Grilled eggplant and peppers with whipped goat cheese and fresh pesto

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"Juicy, smoky grilled veggies. Sweet whipped goat cheese. Fresh herby pesto. And a big squeeze of lemon juice. A vegetarian main course, sure to please even the meat eaters at the table!"
-- @shelbyykhan
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  • Recipe Card
Prep time: 15mins
Cook time: 15mins

Recipe Card

ingredients

Eggplant and peppers

  • 1 eggplant
  • 1-2 red peppers
  • 1 teaspoon or more to taste kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil

Method

Eggplant and peppers

  • Step 1

    Slice eggplant in half lengthwise. Sprinkle with salt, and let sit for about 10 minutes to draw moisture out. Pat dry with kitchen towel.

  • Step 2

    Since vertically into thirds (like spears!) and slice up the red pepper. Heat a grill pan, or outdoor grill.

  • Step 3

    Season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with avocado oil. Oil grill or grill pan.

  • Step 4

    Cook eggplant cut sides down, about five minutes per side until softened inside and grill marks appear.

  • Step 5

    Cook peppers the same way!

  • Step 6

    Remove from grill, season again with salt and set aside until ready to serve.

ingredients

Pesto

  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • 1 cup fresh spinach
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup or more as needed avocado oil
  • 1/4 lemon, juiced

Pesto

  • Step 1

    Finely chop herbs and spinach.

  • Step 2

    Finely mince garlic cloves.

  • Step 3

    Combine herbs, spinach, and garlic in a bowl. Whisk together while you stream in avocado oil.

  • Step 4

    Season with salt and pepper, and lemon juice to desired taste. Set aside, covered until ready to serve.

ingredients

Whipped goat cheese

  • 5 ounces goat cheese (I used Trader Joe's honey chèvre)
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 squeeze of lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon avocado oil

Whipped goat cheese, and serving.

  • Step 1

    Combine all ingredients in a food processor.

  • Step 2

    Blend until smooth, like the consistency of softened ice cream.

  • Step 3

    Scrape down sides of bowl as needed. If you did not use Trader Joe's honey chevre, you might want to add about a teaspoon of honey to the mix :)

  • Step 4

    Serve with eggplants and pepper dolloped with goat cheese, and drizzled with pesto. Crusty toasted bread on the side encouraged!