Grilled Veggie Stacks with Balsamic Syrup {Recipe Redux}

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I think about veggies like a parched marathoner thinks about a drop of water.

(Not that I would know. The farthest distance I’ve run was in 2008 when I shambled through 10 miles with no build-up training. I regretted it for several days afterward.)

What I mean to say is, veggies rule. I talk about them a lot on this blog because they’re the complete package: fiber and nutrients and everything healthy for you, in any flavor you can imagine. Like crunch? Try some carrots or sliced radishes. Like sweet? Roasted veggies will be your new go-to. Like pickles? Fresh-pickle your own veggies and you’ll get tons of flavor without extra salt.

Also, I hope that by continuously bombarding you with gorgeous images of vegetables, you’ll begin to crave them as much as I do. Yes, this RD has an ulterior motive.

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Something else I love? Stacks. This affection is pretty obvious when you look at these posts. That’s why I gave a fist-pump when I saw this month’s The Recipe Redux theme:

While St. Patty’s Day will be over by the time The Recipe ReDux rolls around this month, we’re celebrating the ‘patty’ all month long. We’ve seen images of stacked patties go crazy on food photo sharing sites like HealthyAperture.com; so stack ‘em up!

Veggie stacks it is!

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Grilled vegetables layer beautifully with goat cheese and homemade toasted whole wheat bread. I’ve made this dish many times with every combination of veggies out there: beets, eggplant, summer squash, tomato compote, greens, and more. In the summer, I add fresh herbs such as basil and thyme springs. Here, I’ve grilled steamed eggplant and portabella mushrooms and layered them with blueberry goat cheese for a hearty stack.

Check out that beautiful goat cheese.
Check out that beautiful goat cheese.

The secret ingredient? Balsamic syrup, made from inexpensive balsamic vinegar that’s been simmered to a syrup. The balsamic syrup is sweet and tart, and it will turn your veggie stack from something ordinary to something, well … you know.

Talk about gorgeous balsamic syrup. Like I just did.
Talk about gorgeous balsamic syrup. Like I just did.

Check out more awesome stacks below!

Grilled Veggie Stacks with Balsamic Syrup

  Prep Time: 15 minutes

  Cook Time: 20 minutes

  Keywords: grill steam entree vegetarian

Ingredients (4 servings)

  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 8 large slices eggplant, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 4 medium portabella mushrooms
  • 4 oz. blueberry goat cheese
  • 4 slices whole grain bread, toasted

Instructions

In a small saucepan, simmer balsamic vinegar over medium-low heat until reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 10 minutes. While vinegar simmers, steam eggplant for 7 minutes, or until slices are tender but still hold shape. You may use a steaming basket or set a metal colander over a pan of boiling water and cover.

Heat grill pan. Use paper towel to coat grill with oil and grill eggplant and mushrooms for 3 minutes per side. While vegetables grill, spread goat cheese over toast and set aside. Add grilled vegetables to toast and goat cheese. top with fresh herbs if desired and drizzle balsamic syrup over all. Serve immediately.

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P.S. Peter says I pamper Maddles too much.

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He may be right.

P.P.S. Balsamic vinegar is a healthy way to add flavor to dishes!  Searching for inspiration?  Look no farther.


9 Comments

  1. This is in my top 5 favorites of all the patties I’ve seen. I’ve never tried blueberry goat cheese but I would love to.

    1. Thank you! 🙂

  2. Ditto what Gretchen said! Beautiful drip. And oh, it’s been too long since I grilled a portabello!

  3. Your stacks have all the good stuff in them!!! I love how they’re also multi-colored, with that pretty-in-purple beet hue!

  4. Sounds & looks wonderful! Balsamic syrup adds such nice flavor to so many dishes… And I totally agree, you can never have too many veggies! 🙂

  5. Such a great post about vegetables, yay! I love grilled veggies, they are so delicious together on a grill and make a wonderful veggie stack! Balsamic syrup is a pretty useful ingredient to flavor some veggies! Aww Maddles looks so cute, thank you for sharing this moment! xx

  6. This looks amaaazing! Eggplant isn’t one of my favorites, but I’m pretty sure I would love this 🙂

  7. Hi Jessie!

    Long time no post (I blame the new job for this). I just wanted to say I need this blueberry goat’s cheese in my life. With lots of vegetables of course. Here in Londontown they often pair goat’s cheese with beet rocket and pine nuts. Delicious!

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