Spiced Eggplant And Zucchini Quinoa
I love a layered dish, where each element has the chance to shine, all coming together to create a mouthful of perfection. It also allows us to see all the different tastes and textures in the meal – creaminess from yoghurt, bite from quinoa, crunch from seeds and all to work together to allow the centre of the plate, the eggplant and zucchini, to show us how delicious it can be.
This recipe is a great example of using vegetables as the hero of the plate.
One of my favourite wellness educators, Mark Hyman, explained that when eating animal products (if you eat them), ideally they act as the condiment, simply adding them to a rich plate of beautiful plants.
And I think this is such a nice way to think about eating. Let’s bring vegetables to the centre of the meal!
This recipe is very versatile. You can serve just this as a scrumptious vegetarian meal, or you can use it as a side to be placed on the table.
When I’m doing a dinner party, I like to make sides that are substantial enough to stand on their own as a meal and this is just that!
Spiced Eggplant And Zucchini Quinoa
An easy vegetarian feast that heroes the natural flavours of eggplant and zucchini.
Serves:
4
Prep time:
20 minutes
Cook time:
30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- 1 medium eggplant, sliced lengthwise into quarters
- 2 zucchinis, sliced into halves or quarters
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 2 tbsp sunflower seeds, toasted
- 2 tbsp pepitas, toasted
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 cup Greek yoghurt
- 2 tbsp tahini
- Fresh mint, to serve
- Salt and pepper, to taste
METHOD
- Preheat the oven to 200℃.
- Place zucchini and eggplant on a tray, coat with 2 tbsp of olive oil, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine the quinoa, seeds, remaining olive oil, lemon juice, chilli and coriander. Toss.
- Combine yoghurt and tahini in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
- Serve it all together and top with extra seeds and fresh mint.
Notes
- You can use any grain for this recipe, it works great with a combo of quinoa and brown rice.
- Dairy free option: Use coconut yoghurt in place of Greek yoghurt.
- For quinoa cooking instructions, click here.
- To toast seeds, simply place on a dry pan over a medium heat for approximately five minutes, until golden and fragrant. Watch carefully to ensure they don’t burn, and toss occasionally to ensure all seeds are evenly distributed.
- Cooking time may vary depending on the size of your zucchini and eggplant slices. You want them to be soft in the middle and slightly browned on the edges.
About Liv
I’m a holistic nutritionist (BSc) and healthy chef and I’m obsessed with waking up every day happy to be alive and excited for the day ahead, and eating incredible nourishing food!
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Liv! Your recipes are insanity, I’ve made so much from you in the last few days without even having to go grocery shopping. Everything is SO easy and delicious, thank you thank you so much! Very grateful for you!!!
Hi Charlotte, thank you so much! That is so great to hear. A lot of my recipes come about because I don’t want to go grocery shopping and just what to use what I have 😉