Try this recipe for grilled eggplant with red and yellow peppers tonight

A touch of smoke can add a nice depth to your dishes, be it a main or dessert, side or salad. This grilled eggplant dish is surprisingly simple to make, but has a pretty fun and colorful presentation.

Grill thick rounds of globe eggplant until charred and softened, then top with marinated roasted peppers — roast the peppers in a baking dish in a 400- to 450-degree oven, or directly over the grill or stove-top. Garnish the dish with torn basil and season, and it’s ready to go. Perfect whether you’re planning a weeknight dinner or weekend entertaining.

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH RED AND YELLOW PEPPERS

Total time: 1 hour, 10 minutes | Serves 4 to 6

1 red bell pepper

1 yellow bell pepper

1/2 cup olive oil plus 1/2 teaspoon, divided

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon minced shallot

Kosher salt, coarse black pepper

1 large globe eggplant, about 1 1/2 pounds

10 fresh basil leaves, torn

Fleur de sel

1. Coat the peppers with one-half teaspoon of olive oil. Roast on a baking pan, turning frequently until the peppers are vibrant in color with some char marks and the skin peels easily, about 35 minutes.

2. Remove the peppers from the oven and place them in a bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let the peppers stand about 20 minutes or until cool. Peel the peppers, cut them into quarters and remove any seeds. Pat dry and cut into julienne strips.

3. Whisk the vinegar, garlic and shallot. Slowly whisk in 6 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add kosher salt and pepper to taste.

4. Pour the vinaigrette over the pepper strips and let stand while preparing the eggplant.

5. Cut both ends off the eggplant and slice crosswise into three-fourths-inch rounds and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Brush both sides of the sliced eggplant lightly with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

6. Grill the eggplant over medium heat. Cook until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until charred and softened. Remove from heat.

7. Arrange grilled eggplant on serving plates and spoon over marinated peppers. Garnish with torn basil. Season with fleur de sel and coarse cracked black pepper to taste.

Each of 6 servings: 199 calories; 2 grams protein; 9 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams fiber; 18 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 391 mg. sodium.

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