Aubergine, tomato and pesto stack recipe

Aubergine, tomato and pesto stack

Ready in just 15 minutes, this make-ahead vegetarian starter is a light but flavourful combination of fresh Italian ingredients, including smokey aubergine, fresh tomato and vibrant pesto.

See method
  • Serves 4
  • 15 mins to cook
  • 140 calories / serving

Ingredients

  • 20g pine nuts
  • 2 large aubergines, cut into 1cm slices
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 large vine tomatoes, cut into 5mm slices
  • 1½ tbsp pesto plus 2 tsp for drizzling
  • large handful of small basil leaves, to serve
  • 20g Parmesan or vegetarian hard cheese, finely grated (optional)

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Each serving contains

Energy
580kJ 140.0kcal
7%
Fat
10g
medium15%
Saturates
1g
low7%
Sugars
7g
low8%
Salt
0.2g
medium4%

of the Reference intake

Carbohydrate 8.2gProtein 3.5gFibre 5.6g

Method

  1. Toast the pine nuts in a small pan over a medium heat until golden and fragrant, then set aside to cool.
  2. Heat a large griddle pan over a high heat until just smoking and toss the aubergine slices with the oil and season well. Griddle the aubergine slices for 2-3 mins on each sides until charred and just tender, then remove to a plate (you may need to do this in batches).
  3. Starting with the aubergine at the bottom, layer a quarter of the aubergine and tomatoes up on a plate (about 4-5 slices of each per person) drizzling with a little pesto in between each slice, then scatter over the pine nuts and basil leaves, and drizzle with the extra 2 tsp pesto. Grate over a little Parmesan to serve (if using) and repeat with the remaining vegetables.
  • Get ahead: Griddle the aubergines up to 24 hours in advance and keep covered in the fridge.

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