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Posted on Wed, Aug 10, 2011 : 4:26 a.m.

Grilled Eggplant, Zucchini and Flatbread with Tzadziki makes a healthy vegetarian meal

By Peggy Lampman

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Grilled Eggplant, Zucchini and Flatbread with Tzadziki

Peggy Lampman | Contributor

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I made a dish similar to this last month, but today I substituted zucchini and eggplant for the marinated lamb.

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Grilling eggplant and zucchini on a grill pan.

I'm grilling the veggies on a grill pan; I've sacrificed one to many slices of vegetables this year to the God of the Flames. You will have leftover tzadziki, but it keeps in your fridge several days. It's a healthy veggie dip and wonderful spread over grilled salmon or chicken.

 

Yield: 2 servings
Time: 20 minutes (if tzadziki is prepared)

Ingredients

2 medium sized eggplant, 2/3 skin removed and striped with a veg peeler
4 medium sized zucchinis, cut lengthwise
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup prepared tzadzki, available ready to go at most groceries or make your own (recipe follows)
1 (8.8-ounce) pack Tandoori Stonefire original Tandoori Naan* (2 naan per pack)

Time: 30 minutes

Directions

1. Prepare tzadziki and reserve. Prepare gas or charcoal grill to medium heat. (If cooking directly on grill, oil grill grates.)
2. Arrange zucchini and eggplant on grill pan or directly on grill grates. Brushing with olive oil, grill 10-15 minutes on each side or until tender and easilty pricked with a fork.
3. When vegetables are almost ready, brush both sides of flatbread with olive oil and grill about 1-2 minutes per side.
4. Spread tzadziki over flatbread or over vegetables placed on flatbread and serve.

Tzadziki Ingredients

1 large cucumber, peeled, cut lengthwise, seeded, then cut into small (1/4-inch) dice 

(1 1/2 cups)

2 tablespoons fresh chopped herbs (dill or mint, or combination of both)

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 cup plain, strained, Greek-styled yogurt (I use Fage 2 percent)

Tzadziki Directions

1. Place diced cucumbers on paper towels or in a fine mesh sieve; lightly sprinkle with kosher salt. Let drain 15-30 minutes, pressing into towels or sieve with spoon to release excess moisture.

2. To make the tzadziki, combine cucumbers with herbs, garlic and yogurt; season to taste with kosher salt, if needed, and freshly ground pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Looking for a specific recipe? Click here for dinnerFeed's recipe search engine; type the recipe or ingredient into the search box. I am a real-time food writer and photographer posting daily feeds on my website and in the Food & Drink section of Annarbor.com. You may also e-mail me at peggy@dinnerfeed.com.

Comments

Foodie01

Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.

Greek yogurt is loaded with protein.

montyman

Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 1:44 a.m.

Thanks Peggy: I made it last night and it was delicious! Actually, it was so good I ate it again tonight.

abc

Wed, Aug 10, 2011 : 3:58 p.m.

"... a healthy vegetarian meal" I think not. Like all humans, vegetarians need protein. My definition of a healthy meal includes the idea that it offers a reasonable balance of all the foods one needs. Or looked at another way, it is a meal one could eat day in, and day out, and not suffer any adverse consequences (except boredom). Sure a salad as a light meal is fine; maybe you ate a big meal earlier, or will later. But too many people, and too many food writers, and too many restaurants, think that if you just take out the meat then you get a 'healthy vegetarian meal'.

lindsay blackwell

Wed, Aug 10, 2011 : 6:06 p.m.

a 6 oz. serving of chobani greek yogurt has 18 grams of protein, in fact. this appears to be a relatively well-balanced and healthy vegetarian meal--missing a whole grain, but overall, a nice choice. and delicious to boot.

montyman

Wed, Aug 10, 2011 : 5:29 p.m.

Why do you care what vegetarian's eat? It's a choice. You seem to take personal offense by this recipe. There are plenty of sources of protein without using animal products. Tofu, nuts, quinoa, and the list goes on. The arguement that you HAVE to eat animals to be healthy is an outdated myth.