Grilled Eggplant, Tomato, and Cheese Bites

Ingredients

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

Cooking instructions

1. Prepare eggplant slices — Wash and slice the eggplant into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Sprinkle lightly with salt and let sit for 10 minutes to remove bitterness; then pat dry.
2. Make garlic cheese topping — Mince the garlic finely. Mix the minced garlic with crumbled or cubed cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. Set aside.
3. Grill the eggplant — Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush eggplant slices with olive oil on both sides and grill for 3-4 minutes per side until tender and grill marks appear.
4. Prepare tomato slices — Wash and slice tomatoes into rounds about the same size as eggplant slices. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
5. Assemble the bites — Place a grilled eggplant slice on a serving plate, top with a slice of tomato, then a spoonful of the garlic cheese mixture. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.
6. Serve — Drizzle with a bit more olive oil if desired and serve immediately while warm.