Melting-middle aubergine parcels
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Melting-middle aubergine parcels

By Barney Desmazery

Cater for vegetarians in fine fashion with these barbecue-friendly parcels filled with mozzarella and dressed with pesto sauce

  • Prep:15 mins
    Cook:15 mins
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 454
  • fat 40g
  • saturates 13g
  • carbs 8g
  • sugars 7g
  • fibre 8g
  • protein 17g
  • salt 0.7g

Ingredients

  • 3 aubergines
  • drizzle of olive oil
  • 2 x 125g balls mozzarella, drained and sliced
  • 2 plum tomatoes, each cut into 4 thick slices
  • 8 basil leaves
  • small handful basil leaves
  • 2 tbsp pine nuts
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp grated Parmesan (or vegetarian alternative)
  • 150ml olive oil

Tip

Time saver

If you're short of time, you could simply buy a tub of fresh pesto. Keep any leftover pesto in the fridge and stir through pasta for a speedy supper. 

Method

  1. To make the dressing, blitz all the ingredients, except the oil, in a food processor; then, with the motor still running, drizzle in the oil. Tip into a bowl and set aside.

  2. Trim off either end of the aubergines and discard. Slice the aubergines lengthways into 16 slices in total. Over a barbecue (or on a hot griddle pan), heavily mark the aubergine slices on each side to soften, then lift into a dish, drizzle with a little olive oil and season.

  3. Working methodically, make little stacks of a mozzarella slice, tomato slice and basil leaf. Wrap each stack in a grilled aubergine slice, then wrap a second slice in the other direction to try to cover the gaps and make a little bundle. Secure each parcel with a couple of cocktail sticks. Can be kept in the fridge overnight.

  4. Place the parcels on the barbecue and continue to char on each side until the cheese just starts to ooze out. Lift onto a platter, drizzle with the pesto dressing and serve. See time saving tip, below left.

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