• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fine Foods Blog
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Work With Me
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Work With Me
  • Travel
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Work With Me
    • Travel
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Vegetarian Recipes

    Grilled Eggplant Sandwich with Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil

    Published: Sep 1, 2014 · Modified: Sep 1, 2022 · by Debra with Leave a Comment · 732 words. About 4 minutes to read this article. · This post contains affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Fresh tomatoes and basil over gooey melted mozzarella make this grilled eggplant sandwich perfect for a lazy summer day! No measuring required, it's perfect if you're looking for vegetarian sandwiches to use up all of those tomatoes from the garden.

    Open-faced grilled eggplant sandwich topped with melted mozzarella, fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic reduction.

    This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy here.

    One of the best things about this grilled eggplant sandwich recipe is that it is very lazy. No measuring, just handfuls and bunches and drizzles. No cook, (sorta) no fuss, no guilt. I mean, right now I am almost too lazy to write about it. But you need to eat it, so I will carry on.

    Eggplant is outstanding on its own, but when you combine it with everything that makes a caprese salad so good -  fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar - you've got yourself a very tasty grilled eggplant sandwich that just might be the embodiment of summer.

    So be lazy. Enjoy the last, lazy, crazy days of summer. No sweat.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    A whole eggplant, torn baguette, mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, and fresh basil on a wooden tray.

    Ingredients

    • Italian eggplant: These are the larger, thicker, rounder eggplant. The thin Japanese eggplant are a bit too small for this as they are likely to fall through the grates of the grill.
    • Cherry or grape tomatoes: Use whatever tiny tomatoes you can find, whatever color they may be.
    • Fresh mozzarella cheese: We're using fresh mozzarella because it melts really quickly and is extra creamy.
    • Balsamic reduction: You could make it, but let's remember the theme here - laziness means I bought it at the Italian market.
    • Baguette or ciabatta bread: Something soft in the middle with a bit of a toothsome crust on the outside.
    • Fresh basil: Because summer = tomatoes and basil.
    • Olive oil and kosher salt: For seasoning and grilling.

    Instructions

    Sliced eggplant brushed with olive oil alongside a pastry brush and a dish filled with olive oil.

    Slice the eggplant into ¼ inch slices. Brush with olive oil and salt.

    Eggplant slices on a grill.

    Place eggplant on a grill or cast-iron grill pan, turning once, and cook through until soft. Set aside to cool.

    In the meantime, slice tomatoes in half and slice basil leaves into thin strips.

    Slice bread in half.

    Grilled eggplant and mozzarella cheese placed on two slices of French bread.

    Layer the grilled eggplant slices on top of baguette and top with cheese slices. Place under the broiler until cheese begins to melt and bubble.

    alt=""

    Top the eggplant sandwiches with tomato slices and sprinkle with salt. Drizzle with balsamic reduction, and sprinkle the basil over the top.

    Related Recipes

    It seems I have a thing for Italian sandwiches...

    • Try a Salami Sandwich with Frico and Mostarda to bring an adult perspective to your childhood salami on white bread with yellow mustard.
    • Keep grilling and make an Italian Steak Sandwich with Grilled Radicchio, it's got a great combo of bitter and sweet flavors.
    • A Turkey Bagel Sandwich with Hot Sweet Mustard is what you want the day after Thanksgiving.

    Recipe

    An open-faced eggplant sandwich topped with melted cheese, fresh tomatoes, and basil.

    Grilled Eggplant Sandwich with Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil

    Fresh tomatoes and basil over gooey melted mozzarella and roasted eggplant make this the best summer sandwich! No measuring required, it's the ultimate lazy summer day recipe. 
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Main Dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Keyword: Grilled eggplant sandwich with fresh tomatoes
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 2 open-faced sandwiches
    Calories: 664kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 eggplant sliced into ¼ inch slices
    • 1 baguette small
    • 6 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes or other small heirloom tomatoes
    • fresh basil
    • balsamic glaze
    • kosher salt
    • olive oil
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Slice the eggplant into ¼ inch slices. Brush with olive oil and salt.
    • Place eggplant on a grill or grill pan, turning once, and cook through until soft. Set aside to cool.
    • In the meantime, slice tomatoes in half and chiffonade the basil leaves. Slice baguette in half.
    • Layer eggplant slices on top of baguette and top with cheese slices. Place under the broiler until cheese begins to melt and bubble.
    • Top eggplant sandwiches with tomato slices and sprinkle with salt. Drizzle with balsamic reduction, and sprinkle basil over the top.

    Notes

    Tips and Tools
    • Do you need to salt eggplant and let it drain before cooking? No. I've experimented with this extensively over the years and found that it makes absolutely no difference, so just treat it like any other veggie that you are going to grill. Season it and throw it on there. 
    • If you don't have an outdoor grill, a cast-iron grill pan will work nicely for the eggplant. Be sure it's nice and hot. 
     
    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy here. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 664kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 1312mg | Potassium: 889mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 992IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 556mg | Iron: 5mg

    More Vegetarian Recipes

    • Pimento cheese dip in a red bowl on a round wooden tray, surrounded by butter crackers, carrot sticks, and corn chips. A gold spoon is on the lower left, a red and white striped towel is on the upper left.
      Pimento Cheese Dip
    • Spicy asian broccoli on a white plate drizzled with a spicy sauce that is reddish-brown in color.
      Asian Broccoli
    • A plate of fresh cranberry orange relish with orange zest on top and a gold spoon on the left side.
      Fresh Cranberry Relish
    • Tricolore salad in a white bowl with gold utensils.
      Tricolore Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Hi, I'm Debra! I love to cook and eat and travel, and cook the things I eat when I travel! I'm a detail-oriented Virgo, so it's my jam to simplify recipes and break them down into easy to follow steps. I help you bring the world to your table!

