27 Best Eggplant Recipes That Highlight the Versatile Veggie (2024)

Roasted Eggplant With Miso and Sesame Seeds

In this Asian-inspired recipe, eggplant slices roast at high heat, making the outside skin crispy and the inside succulent. The rich miso dressing gives them a salty, umami flavor that's sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Serve alongside fish or meat for an easy, impressive meal.

Eggplant Parmesan Rollatini

This twist on the popular eggplant Parmesan dish calls for a ricotta mixture rolled inside each pre-baked eggplant slice and then topping the rolls with store-bought marinara sauce and freshly grated mozzarella. The dish has all the cheesy, saucy goodness of lasagna without the heaviness of pasta and ground beef.

Eggplant and Chicken Caponata Pizza

This eggplant recipe makes a great lunch, dinner, or late-night snack. Fresh eggplant, shredded chicken, and salty capers create a delicious and surprising topping for pizza. A prepared pizza dough (homemade or store-bought) makes for fast-and-easy prep.

Greek Lamb Burgers With Baked Eggplant Fries

Alongside this delicious burger recipe comes eggplant fries that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The key to coating these fries is a dunk in frothed egg whites and a toss in panko (Japanese breadcrumbs). It's easy but delivers complex flavors, making it a great recipe for entertaining.

Grilled Eggplant Salad

Eggplant shines in this simple grilled-salad recipe. To avoid bitterness, choose young, small eggplants that don't have a lot of seeds. This recipe uses other fresh summer produce, but feel free to substitute with whatever's in season where you are.

Eggplant Tart With Lemon and Feta

This elegant eggplant tart is easy, fresh, and incredibly flavorful. Thinly sliced eggplant melts into buttery pastry, thin slices of lemon brighten up every bite, and then there's feta. This flavorful tart can star at any dinner party as a veggie main dish or sliced into small squares as a bite-sized appetizer.

Miso Eggplant Dip

This dip is similar to baba ganoush, but we'd argue it's tastier than the Middle Eastern classic. To make it, blitz roasted eggplant with miso paste, nutty tahini, mirin, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil. The result is a rich dip you'll want to serve with crackers, crudités, and everything in between.

Real Simple Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad

Who doesn't love pasta salad? Salty olives and feta cheese combine with fresh tomatoes, chewy pasta, and tender cubes of roasted eggplant to make this a satisfying, healthy lunch or dinner option. The longer it sits, the more the flavors meld, so make extra to enjoy through the week.

Grilled Eggplant and Smoked Mozzarella Melts

When you're craving an eggplant sandwich, this open-faced melt fits the bill. Thick grilled slices of country bread and melty mozzarella elevate a humble sammie into an elegant meal you would be proud to serve anyone (or keep all to yourself).

Spicy Summer Squash Stir-Fry

While summer squash is the star of this vegetarian stir fry, half-moons of Japanese eggplant help make this spicy dish extra hearty. A riff off Kung Pao, it features a savory cornstarch-soy sauce mixture that thickens around crisp summer veggies. To ensure the vegetables don't get soggy, sear them in batches for tender, golden-brown bites.

Eggplant-Mushroom "Meatballs"

Yes, it's possible to make meatballs without meat, and yes, the result is still delicious. In this vegan recipe, the toothsome combo of eggplant and mushrooms helps ensure these meatballs deliver the familiar texture you know and love. Rolled oats and brown rice help bind the meatballs, resulting in the perfect plant-based recipe for topping subs or salads.

Torn Pita and Eggplant Salad With Parsley and Green Tahini

You'll find no lettuce or tomatoes in this innovative salad recipe. Resembling a deconstructed baba ganoush, it features broiled, seasoned eggplant, crispy pita bites, and parsley leaves. Trust us: You'll want to make an extra batch of its flavorful green tahini to pair with everything from grain bowls to crudités.

Roasted Summer Vegetable Pasta

Eggplant is joined by other colorful veggies—namely bell peppers and cherry tomatoes—in this dish to create a vibrant summer meal. Eat it warm for dinner, or serve it at room temperature for your next picnic. If you're extra hungry or a cheese lover (or both), toss in some fresh mozzarella, crumbled feta, or goat cheese crumbles.

Eggplant Dip With Feta and Crudités

To impress guests at your next gathering, kick things off with this picture-perfect mezze platter packed with feta cheese, pita, and fresh vegetables. Its undisputed star is the baba ganoush, a savory roasted eggplant dip that's creamy, smoky, and full of flavor. If you're feeling adventurous, sprinkle sumac spice over the dip for added tart, citrus-like notes.

Eggplant and Tofu Stir-Fry

Add a sliced chili to this vegetarian stir-fry for a boost of heat. Though the recipe suggests white rice, you can serve it with brown rice or noodles for a more nutritious meal.

Curried Eggplant With Tomatoes and Basil

This vegetarian recipe combines eggplant, chickpeas, and tomatoes for a comforting Asian-inspired meal. An optional dollop of plain yogurt balances the warming curry sauce in this fresh, summery dish. Full of protein and nutritious vegetables, serve with rice for a complete meal.

