This Grilled Eggplant Salad with halloumi, tomatoes, and a flavorful mint dressing is bursting with summertime flavor! It is one of my most popular eggplant recipes. We’ve served numerous times at catering events, and it always gets the best compliments and reviews! Many of you have asked for the recipe, so here you go.
It’s a delicious salad or side dish, perfect for summer gatherings and BBQs. Eggplant is incredibly delicious on the grill. The eggplant salad recipe goes well with grilled meats or fish, or can be served on its own over a bed of dressed greens or cooked quinoa.
Halloumi cheese, if you are unfamiliar, is a Greek-style cheese that is firm in texture and fully flavored. It tastes like feta but has the consistency of a very firm mozzarella. The best thing about halloumi is -it doesn’t melt, making it perfect for grilling!
Feel free to add other grillable vegetables like zucchini or summer squash, onions, or bell peppers. The mint dressing is flavorful and bright.
Chef’s Tip: For catering events, I will sometimes serve this as a vegetarian entree, stacking the eggplant, tomato, and halloumi into a five-inch tall napoleon and skewering it with a tall sprig of rosemary. But here at home, we serve it simple and rustic like this.
Between catering events, we try to be outside as much as possible. Quick camping trips, kayaking, or a hike here and there. But some days, it may end up only being a short walk, watering the garden, or sitting on the porch for a few minutes with a glass of this Peach Sangria!
One simple way to spend more time outdoors is to cook dinner outside on the grill and eat al fresco. During the summer months, cooking techniques shift to reflect the season. The oven is given a break, and I try to use the grill more often for quick stove top preparations.
I try to avoid ingredients that need lots of time braising or baking, opting for ones that cook quickly on the grill. This way the house stays cool and it allows more time outdoors.
More recipes you’ll love!
- Halloumi Wrap
- Thai Grilled Eggplant Salad
- Grilled Eggplant with Greek Relish and Creamy Polenta
- Grilled Eggplant Salad with Freekeh and Yogurt Dressing
- Grilled Eggplant Steaks with Gremolata and Tomatoes
- Muffuletta Sandwich with Grilled Eggplant
Grilled Eggplant Salad with Halloumi & Tomatoes
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Category: Salad, vegetarian main
- Method: grilled
- Cuisine: mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Eggplant Salad with Grilled Halloumi Cheese,Tomatoes & a flavorful Mint Dressing- a delicious summer salad!
Ingredients
- 2 medium-sized eggplants or 4 Japanese eggplants
- 4 medium heirloom tomatoes ( red and yellow)
Instructions
- Pre-heat grill, to med-high.
- Slice Eggplant to 1/3 inch thick pieces and brush with olive oil. Slice halloumi into 1/2 inch thick pieces, brush with olive oil. Slice tomatoes into ½ inch slices, and set aside.
- Make the mint dressing. Blend or process all ingredients in a blender or food processor…adding a little more water (only if necessary) to get the blender going. Do not blend it too smooth… you want to see pieces of the herbs.
- Grill eggplant slices- closing lid, checking heat to make sure they don’t burn, rotating as necessary. Eggplant is done when the white becomes slightly translucent. Stack them on a heat proof dish and cover tightly with foil so they continue cooking through. You could place this on your upper grill rack if you have one, or just set aside, covered.
- Grill the Halloumi cheese just until grill marks appear.
- Arrange the eggplant, tomatoes and cheese all on a platter, layering. Drizzle liberally with the dressing and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and garnish with fresh mint leaves. Serve at room temp.
Notes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 284
- Sugar: 4.1 g
- Sodium: 359.4 mg
- Fat: 23.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 8.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2.8 g
- Protein: 9.4 g
- Cholesterol: 24.9 mg
I look forward to making this! What fish would go best with this dish?
It would go with most fish! Salmon, cod, black cod…
making this over and over and over so delicious
Awesome to hear Maud!
This came together quickly and was so delicious. The dressing is fantastic and I’ll definitely be making it again!
Awesome to hear Dawn!
one of our favorite recipes all time. Question as I have 2 small eggplants can I add zucchini?
That sounds good!
whoa whoa it was delicious
Thanks Maud!
How much is 1 T water
Am preparing the dish now and have no clue
Oh sorry about this, the T stands for tablespoon.
I made this salad as a part of a Mediterranean dinner. It was amazing! I was serving several people so fter grilling, I cut the ingredients into about 2 inch pieces, tossed it all together and added a serving spoon. It got rave reviews from all of us! Thank you!
So happy everyone enjoyed!
Very good. Added a zucchini as well. At first I had my doubts about the mint dressing based on tasting it by itself. But I confess that it worked beautifully drizzled over the grilled veggies, halloumi and fresh tomatoes. Will definitely make again.
Great to hear!
Hello Youmna
Thank you for this healthy and delicious receip !
Mary – Paris
Wow. 5 stars. My kids even liked it. I flubbed grilling the halloumi a little – by the time it had grill marks, it was melting. Maybe my grill cooled down too much dealing with all the eggplant slices. This was so, so tasty, though.
Yay!!! Great to hear. Thanks for sharing! 🙌
.
Beautiful recipe, thanks! I added some steamed and then grilled slices of sweet potato (because when I saw the picture, I thought thats what I saw in there). Gorgeous food.
An AWESOME post! Recipe and all. Thanks for the memory refresh!
Hi Sylvia,
For baking in oven, can you recommend the setting (bake or roast?), temperature, and time duration? Thinking of making this this weekend!
Thank you.
Honestly, Ive never tried baking before. My guess is 400F for 20-30 minutes? Start there.
Just wondering if these veggies could be baked? Or do you need the char of the grill. Seeing mine with slow cooked lamb. Can’t wait
Yes! Absolutely
Thanks and Happy New Year to you!!
I’m a teensy bit obsessed with halloumi on the grill — it’s so underrated! Love that you’re doing it here, and with the mint? Yum. Thanks for sharing! – Em (@ The Pig & Quill)
What a great trip! And such a beautiful salad! And that dressing – SWOON! I think I’ll serve this Napoleon style when I make it 🙂
This is absolutely gorgeous! LOVE this salad!
That was a great trip! and there’s nothing better than hot coffee delivered to your tent in the morning, ahhhhh.
Sylvia-
Your writing is as beautiful as your food! I will definitely have to try this recipe. Miss you!
Kirsten