Grilling Guide: Veggies

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Grilled Eggplant

Dip a thick, meaty slice of eggplant in olive oil then dredge it with a Middle Eastern-inspired spice like Ras el Hanout, toss it on the grill and if you're careful, you'll create an addictive, spicy and creamy dish. This is the dish that allowed me to break free of a skeptical relationship I used to have with eggplant. Now I love it when it's properly prepared, and nothing can beat this preparation!

You're going to need something intense to stand up to the Ras el Hanout, but you don't want anything to simply blow away the eggplant flavor. There is a fine line here. Look for funky wines with assertively savory flavor.

Two to try:

Vina San Esteban In Situ Winemaker's Selection Carmenere - Carmenere is a great wine with beef, but its medium body, light herbal element and fresh berry fruit makes it work superbly here.

Clos Roche Blanche Pineau d’Aunis Rosé - A bit of an odd wine but one that marries fruit and peppery spice so wonderfully that I couldn't think of a better wine to try to pair with the eggplant. Maybe just tone down the spice a rub a bit, but this sounds smashing!

Photo courtesy of shutterstock images

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Comments

Calamus

1121277 248

Grilled Eggplant Variation
It is delicious dusted lightly with cinnamon, olive oil, sea salt once on each side during the grilling process. Yummmm!

Jul 27, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Julia91

1010391 119

As a vegetarian, I've been waiting for this article since I found this site! I'll definitely be trying some of these pairings, especially the ones for portobello caps, which I absolutely love.

Jul 27, 2012 at 7:40 PM
Isaac42

98135 25

Sylvaner and Savatiano? How about something that's available in our local markets? Preferably something made in our local wineries? I'm in Oregon, so I'm thinking Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, or Chardonnay. Maybe Pinot Noir rose.

Jul 29, 2012 at 12:06 AM
Gregory-
Dal Piaz

Hand of Snooth Voice of Snooth

89065 96,103

OK, I'll follow up on this theme with a couple more articles, perhaps something based around vegetarian autumn dishes and one paring vegetarian dishes with wines you can find locally!

Jul 31, 2012 at 8:31 PM