Grilled Eggplant and Herb Salad with Walnut Dressing
Smoky grilled eggplant tossed with fresh herbs and a tangy walnut dressing for a vibrant and nutritious vegetarian salad. This Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs eggplants, olive oil, walnuts for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 medium, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch thick pieces eggplants
- 3 tbsp, divided olive oil
- 1/3 cup, toasted walnuts
- 1 clove, minced garlic clove
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
- 1 tsp, divided salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp (optional) red chili flakes
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Brush 2 medium eggplants sliced lengthwise (1/2-inch thick) with 2 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp salt.
- Step 2: Grill eggplant slices for 4 minutes per side until tender and smoky grill marks appear. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool slightly.
- Step 3: In a food processor, combine 1/3 cup toasted walnuts, 1 minced garlic clove, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp red chili flakes if using. Blend until smooth but still slightly textured.
- Step 4: Pour walnut dressing over the warm grilled eggplant and gently toss.
- Step 5: Fold in 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley and 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint. Adjust seasoning with extra salt or lemon juice to taste.
- Step 6: Serve salad room temperature or chilled, garnished with extra walnut pieces if desired.









