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Grilled Veggie Towers with Mozzarella — serving inspiration
Illustrative serving idea.

Kitchen notes · a little help before you start

Grilled Veggie Towers with Mozzarella

A stack of grilled vegetables under softened mozzarella makes a cheerful plate. Eggplant and peppers bring smoky edges, while basil adds fragrance between the layers. Cut down through the stack to enjoy some of the cheese with the different vegetables beneath it.

Prep
15 min
Cook
15 min
Total
30 min
Original yield
Serves 6
Ingredients
16 listed

Make it part of your week

Estimating…
DinnerAmericanPrep: 15 minutes or lessTotal: 30 minutes or lessGrilling
Recipe categories & planning details
Meal type
Dinner
Cuisine
American
Cooking method
Grilling
Preparation & total time
Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less

A few quick notes

1. Give the vegetables time in the marinade

The vegetables need at least 1 to 2 hours in the marinade before grilling. A deep bowl or large plastic bag both work, as long as everything gets coated well.

2. Start the peppers first

Red peppers go on the grill skin-side down before the other vegetables. They take longer than the rest and should get slightly charred before you build the towers.

3. Build with the biggest slice on the bottom

The tower is steadier if you start with the largest piece, usually eggplant. From there, layer onion, red pepper, zucchini and squash, tucking basil between the vegetables as you like.

Get to know the ingredients

Eggplant anchors the stack

Cut the eggplant into six slices and use it near the bottom of each tower. Its wider shape makes a better base than the smaller squash pieces.

Slice the squash on the bias

The zucchini and yellow squash are cut diagonally into 1/2-inch thick slices. That gives you longer pieces for grilling and layering, rather than small rounds that slip around.

Fresh mozzarella goes on last

Use thin 1 oz slices of fresh mozzarella for the top of the towers. It only needs a minute or two back on the covered grill to melt.

Let’s make it

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Ingredients

Original recipe: Serves 6. Original quantities shown.

Estimating…

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How to make it

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Make room for Grilled Veggie Towers with Mozzarella

Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.

The last little job

The last little job

Once the towers are built, top each one with mozzarella and return them to the grill with the lid closed. Pull them off when the cheese has melted, then add the optional basil garnish.

A little more help as you go

Blend the marinade smooth

Use a blender or an immersion blender until the marinade is smooth. The vinegar, oil, water, mustard, honey, herbs, salt and pepper should be fully blended before the vegetables go in.

Discard the used marinade

Lift the vegetables out with tongs when you're ready to grill, and discard the leftover marinade. The recipe doesn't use it again after the soaking step.

A few questions you might have

Do I need a special mold to build the towers?

The recipe uses a small tin to help create the towers. It keeps the grilled slices lined up while you layer the vegetables and basil.

Which vegetables should I grill first?

Start with the red peppers, skin-side down. They need the longest time on the grill, about 6 minutes per side, while the other vegetables grill for 4 to 5 minutes.

Can the vegetables go straight from the marinade to the grill?

Yes. Use tongs to remove them from the marinade, then place them directly on the grill. Any marinade left behind gets discarded.

Where does the basil go?

Place pieces of basil between any of the grilled vegetable layers as you build the tower. If you want, add a little more basil on top at the end as garnish.

How do I know the vegetables are ready to stack?

The peppers should be slightly charred, and the other vegetables should be browned and soft. Once they're off the grill, they're ready to layer.

Storage & reheating safety

For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.

These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures

Recipe source: skinnytaste.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.

Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.

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