Tiny fairytale eggplants get strewn with mint and topped with crumbled feta cheese in this delightful summer side dish. Farmers markets or specialty grocers are your best for finding the baby eggplants, but if you can't find them, slender Japanese eggplants or even full-sized eggplants can work, too, though you'll need to increase both the recipe quantities and cooking time accordingly.

Take a cue from the Mediterranean flavors showcased in this dish, and serve the eggplants as part of a mezze spread. Offer Baked Chickpea Fritters, olives, a variety of roasted vegetables, such as red peppers, cauliflower, and zucchini, Israeli Hummus and store bought or homemade pita.

During Shavuot, cheese also has a starring role on the menu. Offer a farmer's market-inspired spread and serve the eggplants with an Heirloom Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese and Arugula, this hearty Barley and Roasted Vegetable Salad, and cookbook author Ronnie Fein's Roasted Pistachio-Crusted Salmon. Finish the meal with a favorite cheesecake recipe.

What You'll Need

  • 1 pint (about 8 ounces) The Farm's fairytale eggplants, trimmed and halved lengthwise
  • Pinch sea or The Farm's kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons Essex Olive Oil extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 tablespoon chopped The Farm's fresh mint
  • 1.5 ounces sheep's' or cows' milk feta cheese, crumbled
  • Pinch of Za'atar

How to Make It

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Arrange the eggplants cut side up in a baking dish just large enough to hold them in a single layer.
  2. Sprinkle the eggplant halves with a pinch of salt. Drizzle evenly with half of the olive oil. Sprinkle evenly with the chopped mint, and then the feta cheese. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil. 
  3. Roast the eggplants in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the eggplant is tender and the feta is golden brown in spots. Serve warm. 

    Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)

    Calories102

    Total Fat9 g

    Saturated Fat3 g

    Unsaturated Fat5 g

    Cholesterol9 mg

    Sodium173 mg

    Carbohydrates4 g

    Dietary Fiber2 g

    Protein2 g

    (The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)

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