ to griddle the aubergine, in Nadiya's Coronation Aubergine recipe she uses a griddle pan.
You don't get quite the same smoky flavor with a griddle pan as you do with a BBQ, but it's another easy way to grill aubergine. So, I include instructions on how to do that within this post too.
Table of contents
Why you'll love this recipe:
- Easy to prepare and grill using a few simple marinade ingredients.
- A tasty addition to any sharing platter, serve with meat, hummus, pickled veggies and some toasted flat-breads.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for a couple of weeks, and make a great addition to your lunchtime salad.
How to grill aubergine on the BBQ:
- Slice the aubergine into 1cm discs.
- Cook the aubergine till soft, either over charcoal or under the grill.
- Once cooked set the aubergine aside and allow to cool.
- Meanwhile add the marinade ingredients to a bowl and mix well to combine.
- Add the cooled aubergine to the marinade and mix well.
- Layer the aubergine into a container, add the marinade and if necessary add more olive oil to cover the aubergine, place on a tight fitting lid and pop in the fridge.
How to grill aubergine in a pan?
Place the griddle pan over the stove on a medium heat. Brush each slice of aubergine on both side with olive oil and place the slices in the griddle pan.
Cook for around 2-3 minutes on each side until starting to brown then remove from the pan and set aside to cool. Work in batches so you don't overcrowd the pan.
Once all the aubergine has been cooked and cooled, add it to the Italian marinade.
Recipe ingredients:
- AUBERGINE (EGGPLANT): I use 1 large or 2 small aubergines, sliced into 1cm rounds. You can also use this recipe to grill courgettes or bell peppers and can find instructions for that later in the post.
- GARLIC: I always use fresh garlic in the marinade as it has the best flavour. You could use garlic puree in a pinch, but don't add garlic salt as it just doesn't have the same flavour.
- CHILI: I use a fresh red chilli which I de-seed and finely chop. If you don't like chilli heat, leave it out.
- FRESH HERBS: A small bunch of chopped flat leaf parsley flavours the marinade. You could also use fresh oregano or basil.
- ACID: I add both balsamic vinegar and the juice of half a lemon to the marinade.
- OIL: I use extra virgin olive oil in the marinade as it has the best flavour.
- SEASONING: The marinade is seasoned with a little sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
How to serve Mediterranean grilled aubergine?
Quite often they're eaten straight from the tub in the fridge and don't actually make it to the plate! However, I do love serving grilled eggplant on an anti-pasti board with olives; pickled vegetables; meats and other cold cuts; and hummus. Serve alongside these easy recipes:
- Beetroot Hummus
- Quick Courgette & Shallot Pickle
- Simple Hummus
- Spiced Carrot Hummus
- Scandinavian Egg Salad
- Soft Flatbreads
- Potato Galette
They also taste delicious as a side dish alongside some spicy couscous, or some grilled meats.
For more recipes read my Easy Mezze Platter Ideas post.
Can I use this method to marinate other vegetables?
The same process and marinade can be used for courgettes (zucchini) and peppers too. When I have the BBQ on I will often grill all 3 fruits and add them to the marinade.
The aubergine and courgette are sliced and charred on both sides. However, the pepper needs to be treated a little differently. The process for grilling peppers is explained below.
How to grill peppers:
- Place the peppers on the grill whole and allow the skin to completely blacken on all sides.
- Once the pepper skin has blackened, place it straight into a plastic bag and seal. Allow the pepper to steam for around 10 minutes, then remove it from the bag.
- By this time the skin should slip right off the pepper.
- Discard the skin, gently open the pepper up and remove the stalk, inner core and any seeds.
- Now run the pepper under cold water, dry it on some kitchen paper and add to the marinade.
Recipe hints & tips:
- Make the best use of your barbecue. When I have the BBQ lit, I always make sure I get the best out of my coals, so I will often grill other bits and pieces to use for another meal another day. Once I've eaten my food, it will often grill some aubergine, courgette and pepper, add it to the marinade which I made earlier in the day. This saves me lighting the BBQ just to cook a few vegetables and means I have the ingredients for an easy salad or sharing platter the following day.
- If grilling courgette and peppers too, I suggest that you double the recipe for the marinade. It's really important to keep the veggies covered in a layer of oil at all times to stop them spoiling.
- Don't waste the flavored oil! Once you have eaten the marinated aubergine, don't throw away the olive oil. It is beautifully flavoured and can be used to drizzle over food, like salad or meat; in salad dressings; for sauteing vegetables; or as a simple dipping oil with a chunk of crusty bread.
- Containing no dairy means this salad is suitable for anyone following a dairy free or vegan diet.
- Allergy advice: This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soya free and nut free. For comprehensive and detailed allergy advice go to Allergy UK.
