Escalivada (Grilled Vegetables)
When vegetables are cooked bad, they can be really bad. But if vegetables are cooked well, you might have to tell that t-bone steak to take a backseat at dinner.
Escalivada is a traditional Spanish dish made from grilled vegetables. While that might not sound too exciting on the surface, prepare to have your mind blown by just how delicious some well cooked vegetables in a tangy, savory dressing can be.
Simple, easy to prep, and easy to cook, escalivada is the perfect side dish for any occasion. Don't just take our word for it, though. Let's get cracking on a recipe for escalivada so you can see just how delicious it is for yourself.
Escalivada (Grilled Vegetables)
Ingredients
- 2 red bell peppers
- 2 zucchinis, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
- 2 eggplants, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
- 12 cremini mushrooms, cleaned and halved
- 2 leeks, clean and halved
- 2 onions, halved
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp. fresh oregano, chopped
Instructions
- Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat).
- Brush some olive oil over each of the vegetables. Then, working in batches, grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred all over. The key to getting those great grill marks is to not shift the vegetables too frequently once they've been placed on the hot grill:Red bell peppers: about 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, remove seeds and skin and then slice into strips.Zucchini, eggplant, onion, leeks and mushrooms: 7 minutes.
- Arrange the vegetables on a platter. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic and oregano in a small bowl to blend. Add salt and pepper (careful not to over do it, since the vegetables will already be salted). Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables. Serve the vegetables warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or dipping sauce.
And with that, you're done. Now you know exactly how to make a fantastic platter of grilled vegetables for escalivada. Whether it's inside on a grill pan or over a roaring fire outside on the grill, this dish is sure to become one of your favorites. It's not really a question as to whether or not you'll add this to your meal plan rotation but more about how you'll be able to go without eating it at times.
One of the great things about escalivada is its simplicity. Given that, at its core, it's a collection of grilled vegetables, there's a ton of different ways you can mix things up. Add or subtract vegetables based on your taste, spice up the dressing a little, marinate things ahead of time - the sky's the limit when it comes to this recipe. Don't be afraid to experiment, since this is one dish you can most definitely afford to try new things with.
Hungry for more? Try our Cake Pop Maker Savory Pizza Bites
I am Joss, the creator and editor of In the Kitch. I am inviting you on this food journey with me to learn, grow and bring out that inner chef in you. I hope to inspire you to get creative in your own kitchen!
