You probably don’t need a recipe to make a sandwich but I couldn’t help but share this big juicy stack of late-summer grilled veggies. I rarely make sandwiches these days, (mostly because I live in the town of tacos)… but these simply grilled eggplant slices were just begging to be put between bread and slathered with arugula-walnut pesto. I piled on some roasted peppers and fresh mozzarella. Sub avocado for the cheese if you’re vegan. Then get out the napkins because things are gonna get messy!
You can assemble your sandwich like I did, or put the ingredients on a platter so everyone can make whatever combo they like. There are no wrong answers here…
For further instruction, I made this animated gif for you. And now I’m starving… is it lunchtime yet?
grilled eggplant & pesto sandwiches
- 1 medium eggplant, sliced into ¼ inch slices
- drizzle of olive oil, for grilling the eggplant
- 4 ciabatta rolls, toasted if you like
- a few roasted peppers (optional)
- ball of fresh mozzarella, sliced (skip if vegan)
- 1 avocado, sliced
- ⅓ cup toasted walnuts
- 1 small clove of garlic
- big handful of arugula (plus reserve a few sprigs for the sandwiches)
- big handful of basil (also reserve a few)
- juice of ½ a small lemon
- sea salt & freshly ground pepper
- ¼ - ⅓ cup olive oil
- Slice your eggplant and arrange the slices in one layer on a plate. Sprinkle generously with salt and let it sit while you prep everything else. In a few minutes, it'll become watery, dab off the water with a clean towel before you grill the eggplant.
- Make your pesto by pulsing together the walnuts and garlic. Then add arugula, basil, lemon, salt & pepper. Pulse again, then add the olive oil and pulse one last time. I made my pesto chunky, add more olive oil if you prefer a smoother pesto. Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan. Once it's hot, drizzle your eggplant with olive oil and place on a hot grill. Let each side cook for 2-3 minutes or until nice grill marks form.
- Assemble sandwiches with pesto, arugula, mozzarella and/or avocado, grilled eggplant, roasted peppers, and a sprig of basil.
Hi Jeanine, I’m making this now! So many tasty ingredients. I was actually wondering about the plate featured in the GIF you created. Where is it from? I love the pattern. Thanks!
Hi Uma, I hope you love the sandwiches! The plate is from West Elm, but I got it at least 3 or 4 years ago (maybe try searching ebay or second hand items on etsy?)
Hi Uma-
I own these plates and was considering a change- let me know if you are interested in talking about that 🙂
OMG the GIF is the icing on the cake! Yummyy
ha, thanks 🙂
I have a stack of roasted eggplant slices in the fridge right now and just as I was wondering what to do with them your beautiful post came along. Looks so yummy and I have been making my daughter’s school lunch sandwiches with mozzarella AND avocado with a smear of pesto and sliced tomatoes, now I just need to add the eggplant and voila! Thanks for the delicious inspiration.
Thank you for this pesto recipe. Living in Costa Rica offers 12 months of growing season for gardens, but nuts can be very expensive because they are imported with high taxes. I grow arugula and pesto and walnuts are the most affordable nuts, so yea for me, I LOVE this recipe. thanks again, Laurel
This sandwich looks so delicious…YUM! 🙂
This looks wonderful!! I love pesto in sandwiches to give a herby kick!
OK. Can we please talk about how adorable that speckled blue plate is? I am in love. I am also in love with the combination of veggies on this sandwich. Grilled eggplant happens to be one of my very favorites- all golden and creamy- piled high between punchy roasted red peppers and arugula pesto? Sounds like a dream. And I’ll take the avo AND cheese, thank you very much. 😉
thanks Emilie 🙂
I just discovered your blog earlier this week and am LOVING it! Great recipes and photography! Love the GIF on this post…not to mention how mouthwatering the sandwich looks! Thanks and I look forward to continuing to follow your blog! 🙂
thanks, and welcome!
Your photographs are gorgeous! I love pesto and love a good sandwich with yummy bread. This is a win-win!
I love the flavours in this! had an awesome dish of grilled eggplant with pesto the other day and it was just calling out to be made into a sandwich.
I just made this for dinner tonight. Amazing flavors! I took the vegan route and stuck with avocado- delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Oh wow, I have some leftover pesto in the fridge that I made last week… and this looks like the perfect sandwich for it!
Love the addition of arugula to the pesto. And I love the animated gif. So clever! 🙂
You’re making me hungry!
These are beautiful and I am so happy that there’s a vegan possibility 😉
Isabelle @ Head Red & Blondi
I don’t make sandwiches often either but this one makes me want to make one very soon. Love the flavors going on with the walnut pesto and grilled eggplant and avocado. Delicious!
This looks delicious! I love veggie sandwiches with loads of pesto!!
XO Kelly
http://www.dettecakes.com
Gotta give it a try! I´m madly in love with eggplants and arugula. 😉
Love that GIF! These sandwiches look delicious! All my favorite things!
ha thanks! I know they’re super cheesy but I just couldn’t help myself 🙂
Mouth watering! Fresh and delicious!
Such a colourful sandwich! This sounds great!