FAQs
I love cooking aubergine on the barbecue as the char adds a lovely sweet and smoky flavor. You can also grill aubergine indoors using a griddle pan, or roast aubergine in the oven. But neither option will give you the smokiness you get with a BBQ.
Once grilled and covered in the Italian marinade, these aubergine slices should last in the fridge for a couple of weeks. Just ensure that when you place them in the storage container that you completely cover the vegetables with the olive oil. If necessary add a little extra olive oil if it gets too low!
No, I never do this. Aubergine used to be a rather bitter fruit, but thanks to advances in eggplant farming, they are far less bitter these days which means there is no need to salt eggplant before you cook it.
Pin the recipe:
Additional recipe suggestions:
If you like this recipe then why not try some of our other vegetable based side dishes. Popular with everyone who tries them:
- Warm Potato Salad with Wild Garlic
- Warm Vegan Potato Salad
- Creamy Potato Salad
- Easy Bean Salad
- Fennel & Apple Slaw
- Harissa, Carrot & Chickpea Salad
Love salad? Then head to our Best Salad Recipes post where you will find links to all our favourite salads in one place.
Mediterranean Grilled Aubergine with Italian Marinade
Ingredients
- 1 aubergine (sliced)
- 1 clove garlic (crushed)
- 1 red chilli (de-seeded and finely chopped)
- 1 small bunch flat leaf parsley (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- juice of half lemon
- olive oil
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Slice the aubergine into rounds and place on either a hot barbecue or grill pan and char on each side until softened. Turn frequently taking care not to burn the aubergine. Do not add any oil to either the pan or the aubergine as this will make the vegetable soggy. Once done set the aubergine aside to cool.
- Place all the remaining ingredients into a bowl, add the cooled aubergine and mix well to combine. Transfer to a good sealing container, ensuring the olive oil completely covers the aubergine, if not then top up with more olive oil. Place in the fridge where the aubergine will keep well for a week if properly sealed.
Notes
• Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only •
This recipe has been linked up to CookBlogShare click on this link to read other recipes from fellow food bloggers.
Cat says
This has become a favourite BBQ dish in my house. Such an easy and delicious addition to so many meals.
Lesley says
Thank you Cat, it's a dish I always prepare when I have the BBQ on.
Chloe says
Delicious, I'm getting more and more obsessed with aubergines and this is such a great way to cook them.
Lesley says
Thank you Chloe, I love aubergine and this is a favourite way to cook with it.
Nanise VULI says
Oh this looks divine! I'm so glad I stumbled upon your blog as I have been searching for an Italian grilled aubergine recipe; something similar to what I had at a restaurant a couple of months ago. I absolutely loved that cold, full of flavour aubergine they had added onto the antipasto platter. Thanks to your blog, now I've found another way of cooking aubergine; adding it to my favourite list: the first is the Indian Baigan choka and now this (not favouring one over the other). Thank you so much for sharing this. Now, my family will probably be sick of seeing marinated aubergines (and other veggies too) in the fridge. 🙂
Lesley says
Thank you Nanise, what a lovely comment to leave for us. I’m so glad that you’ve found this recipe, it’s one I love myself and make all the time, there’s always a tub in my fridge. At the moment I’ve also added courgettes from my own garden into the mix, which work great too. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Lesley x
Camilla Hawkin says
This sounds so tasty, I am guilty of never using aubergine for much more than ratatouille so really need to mend my ways!
Lesley says
Hi Camilla, I love aubergine, sadly rest of my family don't feel the same. I love it in a curry but done like this they are ideal as I can just graze from the fridge! Lesley x
Mandy says
These look lovely - I love a good grilled aubergine. That spice question is tricky though. I love smoked paprika but not sure that it would be my number one. Maybe cumin?
Lesley says
Thank you Mandy, they are very tasty for something so simple. That's my dilemma too spice-wise, cumin or paprika, it depends on the day. Lesley x
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie says
Love these! I remember eons ago I studied Italian in Florence (as you do!) and my host 'mamma' made something very similar for dinner - SO GOOD. I've had similar things in the UK since, but never quite as good - I think your recipe could well match up though! And yep, I am in the smoked paprika brigade too - though only limiting me to one, that's just mean! Can I have cumin too? That would be my number two choice - and they go soooo well together, especially when on sweet potato fries!! Eb x
Lesley says
Hi Eb, I've tried other recipes but when I was given this one I knew it was a winner, simple yet delicious. Ha, ha it's such a struggle to stick to one spice, cumin would be my no 2 but cinnamon in there too - an almost impossible question. Lesley x
Monika Dabrowski says
What a lovely snack, everything about this recipe is beautiful, and I am a huge fan of grilled vegetables! Especially when they are prepared as nicely as yours are:)
Lesley says
Hi Monika, they have become a real favourite in my house, so simple to prepare. I love aubergine anyway, but marinated like this they are close to perfection for me. Lesley