Salad is one of the mixed salad dishes that is not only delicious and healthy but also simple and easy to make. It is the perfect choice to balance the taste and prevent greasiness when meals contain too many oily dishes. Today, let’s join TasteVN in the kitchen and immediately make 2 unique and delicious eggplant salad recipes to treat the whole family!
1. Eggplant Lentil Salad
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Preparation time
1 hour
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Difficulty level
Easy
Ingredients for Eggplant Lentil Salad Serves 4
Eggplant 700 gr Dried green lentils 125 gr Cherry tomatoes 250 gr Rocket lettuce 40 gr (Arugula) Feta cheese 60 gr Dried bay leaves 3 gr (about 1 leaf) Dried thyme 2.5 teaspoons (thyme leaves) Lemon zest 10 gr Garlic 2 cloves Celery 20 gr Lemon juice 2 tablespoons Chicken broth 240 ml Olive oil 7 tablespoons Common seasoning to taste (salt/sugar/pepper) Mustard 1 teaspoon
Specific information about some ingredients
What is lentil?
- Lentils, also known as lentil beans, belong to the legume family. The seeds are round and slightly flat.
- Lentils come in many varieties, which are usually distinguished mainly by color, such as brown lentils, green lentils, Puy lentils, Beluga lentils, yellow, and red lentils. The two most commonly used varieties are red lentils and green lentils.
- For this dish, you should choose green or brown lentils. This type of lentil usually has a light fragrant smell and maintains its shape after simmering or cooking for a long time.
- You can find this type of lentil at dry goods markets, cereal stores, or in supermarkets and large grocery stores.
What is Rocket lettuce?
- Rocket lettuce, also known as Arugula, is a type of leafy green from the mustard family, very popular in Italian cuisine and has only recently been introduced to Vietnam in recent years.
- This vegetable has a pungent, peppery flavor, making it suitable for eating raw, such as in salads. However, you can also boil, cook in soups, or stir-fry to reduce the characteristic pungency of this lettuce.
Some notes when choosing ingredients
- You can find lentils, thyme, Rocket lettuce, and Feta cheese at supermarkets and large grocery stores.
- If choosing packaged products, you should carefully check the expiration date, ensure the outer packaging is intact, not torn or discolored, and the product inside has no mold, unusual spots, or leaking.
Tools needed
How to make Eggplant Lentil Salad
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Cook lentils
After purchasing, rinse the lentils briefly with water to remove any dirt.
Place a pot on the stove, and gradually add the rinsed lentils along with 240ml of chicken broth, 360ml of water, 1 clove of garlic, 10g of lemon peel, 3g of dried bay leaves, 1.5 teaspoons of dried thyme, and 20g of celery.
Turn on the heat and cook over medium heat until the water boils, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes until the lentils are soft.
Tip: Boiling lentils with chicken broth and various herbs will make the lentils more fragrant and flavorful.
Next, remove the lentils using a strainer, discard the broth and the herbs such as thyme, celery, garlic, lemon peel, and bay leaves, and let the lentils drain thoroughly.
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Make salad dressing
To make the salad dressing, you add sequentially into a jar 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 4 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of mustard, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 teaspoon of thyme, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.
Then close the jar and shake well until all the ingredients are completely dissolved and blended together.
Tip: If you don’t have a glass jar, you can use a spoon and stir the dressing mixture until all the ingredients are completely dissolved.
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Prepare and roast the eggplant
Wash the eggplant thoroughly with cold water, then drain and cut into bite-sized pieces, about 3cm thick.
Marinate the eggplant with 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Mix well and let the eggplant soak in the seasoning for about 10 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 240 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.
Place the eggplant on a tray lined with aluminum foil and then put it in the oven. Roast the eggplant at 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes, then take it out, flip the eggplant, and roast for another 5 – 10 minutes until the eggplant is evenly golden and slightly charred.
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Prepare other ingredients
After purchasing, remove any wilted or damaged leaves (if any) from the Rocket lettuce, then wash it thoroughly several times with water and let it drain.
