Eggplant Cheese and Tomato Garlic Bites

Ingredients

• 1 medium eggplant
• 2 medium tomato
• 3 cloves garlic
• 150 grams cheese (such as mozzarella or feta)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 leaves fresh basil leaves
• to taste black pepper
• to taste salt

Cooking instructions

1. Prepare Eggplant Slices — Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Cut the eggplant into 1 cm thick rounds. Lightly salt them and let sit 10 minutes to remove bitterness, then pat dry.
2. Roast the Eggplant — Brush eggplant slices with olive oil on both sides, place on a baking sheet, and roast for 15 minutes until tender and golden, flipping halfway.
3. Prepare Tomato Garlic Topping — While eggplant roasts, finely chop tomatoes and garlic. Mix together with a pinch of salt, black pepper, and chopped fresh basil.
4. Assemble Bites — On each roasted eggplant slice, spoon a small amount of the tomato garlic mixture and top with shredded or crumbled cheese.
5. Bake to Melt Cheese — Return the assembled slices to the oven and bake for another 5–7 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Garnish and Serve — Garnish with whole basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve warm as an elegant appetizer.