Description
Roasted eggplant with zaatar is a Middle Eastern-inspired dish featuring tender, custardy eggplant halves brushed with a savory zaatar-garlic paste. Served over grains with fresh veggies and a creamy sauce, it’s a hearty yet light vegetarian meal.
Ingredients
- 1 globe eggplant (about 1–1 1/8 lb)
- 1½ tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp zaatar spice mix
- ¼ tsp salt, more to taste
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 cups cooked rice or grains (freekeh, farro, quinoa, or couscous)
- 1–2 cups chopped fresh veggies (tomato, cucumber, radish, grated carrot, or beets)
- Choice of tahini sauce, plain yogurt, or tzatziki
- Optional: parsley, kalamata olives, Aleppo chili flakes, feta or goat cheese crumbles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice eggplant in half lengthwise and deeply score the flesh in a crosshatch pattern, avoiding the skin.
- Sprinkle with salt and let sit briefly.
- Mix olive oil, zaatar, garlic, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Brush the paste generously onto eggplant halves.
- Place eggplant on a baking sheet, cut side up, and roast for 1 hour, rotating halfway through. Check for doneness at 40 minutes if using smaller eggplants.
- While roasting, prepare your grains, chop the vegetables, and make the sauce of your choice.
- Assemble bowls with grains, roasted eggplant, chopped veggies, and your sauce. Add optional toppings as desired.
Notes
- Smaller eggplants can be used and will cook faster (30–40 minutes).
- Make a zaatar substitute with cumin, coriander, sumac or lemon zest, oregano, sesame seeds, and salt.
- Grill the eggplant for a smoky flavor instead of roasting.
- Feta or goat cheese adds richness; skip grains for a lighter meal.
- Store components separately and reheat eggplant in the oven for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