After washing the tomatoes, cut them in half with a knife.
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Mix the salad
Add lentils, tomatoes, and Rocket lettuce into a bowl, then drizzle 2/3 of the prepared salad dressing over the top and mix well.
Plate the mixed lentils, tomatoes, and lettuce, then add the grilled eggplant and Feta cheese on top, drizzling the remaining dressing over the plate, and garnish for an appealing presentation to finish.
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Final product
The eggplant lentil salad, once completed, has an eye-catching color. You can clearly feel the freshness of the tomatoes and Rocket lettuce still retained, along with the sweet and intense flavor of the eggplant mixed with a bit of lentils, and a sour, sweet, and rich dressing. All of this creates a wonderful combination for the dish.
2. Eggplant bell pepper salad
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Preparation
20 minutes
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Cooking
1 hour
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Eggplant bell pepper salad For 4 people
Eggplant 450 gr Red bell pepper 113 gr Green bell pepper 113 gr Red onion 113 gr Chopped parsley 31 gr (parsley) Chopped coriander 31 gr Dried dill 1/2 teaspoon Lemon juice 4 tablespoons Garlic 20 gr Olive oil 9 tablespoons Seasoning a little (sugar; salt; pepper)
How to choose fresh and delicious bell peppers
- To choose good bell peppers, you should select those with a shiny, smooth, thick skin, still have the stem firmly attached to the body, feel heavy in hand, and have bright colors. These will be fresh and nutritious bell peppers.
- Avoid buying bell peppers that are soft and mushy, with spots, dull colors, and cracks as these are spoiled and lack nutrients.
How to make Eggplant and Bell Pepper Salad
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Prepare the vegetables
Soak the eggplant and bell peppers in diluted salt water for about 15 minutes, then rinse well with cold water and drain.
Cut the eggplant into small pieces, about 2 – 3cm thick.
Slice the bell peppers to match the size of the eggplant.
Peel and slice the red onion thinly. Crush the garlic and chop it finely.
Dry dill should be put into a mortar and ground into small pieces.
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Sautéed Eggplant
Place a pan on the stove, add 5 tablespoons of olive oil and wait for it to heat up.
Once the oil is hot, add all of the eggplant and sauté over medium heat for about 5 – 6 minutes until the eggplant is golden and slightly charred, then turn off the heat. Next, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and mix well before transferring to a bowl.
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Sautéed Vegetables
Wipe the pan clean with a paper towel, then add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat it up. Add the chopped shallots and minced garlic to the pan and sauté for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
When the shallots and garlic are aromatic, add green and red bell peppers and sauté over medium heat for about 2 minutes until the peppers are cooked. Next, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of ground pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of crushed dill to the pan, stir well for another minute, then turn off the heat and transfer to a bowl to cool.
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Mixing Salad
Add stir-fried eggplant and bell pepper into a bowl. Then add 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, parsley, and cilantro, and mix well.
Season to taste and then cover with plastic wrap, place in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before enjoying.
Tip: It is advisable to put the salad in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before use, which helps the salad absorb the flavors evenly and stimulates the taste buds more.
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Final Product
Enjoy the eggplant bell pepper salad with a rich sweet and sour sauce, soft and sweet vegetables that not only provide nutrition but also make the meal more diverse.
How to choose good eggplants
- You should choose eggplants that have intact, shiny, smooth skin and are evenly colored.
- When picked up, they should feel firm, not too light; if you press gently and it’s not too hard and no liquid comes out, you can buy it.
- Choose eggplants that still have the stem at the top; the stem and skin are connected, indicating the eggplant is fresh.
- You can press gently on the eggplant, and if it leaves an indentation on the skin, it means it is ripe.
How to prepare eggplants without browning
- After buying, peel the eggplants, and soak them in a bowl of cold water mixed with salt and
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Try the recipe that TasteVN shares with you to have a rich menu for your family meal. Wishing you delicious meals with your family!
*Refer to images and recipes from 2 YouTube channels: RecipeTin Eats and AnitaCooks