    More about me →

    Subscribe To My Enewsletter

    Get my new, and tried and true, recipes delivered to your inbox! Subscribe now!

    Gluten Free Recipes

    • A piece of salmon topped with creamy dill sauce and garnished with fresh dill and lemon zest.
      Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce
    • Vietnamese caramel chicken topped with cilantro and red chilis in a pan with blue handles. A gold spoon rests in the pan sauce toward the bottom right.
      Vietnamese Caramel Chicken
    • Chicken and cabbage with onions roasted on a sheet pan.
      Roast Chicken and Cabbage
    • Three chocolate pots de creme with whipped cream on top. Chocolate wafers are on the left, a spoon with chocolate on it is on the right.
      Chocolate Pots de Crème

    Search more gluten-free recipes

    Trending Recipes

    • A woman's hands are shown preparing a salt baked whole fish, she stuffs a whole fish with lemon, lime and fresh herbs.
      Salt Baked Fish
    • Chicken thighs topped with a caper lemon sauce on a white plate.
      Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs with Garlic, Capers, and Lemon
    • Two campari and soda cocktails with orange slices, a plate of nuts and two bottles in the background
      Campari and Soda
    • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs with mushrooms and white wine sauce in a blue casserole pan. Some fresh thyme is in the bottom right corner.
      One Pan Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and White Wine

    Chocolate Recipes

    • Gluten free triple chocolate cookies on a baking sheet.
      Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Cookies
    • A gluten free chocolate ganache tart topped with flaky sea salt on a pink plate.
      Gluten Free Chocolate Ganache Tart
    • Three white ramekins of chocolate mousse.
      Chocolate Mousse Recipe
    • Gluten free brownies with ganache icing dusted with cocoa powder on a white surface.
      Gluten Free Almond Flour Brownies

    French Recipes

    • Romaine Hearts salad with blue cheese, pears, and pecans on a white and gray plate.
      Romaine Hearts Salad with Blue Cheese, Pears, and Pecans
    • Mussels in white wine sauce with lemon wedges and parsley in a blue pan with a spoon in it.
      Mussels in White Wine Sauce (Moules Marinières)
    • French hot chocolate in a white cup with another cup and a blue bowl of chocolate in the background.
      French Hot Chocolate (Chocolat Chaud)
    • Several servings of eggs en cocotte with spinach and bacon in small cast-iron skillets and serving dishes are displayed on a wooden surface.
      Eggs en Cocotte (Baked Eggs)

    Hi, I'm Debra! I love to cook and eat and travel, and cook the things I eat when I travel! I'm a detail-oriented Virgo, so it's my jam to simplify recipes and break them down into easy to follow steps. I help you bring the world to your table!

    More about me →

    Subscribe To My Enewsletter

    Get my new, and tried and true, recipes delivered to your inbox! Subscribe now!

    Gluten Free Recipes

    • Holubtsi—Ukranian cabbage rolls—topped with sour cream and fresh dill in a round pan. A wooden spoon is on the right.
      Ukranian Cabbage Rolls (Holubtsi)
    • A platter of short ribs in a pomegranate wine sauce with pomegranate seeds on top with a serving fork on the left side of the plate.
      Pomegranate & Red Wine Braised Short Ribs
    • Basler brunsli cookies cut into star shapes of various sizes, topped with powdered sugar and red sanding sugar.
      Basler Brunsli
    • Pieces of cranberry pecan dark chocolate bark on white parchment paper.
      Cranberry Pecan Dark Chocolate Bark

    Search more gluten-free recipes

    Trending Recipes

    • A woman's hands are shown preparing a salt baked whole fish, she stuffs a whole fish with lemon, lime and fresh herbs.
      Salt Baked Fish
    • Chicken thighs topped with a caper lemon sauce on a white plate.
      Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs with Garlic, Capers, and Lemon
    • Two campari and soda cocktails with orange slices, a plate of nuts and two bottles in the background
      Campari and Soda
    • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs with mushrooms and white wine sauce in a blue casserole pan. Some fresh thyme is in the bottom right corner.
      One Pan Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and White Wine

    Chocolate Recipes

    • Gluten free triple chocolate cookies on a baking sheet.
      Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Cookies
    • A gluten free chocolate ganache tart topped with flaky sea salt on a pink plate.
      Gluten Free Chocolate Ganache Tart
    • Three white ramekins of chocolate mousse.
      Chocolate Mousse Recipe
    • Gluten free brownies with ganache icing dusted with cocoa powder on a white surface.
      Gluten Free Almond Flour Brownies

    French Recipes

    • Romaine Hearts salad with blue cheese, pears, and pecans on a white and gray plate.
      Romaine Hearts Salad with Blue Cheese, Pears, and Pecans
    • Mussels in white wine sauce with lemon wedges and parsley in a blue pan with a spoon in it.
      Mussels in White Wine Sauce (Moules Marinières)
    • French hot chocolate in a white cup with another cup and a blue bowl of chocolate in the background.
      French Hot Chocolate (Chocolat Chaud)
    • Several servings of eggs en cocotte with spinach and bacon in small cast-iron skillets and serving dishes are displayed on a wooden surface.
      Eggs en Cocotte (Baked Eggs)

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Fine Foods Blog