Sauteed Eggplant Salad

Bowl of cubed and sauteed eggplant with garlic, red peppers and fresh parsley.

5 from 42 votes

Sauteed Eggplant Salad

Tender garlicky eggplant with red peppers and fresh parsley is just the delicious combo that has me coming back for more. This easy sautéed eggplant recipe takes just 20 minutes to make, a fantastic everyday recipe, the perfect side dish or simple lunch.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Mediterranean

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan

Servings:

Calories: 170kcal

Author: Debra Klein

Equipment

Ingredients

2 medium-large eggplants about 8 cups cubed
1 red bell pepper
3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 ½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
3 cloves garlic
½ cup fresh parsley finely chopped and divided

Instructions

Finely chop parsley. Smash garlic cloves and then roughly chop. Set aside prepped garlic and parsley.
Cut off root end and bottom of eggplant. Set flat on a cutting board on the bottom cut side. Make ½" slices through the top. Lay them flat and cut into ½" strips and then across to make ½" cubes.
Set heavy skillet over medium heat and swirl in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Toss in the eggplant cubes, then drizzle on another 1 tablespoon oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring a couple of times. The pan will seem super full. It's ok and temporary, as the eggplant will shrink as it cooks.
Meanwhile, dice the red pepper. Add to the pan with the eggplant along with cumin and salt and drizzle the remaining tablespoon olive oil into the pan.
Cook, stirring frequently to prevent eggplant from sticking to the bottom. Use a heavy spatula to scrape any bits off as you cook.
When eggplant is tender (about 6-8 minutes), sprinkle on ¼ cup of the parsley and all of the garlic. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes, until garlic is fragrant.
Turn off heat and stir in remaining ¼ cup parsley. Taste for seasoning and add a pinch of red pepper flakes if desired. Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Eggplant size: This recipe was written for 2 medium-large sized eggplant that yields about 8 cups of chopped eggplant. If your eggplant produces more than 8 cubs of cubes, then you may need to add a bit more oil, cumin and garlic.

Nutrition