Recipes for smoky grilled zucchini, grilled eggplant bruschetta

If you’re the type to stick with the usual vegetable suspects, we’ve made it easy to at least take them for a spin in a new direction. For zucchini, we’ve given you a simple, but delicious recipe for grilling. And for eggplant, we turn it into a bruschetta topping that packs tons of flavour.

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SMOKY GRILLED ZUCCHINI

Start to finish: 15 minutes

Servings: 6

• 3 medium zucchini
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• Fresh limes, for squeezing

Heat the grill to medium-high. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, then rub them all over with the olive oil.

In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, paprika and brown sugar. Sprinkle all over the zucchini. Grill the zucchini until tender and charred, 5 to 7 minutes per side. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

Nutrition information per serving: 45 calories; 20 calories from fat (44 per cent of total calories); 2.5 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 6 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 1 g protein; 170 mg sodium.

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(Recipe from Alison Ladman)

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GRILLED EGGPLANT BRUSCHETTA

This eggplant mixture also is delicious over grilled chicken or haddock.

Start to finish: 15 minutes active, plus 2 hours resting

Servings: 8

• 1 large eggplant, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper
• 2 medium tomatoes, seeds removed, diced
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 1 orange or yellow bell pepper, cored and diced
• 3 scallions, sliced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
• Balsamic glaze, to serve
• Baguette or pita, to serve

Heat the grill to medium. Use 2 tablespoons of the oil to brush each eggplant slice on both sides. Sprinkle the slices with salt and pepper. Grill until tender, 3 to 5 minutes per side.

Allow the eggplant slices to cool until easily handled, then dice. In a large bowl, gently mix together the eggplant, tomatoes, celery, bell pepper, scallions, garlic, basil and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Allow to sit for at least 2 hours for best flavour. Serve on baguette or pita bread and drizzled with balsamic glaze.

Nutrition information per serving: 100 calories; 70 calories from fat (70 per cent of total calories); 7 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 9 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 2 g protein; 140 mg sodium.

(Recipe from Alison Ladman)