Moroccan Eggplant Salad with Chermoula

Moroccan eggplant salad smothered in chermoula is a stunning, lip-smacking dish. The eggplant turns creamy and fork-tender, soaking up a vibrant blend of herbs and spices. It's low in calories and carbs, yet wonderfully nutrient-dense.

Inspiration for Chermoula Eggplant Salad

I love eggplant. It's a versatile vegetable that absorbs flavors beautifully while still retaining its own unique taste. Over the years, I've created many easy salads with it, such as my roasted Asian eggplant salad and spicy Indian-style eggplant salad.

During a visit to Morocco, I enjoyed a delicious eggplant salad steeped in a flavorful sauce called chermoula. It was often served as part of a medley of cooked vegetable salads before the main course.

These salads are typically served warm or at room temperature and are a staple vegetable side in Moroccan cuisine. They're easy to prepare and a great way to boost vegetable intake. Plus, you can roast large batches of vegetables in the oven without much hands-on effort.

Key Ingredient Notes

• Eggplant: You can use globe (American), Italian, or Japanese eggplant varieties. Choose fresh, firm, medium-sized eggplants that feel heavy for their size and have smooth, shiny, vibrant purple skin. The stem should still be green.
• Roast the eggplant at a high temperature until it becomes creamy and fork-tender. Proper selection makes a big difference in the final texture and flavor. Alternatively, you can grill or broil the slices for about 5 minutes per side, brushing them lightly with oil.
• Lemon Juice and Salt: Use these carefully, as eggplant is highly absorbent. Too much can make the salad overly tangy or salty. Start small-just a little goes a long way in this recipe.

Step-by-Step Visual Overview

Here's a quick look at the process-the full printable recipe is at the end of this post.

Traditionally, eggplant slices are lightly shallow-fried before being combined with chermoula. However, eggplant tends to absorb a lot of oil with this method. Over the years, I've skipped that step and still achieved excellent results.

Instead, I start with fresh, firm eggplants, slice them, brush them with olive oil, and roast until they're tender and creamy in the center. Be sure to coat the slices evenly with oil.

• Roast Eggplant: Slice and prepare the eggplant, brush with oil, and roast in the oven.
• Make Dressing: Combine the remaining ingredients to prepare the chermoula sauce.
• Toss & Combine: Pour the dressing over the roasted eggplant and gently toss until evenly coated. Let the salad rest before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

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5 from 6 votes

Moroccan Eggplant Salad with Chermoula

Moroccan eggplant salad smothered in chermoula is a stunning, lip-smacking dish. It's low in calories and carbs while providing a good source of essential nutrients. This recipe can easily be doubled.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

1x2x3x

Print SaveSaved!

Course :Salads

Cuisine :Moroccan

Servings: 5 (¾ cup portions)

Calories: 123kcal

Author: Roxana Begum

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 lb eggplant about 1 large eggplant
• ▢ ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ 1 clove garlic grated
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• ▢ ½ teaspoon paprika
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes
• ▢ 1 tablespoon cilantro chopped
• ▢ 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley chopped
• ▢ 1 tablespoon green onions chopped
• ▢ 1 tablespoon lemon juice or chopped preserved lemon, adjust to taste
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt

Garnish

• ▢ Finely chopped herbs and/or preserved lemon peel

US Customary - Metric

Equipment

• ▢
  Baking Sheet

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
• Wash the eggplant and pat it dry. Cut into ¾-inch slices.
• Brush both sides of the slices evenly with about 2 tablespoons of the oil. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake until eggplant slices are fork-tender, about 25-30 minutes (time may vary depending on your oven). Check at 20 minutes and adjust as needed. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Prepare the chermoula dressing by combining the remaining ingredients in a bowl and whisking well.
• Drizzle the dressing over the eggplant slices. Toss gently to coat, then let it sit for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
• Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with finely chopped herbs and/or preserved lemon peel.

Notes

1. Be mindful when adding lemon juice and salt, as eggplant is highly absorbent. Start with smaller amounts and adjust to taste.
2. Eggplant can also be grilled or broiled for about 5 minutes per side, brushing lightly with oil.
3. Make Ahead: Roast the eggplant in advance. The dressing can be made in larger batches and stored in the refrigerator for convenience.
4. Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5-6 days. Freeze in freezer-safe containers if needed.
5. Stovetop Instructions: In a large pan over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of oil and the eggplant slices. Cook until both sides are golden brown and the center is fork-tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to a plate and proceed with the recipe as directed above.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.75Cup | Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 238mg | Potassium: 236mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 240IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?I would love to know about it. Tag me @thedeliciouscrescent.

More Eggplant Recipes

• Zaalouk (Moroccan Eggplant Dip)
• Mirza Ghasemi (Persian Eggplant Dip)
• Eggplant Chickpea Patties

How to Serve It

• As a Side Dish: Serve it as a simple yet flavorful side with your favorite main dishes alongside rice, couscous, or flatbreads.
• Pairing Ideas: This salad pairs beautifully with dishes like Moroccan kefta kebabs, grilled salmon, or chicken koftas.

Nutrition Insight

This Moroccan eggplant salad with chermoula is naturally low in carbs and fits a wide range of dietary needs-it's gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, egg-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and grain-free. Combined with heart-healthy olive oil, fresh herbs, and lemon juice, this salad delivers both nourishment and bold flavor.

Eggplant is a low-calorie, high-fiber vegetable, making this salad a great choice for balanced, lighter eating. Its combination of fiber and low carbohydrate content can support blood sugar management, which is why eggplant is often included in dietary approaches for managing type 2 diabetes.

It's also rich in important nutrients like potassium and vitamin B6, along with beneficial plant compounds. The deep purple skin contains anthocyanins-powerful antioxidants associated with anti-inflammatory effects and overall cellular health.

Frequently Asked Questions