Edible San Diego

Florentine Grilled Vegetables with Hazelnuts and Bright Vinaigrette

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Photography by Olivia Hayo for Edible San Diego

This recipe for charred zucchini, smoky eggplant, and sweet spring onion dressed in a punchy vinaigrette with toasted hazelnuts, refreshing mint and savory ricotta salata was inspired by chef Olivia Hayo's time in Florence

Ingredients


Serves 4

FOR THE SALAD

  • 2 green zucchini, ¼’’ lengthwise slices
  • 2 yellow squash, ¼’’ lengthwise slices
  • 5 baby eggplants, skin left on, quartered lengthwise
  • 8 green onions
  • ⅓ cup cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped
  • Handful fresh mint, roughly chopped or small leaves left whole
  • Ricotta salata or shaved parmesan to taste

FOR THE VINAIGRETTE

  • 1 small garlic clove, grated
  • ⅓ cup vinegar (any besides balsamic) or lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ cup olive oil

Instructions

  • First, prep the vegetables. On a large baking sheet, lay out zucchini, squash, and eggplants in a single layer. Sprinkle liberally with salt, flip and salt again (about 1 tablespoon total). This will draw out a lot of moisture from the vegetables and also season them inside and out. Let sit for 10 minutes. Using paper towel wipe off the moisture collected on the salted vegetables and pat until dry. Wipe the baking sheet off if liquid has pooled on it (this also removes the excess salt).
  • Add the spring onions onto the tray and drizzle everything with just enough olive oil to barely coat the vegetables.
  • Next, make the vinaigrette. Combine the grated garlic, vinegar, mustard, honey, and salt and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Slowly drizzle in olive oil until combined. Taste and adjust for seasoning. Set aside.
  • Then, grill the vegetables. Add the eggplant to the grill, as they take the longest to cook, and grill for about 10 minutes or until deeply brown and softened. Next, add the zucchini, and cook about 2 minutes each side or until deep grill marks appear and they are tender. Finally, add the spring onion, perpendicular to the grate so they don’t fall through, and cook about 1 minute each side or until wilted and caramelized, remove from heat, and cut into 1’’ pieces.
  • Arrange all the grilled vegetables on a large platter, drizzle with vinaigrette, and top with hazelnuts, mint, and ricotta salata. Serve warm or room temperature.
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Olivia Hayo

Olivia Hayo is a chef, recipe developer, and photographer. She has a Masters in Food Culture, Communications, and High-Quality Products from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and lived throughout the Mediterranean for six years. When she’s not creating recipes for her website Beautiful Food Inside + Out you can still find her in the kitchen or at the farmer’s market. Follow her at @OliviaHayo on Instagram or visit www.oliviahayo.com to read more.