This eggplant pomegranate salad is a delicious salad with a lot of different textures and flavors. Easy oven roasted eggplant is combined with juicy pomegranate seeds, toasted nuts, greens, and an addictive yogurt dressing. It’s a total winner, and it comes together so easily!
What’s so good about this eggplant pomegranate salad?
I love eggplant in all its forms. I think dishes become automatically upgraded when eggplant is added to them. This is definitely the case with this salad, which is hearty and filling due to the addition of eggplant.
Although it is a filling salad, it still works perfectly as a side dish to a lot of meals. I love serving it with Middle Eastern style meals, like this roasted leg of lamb, oven baked chicken shawarma, and Lebanese chicken and potatoes.
Eggplant and pomegranate are a match made in heaven. The earthy eggplant is lifted by the bright tanginess of the pomegranate seeds, which are also so visually appealing.
Also, the yogurt dressing is ADDICTIVE. It’s so good and so easy, you’ll make this and use it on everything!
How to roast eggplant for the salad:
I never bother with frying eggplant cubes. It’s a lot messier and the eggplant soak in more oil that way.
Rather, I employ a simple method to perfectly roast the eggplant cubes. I like to cut them as evenly as I can so that the cubes cook evenly. I toss them generously with olive oil, season with some salt (I also used sumac in this recipe), and place them in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking tray.
Single layer is important, when you don’t overcrowd the eggplant, they become crispier and won’t steam and turn soggy.
Heat oven to 410 F (210 C), and once hot, the eggplant cubes go in. Halfway through roasting- at around the 10 minute mark- give the cubes a good toss, shaking them around, and making sure you spread them back out into a single layer. This will ensure they cook evenly on all sides.
I also recommend using smaller eggplants. This will help prevent the bitterness you sometimes get with eggplant, and eliminate the extra step of salting eggplant and placing over a colander.
What you need to make this salad:
Greens: I like using Arugula (jarjir in Arabic) or rocket leaves. The bitterness works really well in this salad.
Roasted eggplant: like discussed above!
Pomegranate seeds: 1/4 cup or as many as you like
Toasted nuts of choice: I really love pine nuts or sliced almonds in this. Toast them by heating over medium heat in a little olive oil in a skillet for a few minutes until golden brown, then remove immediately to a paper towel lined plate to drain so they don’t over cook. Watch carefully, they go from light golden brown to burnt in seconds!
Toasted pita bread cubes: Totally optional, but it does give some wonderful flavor. I like using kitchen scissors to cut up pita bread into little cubes or diagnols. Similarly to the eggplant, I never deep fry the pita cubes. I place them on a baking sheet, drizzle well with olive oil and toss, then bake at 180C for 8-10 minutes or so until deep golden brown, tossing halfway through.
How to seed a pomegranate easily:
There’s some tips and tricks to that, like the ones outlined in this article.
The basic concept is to roll the fruit around first to loosen the seeds. Score it in the middle then twist it open into two halves. Use a wooden spoon to whack out any stubborn seeds.
I will say, I find it much easier and less messy to get my pomegranate already seeded when possible!
What dressing goes with an eggplant salad?
A yogurt dressing of course! Yogurt is a great pairing with eggplant, especially when it’s enhanced with a little minced garlic. The dressing also includes mayo, but please don’t let that deter you. You won’t be able to taste it, it just gives such a creamy richness.
It’s a nice thick dressing, so it won’t make the salad soggy in the least. That’s why I included instructions for drizzling the greens lightly with olive oil before adding the rest of the layers.
Making the eggplant salad in advance:
There are definitely some components you could prepare in advance, and which I often do.
I sometimes roast the eggplant the day before and keep it in the fridge. You can also store roasted eggplant cubes in the freezer. I do this a lot and it always makes for a welcome find!
Nuts can be toasted in advance and kept on the counter for a few days.
You can also prepare the dressing the day before, and store in the fridge.
Eggplant Pomegranate Salad
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 2 small eggplants, peeled and diced into cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- big pinch salt
- pinch sumac (optional)
- 1 bunch arugula, rocket leaves, or any other green of choice
- drizzle olive oil
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds, more if desired
- 1/4 cup toasted nuts of choice, like pine nuts or almonds
- handful crispy pita bread or croutons, if desired
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
For the dressing:
- 3 tbsp yogurt
- 2 tbsp mayo
- 1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
- pinch salt
Instructions
For the eggplant:
- Heat the oven to 410 F (210C). Place the peeled, cubed eggplant in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sumac and salt, and toss to combine evenly.
- Roast in the hot oven for 10 minutes, then toss eggplant around and roast for a further 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
For the dressing:
- In a small bowl, add the yogurt, mayo, garlic and salt. Whisk with a fork until evenly combined, and store in the fridge until ready to use.
To assemble:
- Place the layer of greens you are using (I like arugula or jarjir) on the base of your serving dish- preferably a wide flat dish like pictured not a deep salad bowl. Drizzle greens with a little olive oil if desired.
- Top with roasted eggplant, pomegranate seeds, and most of the toasted nuts. Drizzle the yogurt dressing evenly on top, and then add the crispy bread if using. Sprinkle parsley on top, and add a little more toasted nuts for garnish.
Nutrition
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I absolutely love pomegranate, and it’s such a genius idea to combine it with eggplant to make a salad! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thanks so much Jessica!
Eggplant and pomegranate I meant to go together and this recipe is proof. So easy and delicious…healthy too! Thanks for another winner!
Thanks so much Traci!
So flavorful and really easy to whip up!!
Exactly! Thanks Toni!
Love the textures and flavors in this salad! It has everything I love in it!
Thanks so much Taylor!
I’ve never thought of putting eggplant on a salad but this looks amazing!
Thank you!!