Eggplant Starter with Tomato Vinaigrette Vegetarian-Friendly
Let’s Eat the World · Provencal Recipes · Starter Course · TasteIf you’re looking for a vegan or vegetarian dish to wow your plant-based friends, this take on a traditional terrine is an excellent place to start. Eggplant combined with some bright and flavourful spices make for a firm, tasty starter dish that is fantastic served on its own or with a delicate tomato vinaigrette. You can also enjoy this eggplant starter with a fresh green salad for a meal that’s bound to leave you impressed. Enjoy more of these delicious recipes from our database.

Eggplant Poupetton with Tomato Vinaigrette
Although terrine is traditionally a meat-based pâté, you can create a plant-based meal that is just as delicious and packed full of nutrients! This dish could fool even the strictest of carnivores and is sure to impress your friends that follow a vegetarian or vegan diet (you can substitute the cream for a dairy-free alternative to make a stunning vegan dish).
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 kg eggplants (aubergine) roughly 2 1/4 lbs
- 8 eggs
- 4 tbsp crème fraîche or sour cream
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash the eggplants, remove the head, rub them with olive oil, salt, and pepper and wrap them in aluminum foil. Cook in an oven at 160ºC (320ºF) for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Let them cool down, cut them in half, and let drain if needed.
- Mix them in a blender or a food processor with eggs, cumin, salt, pepper, and cream, and blend for 1 minute.
- Pour the batter into a terrine or mould and cook for 1 hour and 30 minutes in the oven at 180ºC (350ºF).
- Serve cold with the tomato vinaigrette and a green salad.
For the Vinaigrette:
- Blend everything together and let rest for 30 minutes. Then strain the sauce to remove seeds and skin.
Notes
The tomato vinaigrette keeps for 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Other Delicious Eggplant Recipes
Stuffed Aubergines (Eggplant) with Garbanzo Beans
This dish easy to prepare and you can alter the topping ingredients to suit your taste. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Check out this recipe

Baked Eggplant and Lamb with Tomatoes and Pine Nuts a Perfect Casserole
This casserole is delicious comforting blend of ground lamb, rich eggplant and melted mozzarella.
Check out this recipe
Gérald Passedat's Ratatouille My Way
"Ratatouille My Way" is from Gérald Passedat's new cookbook Flavors From The French Mediterranean. Ratatouille is a classic Provencal recipe that uses ingredients readily found in the region (tomatoes, zucchini, onions, eggplant).
Check out this recipe
Legal
All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication InformationAffiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Previous Post
Fire Destroys an Olive Grove in ProvenceRelated Provence Articles
Experience Pure Lavender Magic: Terre Ugo Near Aix-en-Provence
June 30, 2025
Terre Ugo is delighted to announce its 2025 summer program, set amidst picturesque lavender and sunflower fields. This enchanting 7-hectare family farm, situated on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence in Puyricard, is teeming with 30,000 organic Lavender plants. From June 1 to August 31, the estate welcomes visitors daily from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. Guests …
The Summer Truffle Festival in Aups is a Culinary Treat – Don’t Miss Out!
June 23, 2025
Located between the Mediterranean coast and the Alps, the village of Aups sits at 505 metres (1,657 ft). Considered the capital of the Haut-Var, this mid-sized town has a population of roughly 2200 residents. However, on a busy summer weekend, Aups attracts many visitors. It is considered the “gateway” to the Verdon Regional Natural Park, …
Make this Provencal Summer Menu Inspired by Seasonal Flavours
June 20, 2025
Cynthia Moos is a Provence native and the founder of Best French Forever, a lifestyle brand dedicated to women inspired by the Provençal art de vivre. Her mission is to invite women to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and curate a life they love. We asked Cynthia if she would curate our 2025 summer menu. …
Where to Eat in Provence? Domaine la Pierre Blanche is a Food Lovers’ Paradise
June 18, 2025
As the sun gracefully dips behind the Alpilles, the landscape is bathed in a gentle golden glow that dances across the grapevines, offering a prelude to an enchanting evening in Provence. This region’s luminous light, which has long captured the imaginations of celebrated artists, serves as a backdrop to the “Rosé Mule,” a tantalizing cocktail …
No Comment