ROASTED GREEN BEANS, GRILLED EGGPLANT AND ZUCCHINI WITH GARLIC MUJDEI
This dish could easily convince me to become vegetarian. It’s my first time roasting green beans, and I have to admit I prefer them over boiled. The grilled eggplant is so flavorful and tender, I could have sworn it was meat.
🕒 Prep & Cook Time: 50-55 min
🍽️ Servings: 3
Ingredients
- 1 eggplant
- 1 zucchini
- 500 g green beans (yellow pods)
- 5 garlic cloves, divided
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Olive oil
Garlic Mujdei:
- 2 garlic cloves
- Salt
- Water
Instructions
- Wash vegetables. Trim the ends of green beans. Slice eggplant and zucchini into ½ cm thick rounds.
- Crush 3 garlic cloves and mix with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Toss green beans in this mixture, seasoning with salt and pepper to coat well. Spread beans on a baking tray lined with parchment paper or foil. Roast at 200°C (390°F) for about 45 minutes.
- Crush the remaining 2 garlic cloves and mix with a small cup of olive oil. Brush this garlic oil on both sides of eggplant and zucchini slices.
- Preheat grill or grill pan and lightly oil it. Grill vegetables on both sides for about 2 minutes each, adding oil to the grill between batches.
- Place all grilled vegetables in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare mujdei by crushing 2 garlic cloves with salt, then mixing in about half a cup of water until smooth. Pour mujdei over the vegetables and gently toss to combine without breaking the slices.
- No additional oil is needed in the mujdei since vegetables are already coated.
- Serve warm or cold. Great as a salad, especially with added parsley and chopped nuts, or as a side dish.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy as a light vegetarian meal or a refreshing side salad. Adding fresh parsley and nuts enhances texture and flavor.
💡 Tips
- Roasting green beans intensifies their flavor and adds a pleasant texture.
- Brush grill pan with oil frequently to prevent sticking and achieve perfect grill marks.
- Gently toss with mujdei to preserve vegetable shapes.
📝 Final Thoughts
This simple yet flavorful dish combines smoky grilled vegetables with a garlicky, tangy mujdei dressing. It’s an excellent example of how plant-based ingredients can shine with minimal preparation, making it a perfect addition to any meal.