Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Sandwich by Ezra Pound Cake

This sandwich looks amazing!! Will have to try it one weekend for lunch!

Makes 6 to 8 sandwiches, depending on the size of the ciabatta

• 1 LARGE GLOBE EGGPLANT, ENDS TRIMMED, CUT INTO 1/3″-THICK ROUNDS
• SALT
• 4 BELL PEPPERS OF ASSORTED COLORS
• 1/2 CUP OLIVE OIL
• 2 MEDIUM RED ONIONS
• 1 LARGE ZUCCHINI, CUT ON THE DIAGONAL INTO 1/3″-THICK SLICES
• 1 LARGE YELLOW SQUASH, CUT ON THE DIAGONAL INTO 1/3″-THICK SLICES
• KOSHER SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER
• 6 OUNCES SOFT, MILD GOAT CHEESE, AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
• 1 1/2 TEASPOONS MINCED GARLIC
• 2 TABLESPOONS EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
• 3 TABLESPOONS MINCED FRESH BASIL
• 1 LOAF CIABATTA, CUT INTO 1/2″-THICK SLICES
• BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE (RECIPE FOLLOWS)

1. Preheat a grill to medium-high.
2. Place the eggplant slices on a wire rack, and sprinkle them lightly with salt on both sides. Set aside until the eggplant begins to “sweat,” about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, brush all sides of the peppers with some of the olive oil. Grill the peppers, turning them occasionally, until they are blistered and lightly charred on all sides. Place them in a bowl, cover it tightly with a lid (or plastic wrap), and set it aside to steam while you grill the remaining vegetables.
4. Cut the onions into 1/2″-thick rounds, and then insert toothpicks horizontally through the slices to hold them together on the grill. Pat the eggplant slices dry with paper towels. Brush both sides eggplant, zucchini, squash and red onion slices with the remaining olive oil and place them on a large baking sheet or platter. Season with kosher salt and pepper. Grill the vegetables, in batches if necessary, until they are lightly charred on the edges and nicely marked on both sides, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the grilled vegetables to a platter and set aside.
5. Slide the skins off the peppers, and discard the cores and seeds. The peppers should separate into wide strips. Add them to the platter with the other vegetables.
6. In a small bowl, combine the goat cheese, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil and basil. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Lightly toast the ciabatta slices, either on the grill or in the toaster.
8. Assemble a sandwich by drizzling some of the vinaigrette over one side of a slice of ciabatta and generously spreading some of the goat cheese mixture over one side of a second slice. Arrange an assortment of grilled vegetables over the vinaigrette-coated slice. Top the vegetables with the second slice of bread, goat cheese side down, and press gently to form the first sandwich. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Serve immediately.