Garlic & Herb Grilled Eggplant (Paleo - Whole30)

Dairy FreeKetoNut FreePaleoSpecific Carbohydrate DietVeganWhole30

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These Garlic & Herb Grilled Eggplant are my favourite vegetable to barbecue. They are tender in the middle with slightly charred edges and are coated in a delicious garlic and herb oil which gives them so much flavour. They are Vegan, Whole30, Keto and Paleo and guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

Grilled vegetables are my go to side dish for any summer barbecue. They are incredibly easy to prepare, go with just about anything, and can be made in advance. While most people grill zucchini, peppers and onions, my absolute favourite vegetable to grill is eggplant.

Unfortunately grilled eggplant (or melanzane, aubergine or brinjals depending on where in the world you are from) can be a tricky vegetable to cook. Too much oil and they become slimy, cut too thick and they have an unpleasant chunky texture.

It took me a trip to Italy where I spent time watching the way the locals prepared it before I finally learned how to grill eggplant.

How to make this grilled eggplant:

It all starts with salting which is meant to draw bitterness out of the slices.I find that salting is required for larger “meaty” eggplant, and is a step that can easily be skipped for the smaller sized ones.
The next step is to quickly dip them in a mixture of olive oil, herbs and garlic which helps stop them from drying out when grilled.
After grilling, toss them back into the oil and herb mixture again which gives them added flavour.

Why you will love these grilled eggplant:

They are tender in the middle and develop a nice char on the edges
By dipping the eggplant slices into the garlic and herb oil before grilling, they absorb a lot of the oil which gives the eggplant so much flavour
Unlike other grilled vegetables such as zucchini, these grilled eggplant last a few days in the fridge without becoming mushy. The leftovers are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways (see more below)
They are low carb and tick the majority of healthy boxes including Keto, Whole30, Vegan, Paleo and SCD Legal

Ways to serve the grilled eggplant:

Serve warm as a side dish
Serve cold as part of an antipasti platter or chopped up and added into a salad
Use as a base for bruschetta topped with pesto, prosciutto or any of your other favourite bruschetta toppings
Use two thick slices as “buns” for burgers. They are especially delicious with Greek lamb burgers

Love grilled vegetables? Here are a few other grilled vegetable recipes you might enjoy:

Charred Broccolini with Lemon Tahini Sauce
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Walnut Arugula Pesto
BBQ Cauliflower Steaks with Chimichurri
Asian Grilled Eggplant

If you make this recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_)on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!

Grilled Eggplant with Garlic & Herbs

Every Last Bite

These grilled eggplant slices are always a hit! They are grilled and tossed in a simple garlic and herb oil which gives them lots of flavor!

4.63 from 75 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 27 minutes mins

Diets Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Keto, Nut Free, Paleo, Specific Carbohydrate Diet Legal, Vegan, Whole30

Servings 4

Calories 1229 kcal

Ingredients

2 eggplants
2 tsp salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic crushed
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Cut the eggplant into 1/4 inch thick slices and generously salt each slice. Let them rest for about 15 minutes so that the salt can draw out the moisture and bitterness. Wipe each of the slices with a paper towel to remove the salt and moisture.
Preheat the barbecue to medium heat
In a large dish combine the olive oil, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. Place each of the eggplant slices in the dish, flipping them over to ensure both sides are covered in oil.
Grill for approximately 6 minutes per side until golden in colour with grill marks. If the eggplant slices become dry and stick to the grill, brush them with more oil.
Once the eggplant is tender and cooked. Remove from the grill and return back to oil, herb and garlic mixture in the pan. Flip once so that both sides are coated before transferring to a serving platter. Spoon any of the excess herbs & garlic overtop before serving. The eggplant can be enjoyed hot or at room temperature and will last for up to 4 days in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 1229kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 11gFat: 110gSaturated Fat: 15gSodium: 5262mgPotassium: 2320mgFiber: 32gSugar: 33g

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below and let us know how it was!

Backyard BBQ Dinner in 30 Grilled Vegetables Grilling Sides Under 30 Minutes Vegan

originally posted August 7, 2018 — last updated June 29, 2023by Every Last Bite

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153 comments on “Garlic & Herb Grilled Eggplant”

antoine Najjar — March 6, 2024 @ 3:41 pm Reply

Hi and thank you for the recipe.
Just one question:
Where do the 33g of sugar come from in grilling the eggplants?
See Also
75 Best Easy Dinners
Mrs srinivasan — February 23, 2024 @ 2:27 pm Reply

Lovely eggplant recipe. But what if i don’t have an oven or microwAve? Pleasr suggest
Thank you
Kim — February 16, 2024 @ 7:02 pm Reply

This looks so delicious and has me excited for grilling season! I love eggplant and have been incorporating it into more meals as a meat alternative. I’ll bet grilling really amps up the flavor and makes it even more irresistible!
Dee — November 6, 2023 @ 9:00 pm Reply

Delicious! Nice with some wine
,good bread., cheese before dinner a little speck.
AMBER ADAMS — August 28, 2023 @ 5:01 pm Reply

Is it acceptable for me to post this recipe on an internet health forum? I would give you the recipe credit.
Rich — August 14, 2023 @ 11:32 pm Reply

It looks really good. Do you peel the skin off or leave it on. I see a pic of 2 slices used as a bun which looks like the skin is cooked as well.
Thanks
nicole — July 28, 2023 @ 10:53 pm Reply

tasted sooo good and truly was so easy!! i added more oil and red pepper flakes for some added spice!
Kat — July 24, 2023 @ 2:03 am Reply

After grilling I put them on a bed of tomato sauce (I slightly heat the sauce in the microwave with remnants of the marinade that are left after coating the eggplant). This makes a great dish as is or serve with crusty bread or pasta like an eggplant parmigiana (without all the work) so delicious! Wish I could send a picture.
Suz — July 16, 2023 @ 11:10 pm Reply

Delicious!! Loved this, so much better than what I have made it in the past in the oven!
Emmal21 — July 13, 2023 @ 1:03 pm Reply

I do not like garlic. However, I can eat this dish. Your recipe is so easy. I can cook it in the first try. It is so good. I want to train my cooking skills and join trap the cat. Let’s release more posts. I really love your recipe. When I was a child, I wish I can cook well. I want to create a lot of delicious dishes. I hope that you can help me. Who want to cook more dishes? Let’s join with me.
Emmal — July 13, 2023 @ 1:00 pm Reply

I do not like garlic. However, I can eat this dish. Your recipe is so easy. I can cook it in the first try. It is so good. I want to train my cooking skills and join trap the cat. Let’s release more posts. I really love your recipe. When I was a child, I wish I can cook well. I want to create a lot of delicious dishes.
Kathleen C Stellingwerf — July 12, 2023 @ 1:52 pm Reply

How could these possibly be 65 carbs??
Karen Cooper — June 17, 2023 @ 7:01 pm Reply

I love grilled eggplant and this is the best I’ve ever made. I used a red pepper chilli oil I bought at Costco and garlic. The grill fired a bit and they charred but they were still incredible.
Consultoría SEO Madrid — June 12, 2023 @ 2:41 pm Reply

Rich and very healthy, you can’t ask for more. Congratulations on the job.
Ruben B Hernandez — May 28, 2023 @ 7:29 pm Reply

Going to try today
A small world cup — May 19, 2023 @ 9:38 am Reply

By doing this, can we later place them in jars with olive oil to preserve them for later usage ? Great guide! Thanks.

Garlic & Herb Grilled Eggplant (Paleo - Whole30) | Every Last Bite (2024)