Charred Eggplant Tacos (Printable)
Smoky grilled eggplant in warm tortillas with crisp vegetables and zesty lime.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 medium eggplants, sliced lengthwise into ½-inch thick strips
02 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
04 - 1 avocado, sliced
05 - 2 cups shredded lettuce
→ Marinade
06 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons lime juice
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
11 - ½ teaspoon chili powder
12 - ½ teaspoon salt
13 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ Tortillas
14 - 8 small corn tortillas
→ Garnishes
15 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - Lime wedges, for serving
17 - Hot sauce (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper in a bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Brush both sides of the eggplant strips generously with the prepared marinade. Allow the eggplant to marinate for 10 minutes at room temperature to absorb the flavors.
03 - Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat until properly preheated for cooking.
04 - Place marinated eggplant strips on the hot grill and cook for 4–5 minutes per side, flipping once, until charred grill marks appear and the flesh becomes tender.
05 - Heat corn tortillas in a dry skillet or directly on the grill for approximately 30 seconds per side until pliable and warm. Keep them wrapped in a clean kitchen towel to maintain temperature.
06 - Layer each warm tortilla with grilled eggplant strips, shredded lettuce, red onion slices, cherry tomatoes, and avocado slices.
07 - Top tacos with fresh chopped cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Add hot sauce as desired for additional heat. Serve immediately while tortillas are still warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The charred eggplant develops this incredible meaty texture that even skeptics cant resist
- These tacos come together in under an hour but taste like theyve been simmering all day
02 -
- Dont skip the 10 minute marinating time, it makes a huge difference in how deeply the flavors penetrate
- Overcrowding the grill pan will steam the eggplant instead of char it, so work in batches if needed
03 -
- Pat your eggplant slices dry before marinating to help those grill marks develop properly
- Let the grilled eggplant rest for a few minutes before assembling so the juices redistribute