28 Jan 2011

Eggplant Feta Salad with Mint Pistachio Pesto

This is one of the easiest dishes I could think of when it comes to a quick tasty dinner when I all worn out from a long day in the hospital.....Few people are wary of eating veggies in the form of salad [I am one of them]....but this doesn't feel like salad.


All you can taste is the wonderful combination of flavours from the herbs. Each herb adds a distinct touch to each mouthful of this lovely colourful salad.

For the salad:
Eggplant [aubergine - large]: 1.
Orange capsicum: 1.
Yellow capsicum: 1.
Red onion [medium]: 1.



Mixed Italian herbs [dried thyme, basil and oregano]:  1-2 tsp.
Olive oil [chilli or garlic infused]: 1-2 tbsp.
Feta cheese [crumbled]: 2-3 tbsp.
Salt: to taste.
Rocket leaves: a handful [to garnish]


1.Slice the aubergine lengthwise [around 5mm in thickness]. Slice the red onion, orange and yellow capsicum lengthwise thinly.
2.Brush the aubergine slices with a dash of olive oil and sprinkle with some salt [just a pinch].
3.Place a grill pan [the one which has ridges on it] on medium flame and grill the aubergine slices until soft. This will take around 4-5 mins on each side. Keep warm until serving time.


5.Meanwhile place another pan on medium flame. Add 1tsp of olive oil, mixed dried herbs and a pinch of salt.
6.Add the capsicum and onion slices. Saute until slightly wilted [4-5 minutes]. Keep warm until serving time.


Mint Pistachio Pesto:
Pesto gives a wonderful fresh herby flavour to whatever dish it is being added to. This pesto is even more flavourful with mint and pistachio added to it....

Fresh basil leaves: 2 handfuls.
Fresh mint leaves: 1 handful.
Pistachio: 8-10.
Garlic pod: 1.
Red onion slices: 2-3.
Olive oil: 3-4 tbsp.
Salt : to taste.


1.Slightly dry roast the pistachio. Wash the basil and mint leaves. Slice the garlic thinly.
2.Grind the first 5 ingredients to a rough mix. Then add the olive oil and blend until almost smooth.
3.Add salt to taste and mix well.


To assemble:
Place the eggplant slice. Coat with a generous helping of the wonderful luscious green pesto. Tumble the wilted veges and onion slices. Top it up with crumbled feta and rocket leaves......and start gobbling.


Note: U can use ordinary olive oil if infused variety is not available. Add red chilli flakes to add spicy flavour to the dish.
         Be very stingy when brushing oil on the aubergine, it will appear as if the surface is dry but a thin slice can soak a tbsp of oil and appear dry.
        Just vary the ingredients to have different flavours .eg add avacados, orange segments, lettuce leaves , celery, cucumbers [in their raw form].

Sending this to Dish starts with E , an event by Akila, "Healing Foods - Eggplant" an event by Siri  guest hosted by Kavitha , "Only Salads" an event by Pari ,guest hosted by Prathibha .





My blogging buddies in this marathon: Gayathri , Priya Suresh , Jay , PJ , Ayeesha , Priya Vaasu , Srivalli , Azeema , Usha , Soumya , Monika , Veena ..... what can I say....yummy posts....

Enjoy....

Scribbled by Reva

30 comments:

Soumya said...

wow..delicious and very unique salad..loved it...yum yum!

Vidhya said...

Wow thats one yummy and healthy way to use Eggplants.Will surely try this.

Gayathri Kumar said...

Very innovative and colorful salad. Amazing clicks..

Ramya said...

Woowoo….Looks soo gourmet:-)
And amazing clicks as well:-)

Gayu said...

This looks so classic!!Love feta cheese!!Lovely clicks!!

G
http://ensamayalarangam.blogspot.com

chef and her kitchen said...

Such a lovely salad...thks for sending 4 my event..expecting a mail format 4m u

Scribblingzzz.. said...

A healthy salad indeed... Good clicks...

Priya Suresh said...

Thats an awesome looking yummy salad, love that pesto..

Kanchana Radhakrishnan said...

healthy salad.

Harika baratam said...

Grt salad looks something different and also gud for health......

Unknown said...

whenever I come here,ur pics will be feast for me.Lovely salad

Padmajha said...

Such a delicious Salad.I will be trying that pesto for sure...

Regarding your comment in my blog - The corn is real and that came from our family friend's farm.I love the color,beautiful isn't it!When it is cooked,it turns to a dull shade of brown...

Unknown said...

wow...looks beautiful and healthy....lovely clicks....

Sujatha said...

Hi Reva, thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a few nice words.. You have an awesome space here and what beautiful clicks! I'm glad I found your site! Linking your site with mine..

Keep up the good work!

Saraswathi Ganeshan said...

Lovely clicks.. with delicious Salad, Some thing new with eggplant for me..

Padhu Sankar said...

Simple and yummy salad

Unknown said...

Lovely I can have salads in my every meal.Looks very colorfull and tempting.

Radhika said...

First time to your blog. you have a nice collection here. the clicks are just amazing. glad to follow U.

chitraj.hegde said...

hummmmmm....very hungry..wow..delicious and very inventing salad..loved it...as..your blog!very nice space you have got here...me too very glade to follow your blog.....eye catching clicks,,,

Mrs.Mano Saminathan said...

Very innovative and delicious salad! Hats off for the excellent snaps!

Malar Gandhi said...

Refreshing and inviting salad...luks beautiful

Usha said...

Very colorful salad!

Pushpa said...

Lovely refreshing salad,feast to the eyes.

schmetterlingwords said...

Hello Reva, I'm Aysha, a budding blogger... Happened to visit your space and wowwww..... You are not only an excellent, creative cook... you possess an extraordinary talent for photography too... Keep rocking... Best wishes!!

http://schmetterlingwords.blogspot.com/

Reva said...

Thankyou friends.... I am humbled by your kindness.
Reva

Reshmi Mahesh said...

Lovely dish and photography...

Malli's Mint and Mimosas said...

What a delightfully yummy salad and looks bright and healthy too!!
Great photos...good job:)

Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen said...

Love those Colors!!! Delicious treat to both eyes and the taste!!!

Shoba Shrinivasan said...

Hi Reva,

First time on yor page and I am impressed. Lovely clicks and macro pics. I always fall for great pics with detail...as a picture speaks a thousand words!!! Lovely refreshing salad!

Shobha

Rathi said...

Seriously,This is absolute brilliance! Eating healthy just got better. :)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...