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Overhead view of a grilled vegetable and goat cheese stack with charred zucchini, eggplant, and a balsamic drizzle on a white plate

Grilled Vegetable Stacks with Goat Cheese and Basil

Charred zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper, and red onion stacked with goat cheese and a balsamic glaze, ready in about 45 minutes.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Stack
  • 2 zucchini medium (about 500 g); sliced lengthwise into 1 cm planks, about 8 planks total
  • 1 eggplant medium (about 350 g); sliced into 1 cm rounds, use the 8 largest
  • 1 red bell pepper large; quartered and seeded
  • 1 red onion medium; sliced into 1 cm rounds
  • 225 g goat cheese log chilled, sliced into 8 rounds
  • 4 tbsp olive oil divided, for tossing and brushing the grill
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt plus more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
For the Balsamic Glaze
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar / 60 ml
  • 1 tbsp honey
For Finishing
  • fresh basil leaves a small handful; torn
  • 2 tbsp pine nuts toasted, optional

Method
 

Make the Balsamic Glaze
  1. Combine the balsamic vinegar and honey in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Set aside to cool; it thickens further as it sits.
Grill the Vegetables
  1. Heat an outdoor grill or 11-inch square grill pan to medium-high, about 400 F / 205 C. Brush the grates with 1 tbsp of the olive oil.
  2. Salt the eggplant rounds and let them sit for 10 minutes, then pat dry with a paper towel. This pulls out excess moisture so they char instead of steam.
  3. Toss the zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper, and onion rounds in a mixing bowl with the remaining 3 tbsp olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Grill the vegetables in batches so the pan isn't crowded. Cook zucchini and eggplant for 3 to 4 minutes per side, bell pepper for 4 to 5 minutes per side, and onion rounds for 3 minutes per side, until all pieces are grill-marked and tender. Transfer to a platter and let cool for 5 minutes.
Assemble the Stacks
  1. Slice the chilled goat cheese log into 8 rounds using a knife dipped in warm water, wiping the blade clean between cuts.
  2. On each of 4 plates, layer 1 piece of bell pepper, 1 goat cheese round, 2 zucchini planks folded in half, a few onion rings, and 2 eggplant rounds, then top with a second goat cheese round.
  3. Drizzle each stack with the cooled balsamic glaze, scatter torn basil and toasted pine nuts over the top, and serve right away while the vegetables are still warm.

Notes

  • Salt eggplant rounds 10 minutes ahead to prevent a bitter, watery stack.
  • Chill goat cheese before slicing for clean rounds that hold their shape.
  • Grill in batches; crowding the pan steams vegetables instead of charring them.
  • Reduce balsamic glaze until it coats a spoon, about 6 to 8 minutes.