Eggplant Stacks with Fig & Melted Brie

I like to think that most of my recipes are pretty simple, but some of my family and friends tend to disagree. If you are one of them, you might not believe what you see below. You might have to scroll back and forth and read it over again to figure out if you missed something.

I assure you: you did not miss anything.

There are only three ingredients.

Three is also the number of things that inspired me grill eggplant slices and layer them with brie cheese and fig preserves. One, the leftover hunk of brie I had from the brie & mango puff pastry bites I made for Ilyse’s shower. Two, the tiny jar of local fig-ginger preserves I bought last summer at farmers market. I uncovered it when rummaging through my cabinets for who-knows-what. And lastly, that pretty young girl in Provence.

That’s me, of course, with longer hair, more of a tan, and a brand spankin’ new piece of jewelry on my left hand. In other words, we had just gotten married and were on our honeymoon. And below is what I ate on the day we visited Provence: a crepe stuffed with eggplant, brie cheese and fig. Almost three years later, it’s probably the best meal I remember from that trip.

It might sound like an odd combination, but trust the French, they know their food. And if you don’t trust the French, trust me instead – smokey grilled eggplant, delicate bubbling cheese, and just-sweet-enough fig jam make an somewhat unexpected but deliciously different combination. Especially when paired with bright peppery farmers-market-fresh arugula on the plate. (That is of course optional and I didn’t list it in the ingredients, since that would make for one too many.) And if you still find this a little too complicated because you can’t find fig jam, I think apricot would make a lovely substitution.

Eggplant Stacks with Fig & Melted Brie

1 medium eggplant, sliced about 1/4-1/2″ thick
5-6 ounces thinly sliced brie cheese
2-3 tablespoons fig preserves

Sprinkle both sides of the eggplant slices with salt and let sit for about 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Preheat grill. Spray both sides of the eggplant with olive oil cooking spray, and cook over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes per side, until lightly browned and beginning to char. Remove from grill and raise heat to high.

In a ceramic baking dish, create two stacks of eggplant slices layered with brie cheese and dabs of fig preserves. Place the baking dish on the grill, close it, and cook for 5-10 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Alternatively, prepare the entire dish in the oven by first roasting the eggplant slices and then using it to finish cooking the meal.

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41 Responses to “Eggplant Stacks with Fig & Melted Brie”

  1. 1

    Ashlee — September 3, 2010 @ 2:12 pm Reply

    YUM!!! I love figs and brie, but never thought to add eggplant to the mix. And since I've got about 2 dozen in my garden now, I will be making this soon!

  2. 2

    Lizzy — September 3, 2010 @ 2:17 pm Reply

    Great post!! I love melted brie and your photo is absolutely gorgeous!!!

  3. 3

    sTyliSH1 — September 3, 2010 @ 2:57 pm Reply

    That looks delicious and just so simple to make! Perfect for a weeknight meal 🙂

  4. 4

    Elina — September 3, 2010 @ 4:50 pm Reply

    Sounds odd and fantastic at the same time. I've had a jar of fig jam in cupboards for over a year now. Maybe it's time to put it to use ;)PS – I LOVE the long hair and a tan 🙂 It's funny how most girls have longer hair after the wedding. Mine was so long, I was *this* close to getting a haircut the day after (before we left for the honeymoon). Adam didn't approve. lol

  5. 5

    Joanne — September 3, 2010 @ 5:24 pm Reply

    Oh Cara this sounds dreamy! I have a serious love of figs. In fact I may or may not have eaten 16 of them in the past 24 hours. I need this.You look gorgeous in that photo! You are glowing…wonder why 😛

  6. 6

    Shannon — September 3, 2010 @ 5:34 pm Reply

    my my, this combo sounds unreal!!

  7. 7

    carascravings — September 3, 2010 @ 11:47 pm Reply

    My word, that looks amazing!I think I will give this one a go. I don't have an oven, so I may have to be a little creative, but I am sure I can figure something out. I'll tell you how it goes.

  8. 8

    Jen — September 4, 2010 @ 4:21 am Reply

    Wow your hair was long! That does sound like a great combo though. I have some figs and goat milk brie in my fridge…

  9. 9

    Kalyn — September 4, 2010 @ 11:59 pm Reply

    You look so cute in that photo! (For some reason I thought you were a blonde. I guess I'm not very observant!)

  10. 10

    grace — September 5, 2010 @ 12:16 pm Reply

    this wouldn't remain stacked very long in my presence–i'd rip into it posthaste. what can i say, oozing cheese is just irresistible. 🙂

  11. 11

    Dawn — September 7, 2010 @ 6:53 pm Reply

    Where the heck have I been? I've missed about three of your recipe posts! This looks SO amazing I am mad I just grilled up my last eggplant last night! I need to try this one. Love how you kept it simple!

  12. 12

    Kerstin — September 13, 2010 @ 1:21 am Reply

    I love serving eggplant stacks to company because they're so cute and this flavor combo sounds unreal – yum!

  13. 13

    yellowfish — September 15, 2010 @ 6:13 am Reply

    oh wow, this looks AMAZING! I just ate the eggplant I had on hand for dinner- shoot!

