Flavorful Grilled Eggplant Recipe with Creamy Tahini Sauce Made Easy
A quick and easy grilled eggplant recipe featuring a smoky char and creamy tahini sauce, perfect as a side or a light meal with Middle Eastern flair.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium-sized eggplants, firm and glossy
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup tahini (smooth, high-quality)
- 3–4 tablespoons water, to thin the tahini sauce
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Slice the eggplants into ½-inch thick rounds.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and cumin if using.
- Place eggplant slices in the bowl or a shallow dish and turn to coat each slice with the marinade. Let sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 5 minutes).
- Grill eggplant slices for 4-5 minutes per side until tender with deep grill marks.
- While grilling, whisk tahini with lemon juice, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Slowly add water one tablespoon at a time until sauce is creamy and pourable.
- Arrange grilled eggplant on a platter, drizzle with tahini sauce, and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Optionally, add a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Notes
If eggplant tastes bitter, salt slices and let sit for 30 minutes before rinsing and drying. Oil the grill to prevent sticking. Add water gradually to tahini sauce to avoid runniness or graininess. Can substitute roasting at 425°F for 20-25 minutes if no grill is available.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe (a
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 5
Keywords: grilled eggplant, tahini sauce, easy recipe, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, Middle Eastern, healthy side dish