Pumpkin shaped, eggplant & grilled cheese sandwich

Preparation time: 15min | Cooking time: 10min | Servings: 4

I must admit that the eggplant is not my daughter’s favorite vegetable. In fact, she doesn’t like how it looks (!), so I am always trying to find new and creative ways to sneak it in her menu. This time of the year, with the Halloween around the corner, I have made her this funny, pumpkin shaped sandwich. I have used naan bread which she loves. I spread it with the grilled eggplant mousse and covered with cheese (so she actually could not see the eggplant). I broiled everything, so it looked as a pumpkin and … a big success, she loved it!!

If you need more ideas on how to prepare and present eggplant in your kids’ meals, you can also see the recipes for: Dora sandwich and Camel in a dessert main dish

Did you know that jack-o’-lantern, a carved pumpkin, was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs, called will-o’-the-wisp?r jack-o’-lantern?

Step1 Cut the onion and the eggplant into cubes. Heat the frying pan with a bit of oil and start by frying onions first. When they start to turn golden, add the smashed garlic and the eggplant. Add spices and stir everything together. You may add some more oil if needed. Fry until the eggplant is tender and then mix it using a mixer or a blender.

Step2 Prepare the naan bread following the instructions on the package you bought. I usually spray it with a bit of water before putting it into the oven. Spread the eggplant mouse from Step1 on the naan bread. Then cover it with cheese and cut the pumpkin shapes. I had used a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter . If you don’t have one at home, you may use your knife, but don’t forget to make some grooves on the cheese, so you can have the nice effect at the end.

Step3 When all the pumpkins are ready, place them on a tray covered with non-stick baking paper. Broil for a few minute in the pre-heated oven on 180C/360F until the cheese melts. 

Step4 I wanted to make this sandwich even more funny for my daughter, so I have added eyes, a mouth and some hair:) I made the eyes from the radish by cutting two slices and removing the skin. Then I added the retinas made from black olive dots. I have used a straw to cut them. The rest of the black olive was used to make a mouth. Fresh parsley was perfect for the hair. Enjoy!

Pumpkin shaped, eggplant and grilled cheese sandwich