  14. 14

    Kerstin — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    I love serving eggplant stacks to company because they're so cute and this flavor combo sounds unreal – yum!

  15. 15

    grace — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    this wouldn't remain stacked very long in my presence–i'd rip into it posthaste. what can i say, oozing cheese is just irresistible. 🙂

  16. 16

    Kalyn — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    You look so cute in that photo! (For some reason I thought you were a blonde. I guess I'm not very observant!)

  17. 17

    Jen — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    Wow your hair was long! That does sound like a great combo though. I have some figs and goat milk brie in my fridge…

  18. 18

    Jen — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    Wow your hair was long! That does sound like a great combo though. I have some figs and goat milk brie in my fridge…

  19. 19

    carascravings — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    My word, that looks amazing!I think I will give this one a go. I don't have an oven, so I may have to be a little creative, but I am sure I can figure something out. I'll tell you how it goes.

  20. 20

    carascravings — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    My word, that looks amazing!I think I will give this one a go. I don't have an oven, so I may have to be a little creative, but I am sure I can figure something out. I'll tell you how it goes.

  21. 21

    Shannon — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    my my, this combo sounds unreal!!

  22. 22

    Shannon — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    my my, this combo sounds unreal!!

  23. 23

    Joanne — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    Oh Cara this sounds dreamy! I have a serious love of figs. In fact I may or may not have eaten 16 of them in the past 24 hours. I need this.You look gorgeous in that photo! You are glowing…wonder why 😛

  24. 24

    Elina — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    Sounds odd and fantastic at the same time. I've had a jar of fig jam in cupboards for over a year now. Maybe it's time to put it to use ;)PS – I LOVE the long hair and a tan 🙂 It's funny how most girls have longer hair after the wedding. Mine was so long, I was *this* close to getting a haircut the day after (before we left for the honeymoon). Adam didn't approve. lol

  25. 25

    sTyliSH1 — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    That looks delicious and just so simple to make! Perfect for a weeknight meal 🙂

  26. 26

    Lizzy — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    Great post!! I love melted brie and your photo is absolutely gorgeous!!!

  27. 27

    Ashlee — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    YUM!!! I love figs and brie, but never thought to add eggplant to the mix. And since I've got about 2 dozen in my garden now, I will be making this soon!

  28. 28

    Ashlee — March 28, 2011 @ 8:41 pm Reply

    YUM!!! I love figs and brie, but never thought to add eggplant to the mix. And since I've got about 2 dozen in my garden now, I will be making this soon!

  29. 29

    yellowfish — March 28, 2011 @ 8:50 pm Reply

    oh wow, this looks AMAZING! I just ate the eggplant I had on hand for dinner- shoot!

  30. 30

    Dawn — March 28, 2011 @ 8:50 pm Reply

    Where the heck have I been? I've missed about three of your recipe posts! This looks SO amazing I am mad I just grilled up my last eggplant last night! I need to try this one. Love how you kept it simple!

  31. 31

    yellowfish — March 29, 2011 @ 2:05 am Reply

    oh wow, this looks AMAZING! I just ate the eggplant I had on hand for dinner- shoot!

  32. 32

    Dawn — March 29, 2011 @ 2:05 am Reply

    Where the heck have I been? I've missed about three of your recipe posts! This looks SO amazing I am mad I just grilled up my last eggplant last night! I need to try this one. Love how you kept it simple!

  33. 33

    Kalyn — March 29, 2011 @ 2:05 am Reply

    You look so cute in that photo! (For some reason I thought you were a blonde. I guess I'm not very observant!)

  34. 34

    Elina — March 29, 2011 @ 2:05 am Reply

    Sounds odd and fantastic at the same time. I've had a jar of fig jam in cupboards for over a year now. Maybe it's time to put it to use ;)PS – I LOVE the long hair and a tan 🙂 It's funny how most girls have longer hair after the wedding. Mine was so long, I was *this* close to getting a haircut the day after (before we left for the honeymoon). Adam didn't approve. lol

  35. 35

    Lizzy — March 29, 2011 @ 2:05 am Reply

    Great post!! I love melted brie and your photo is absolutely gorgeous!!!

  36. 36

    Shannon — April 5, 2011 @ 1:18 am Reply

    my my, this combo sounds unreal!!

  37. 37

    Joanne — April 5, 2011 @ 1:18 am Reply

    Oh Cara this sounds dreamy! I have a serious love of figs. In fact I may or may not have eaten 16 of them in the past 24 hours. I need this.You look gorgeous in that photo! You are glowing…wonder why 😛

  38. 38

    sTyliSH1 — April 5, 2011 @ 1:18 am Reply

    That looks delicious and just so simple to make! Perfect for a weeknight meal 🙂

  39. 39

    Kpd1030 — June 27, 2011 @ 2:02 am Reply

    Cara – this was amazing! We actually just browned the slices in a skillet and used goat-brie instead – and it was as beautiful as it was delicious!

  40. 40

    Cara — June 27, 2011 @ 5:59 pm Reply

    Thankyou! So glad you liked it! On Jun 27, 2011 5:02 AM, "Disqus" <>

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