I currently have an abundance of vegetables in my fridge that need eating ASAP–so a little of creativity was needed today.

Especially because all the ingredients that are looking a little sad and limp don’t necessarily or traditionally go together. But I thrive on a challenge in the kitchen. It makes me search for new and unusual or previously unthought of techniques and flavour combinations, and some of my favourite dishes have been discovered this way.

But this one, for a while–had me stumped.

For example, I have some super ripe, and by super, I mean nearly over ripe tomatoes and an avocado that really won’t last until tomorrow–it always upsets me when an avocado has gone too ripe and is going brown, because you have to wait for too long for it to not be firm! It’s a balancing game that I keep losing–if you have any tips on how to store an avocado for the perfect ripeness, please let me know.

Avocado dramas aside–I also have an aubergine that is looking a little lost too.

So, I adapted my recent and popular recipe, Griddled Aubergine, with Tahini and swap that sweet syrupy dressing for a lighter green one instead. And I think it might be one of my new favourite quick meals–the combination of the slightly charred aubergine which has allowed the skin to lose its bitterness and become sweet topped with creamy smashed avocado that is soaking into its flesh is absolutely heavenly.

I even created two delicious dressings–not just one that I had in mind at the start! So, you are really getting a treat with this recipe–you can thank me later.

The two delicious dressings I created for this dish started with a zingy lemon, basil and garlic dressing and then finished with a rich and dense, reduced, sticky balsamic glaze. They perfectly balanced each other out with the fresh lemon cutting through the sweetness.

I would also recommend making extra of both dressings and keeping them in your fridge. That way you can drizzle and glaze either over fresh toasted sourdough or trickle over soups and curries for an added hit of delicious flavour.

Another reason that I love this one so much is that this recipe is one that can be taken from fridge to plate in 15minutes flat and is packed full of fresh, healthy and summery Mediterranean flavours, making it the perfect lazy Sunday brunch, mid-week dinner or even a late working from home lunch.

It’s perfect on its own, even better when served with a big green leafy salad, or with a mashed or boiled potato or fluffy quinoa side dish for a more substantial evening meal.

I love it when a recipe is this versatile, don’t you? It makes it the perfect one to have up your sleeve for when you just don’t know what to cook, or have a lot of time!

But the main reason for my love with this dish, is that I absolutely love aubergines–in fact my most popular recipes on the blog contain aubergine as either the main ingredient or as a side piece boosting up the flavour profile for the main star, so all of you love them just as much as I do!!

We should create an aubergine fan club. Aubergines, otherwise known as an eggplant, is a super simple way to incorporate some bulk or meatiness into your dish. The flesh acts like a sponge when cooked, which is perfect for adding extra flavour and juiciness into a dish.

And slow roasted allows the ingredient to mellow out working perfectly well with rich, luxurious and decadent highly flavoured sauces and spices, or when paired with smooth and creamy ingredients such as avocado.

I’ve also topped this dish with blistered tomatoes to add an extra layer of sweetness to a super savoury base. Plus, balsamic vinegar and tomatoes are a match made in heaven!

If you like this recipe, why not give one of my other aubergine recipes a try?
My Baked Aubergines with Lentil Salad, Creamy Hummus and Roast Tomatoes is inspired by a tapa salad and really hit all those wonderfully subtle spiced spots. Fancy something a little heartier?
Try my Roast Cauliflower and Aubergine with Smokey Red Pepper and Chickpea Stew for the perfect winter warmer and heart-healthy belly-busting dish.
And for something a little lighter, my Roast Fennel, Aubergine and Freekah, Chickpeas and Harissa Dressing ticks all the right boxes.