Spicy Chicken and Eggplant Stir-Fry

Eggplant's meaty texture makes it a true stir-fry star. Here, the hearty vegetable joins chunks of chicken breast and scallions to create a quick and easy dinner that's ready in less than 30 minutes. Toasted sesame oil, fresh ginger, and teriyaki sauce deliver that familiar stir-fry flavor, while fluffy jasmine rice completes the meal.

Deep-Dish Eggplant Parmesan

Is there anything more satisfying than digging into a decadent plate of eggplant Parmesan? This version of the classic Italian dish features layers of baked eggplant, marinara sauce, Parm, and fresh mozzarella cheese, all topped with crispy panko breadcrumbs. If you're searching for a family-friendly meal that takes roughly an hour to make, this is it!

Eggplant Parmesan Panini

For a take on eggplant Parm that requires less hands-on prep, try the classic dish in panini form. To make this irresistible Italian sandwich, roast eggplant slices until they're melt-in-your-mouth tender. Add sliced tomato, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella, and marinara sauce, and sandwich between two slices of crispy ciabatta bread.

Roasted Baby Eggplant

Stuffing baby eggplants with lemons, garlic, and oregano allows their intense flavors to permeate the entire dish. Serve topped with feta cheese and you have a delicious appetizer or vegetable side dish that's easy to make.

Ratatouille

This rustic French classic is chock-full of healthy summer veggies, including zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, and (of course) eggplant. The wonderful part of this comforting, hearty dish is you can eat it as-is or serve it over toast, with eggs, or pasta.

Turkish-Style Beef and Eggplant Stew

This take on a traditional stew combines beef with eggplant, onions, and bell peppers in a tomato sauce. Enjoy this slow-cooker recipe as-is, or serve it with couscous, brown rice, or quinoa for a heartier meal.

Eggplant-and-Tomato Masala With Chickpeas

Inspired by the traditional Indian dish, this vegetarian masala recipe cooks in under 30 minutes. Canned chickpeas, eggplant, onions, and flavorful spices stew together for a tasty meal best enjoyed with naan.

Eggplant Shepherd's Pie

This recipe substitutes eggplant for the usual beef or lamb in this iconic British classic, but this vegetarian shepherd's pie is just as filling and comforting. Pair with red wine or a rich, dark beer for the perfect dinner.

Meatless Meatball Subs

Plant-based meatballs made of umami-filled mushrooms and savory eggplant are the key to these meatless subs. Top with marinara sauce, Parmesan, and fresh basil for a tasty lunch or dinner.

Summer's End Ratatouille

Say so long to summer with this colorful ratatouille made with eggplant as well as bell peppers, zucchini, and tomato. While it might seem like a lot of work to individually sauté each vegetable, we promise it’s worth it. The result is a massive batch of vegetables that keeps for days. Serve alongside grilled meat, chicken, or fish for a delicious summer meal.

Roasted Veggie Calzones

Eggplant acts as a meat-like stuffing for these veggie-packed calzones, which also feature zucchini, red bell pepper, and red onion. The roasted and caramelized veggies combine with creamy ricotta and a sprinkle of mozzarella for the full pizza-shop experience. A side dish of marinara sauce accommodates lots of dipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What's the best way to cook eggplant?

  The best way to cook eggplant depends on what kind of dish you’re in the mood for. Two eggplant cooking methods we love are baked and fried:

  • Baked eggplant is tender, slightly sweet, and absorbs the flavors of whatever it’s cooked with.
  • Fried eggplant, which is typically breaded, is crispy and less earthy than baked eggplant.
    

  Learn More:How to Cook Eggplant 7 Different Ways

• Why do you soak eggplant before cooking?

  While you don’t have to soak an eggplant before cooking it, it's recommended, especially if you’re planning to fry or sauté it. This is because eggplant absorbs liquid, including oil, when it's cooked.
  Soaking eggplant slices in lightly salted water for about 30 minutes before cooking helps to break down the fruit’s cell walls and reduce the amount of oil the eggplant absorbs.
  

  Learn More:Clever Tips for Preparing Eggplant to Perfection

• When is eggplant in season?

  In most of the Continental U.S., eggplant is in season from July through October. The top-producing state is New Jersey, followed by California, Florida, and Georgia. Globally, the most prolific eggplant-growing countries are China and India.
  

• Can I freeze eggplant?

  Yes, eggplant freezes well but, because of its high water content, it's best to cook it first. We recommend roasting slices or cubes of eggplant and then flash-freezing them before putting them in freezer-safe containers (to prevent them from sticking together).

  Alternatively, you can puree roasted eggplant and then freeze it for several months.

  Learn More:Can You Freeze Eggplant? Here's What You Need to Know

• Can I use a Japanese eggplant instead of a normal one?

  Yes, if you have a recipe for eggplant, you can use Japanese or Italian eggplant—the kind we're most familiar with in the U.S.—interchangeably.

  Japanese eggplants also have a deep purple color but are longer and thinner, and their flesh is creamier when cooked. They're especially well-suited to grilling and stir-frying.

  Learn More:Who Knew? Japanese and Chinese Eggplants Are Delicious but Different