22 Eggplant Recipes That’ll Totally Change Your Mind About This Veggie
If you’ve always thought eggplant was bland, mushy, or just not your thing—get ready to think again. These 22 recipes show off eggplant at its absolute best: crispy, smoky, saucy, and full of bold flavor. These dishes prove this underrated veggie is anything but boring. One bite, and you might just become an eggplant superfan.
Persian Eggplant Stew
A richly delicious vegan dish that delivers some serious flavor, Persian eggplant stew is an easy recipe to make, one that will impress your friends and family.
Eggplant Pasta
This eggplant pasta is flavor-packed with tender eggplant and zesty marinara sauce! It’s a delicious dinner idea everyone will love.
Grilled Eggplant
This Grilled Eggplant is simple yet so delicious. Lightly charred and drizzled with homemade balsamic dressing, this elegant dish can be served as an appetizer or part of the main course.
Easy Ratatouille Recipe
This Easy Ratatouille Recipe is made with fresh vegetables layered in a pattern and then baked. It is a straightforward recipe with gorgeous presentation, and is also vegetarian and vegan! Try this recipe if you want to experience true French cuisine.
Baba Ganoush
Baba Ganoush is a dish made by pureeing eggplant with herbs and spices to create a unique dip or spread. Similar to hummus, baba ganoush is delicious on sandwiches, eggs, or with vegetables.
Baingan Bharta
Baingan bharta is THE eggplant dish that will make you fall in love with eggplant! It’s a smoky eggplant mash mixed with a flavorful blend of garlic, ginger, spices, and tomatoes. Choose from the traditional method for the best results—smoking whole eggplants on an open flame—or the sauté method for something a little easier.
Mediterranean Eggplant Salad
Mediterranean Eggplant Salad mixes grilled eggplant with fresh tomatoes, mint, parsley, green onion, bell pepper and tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, za’atar and crushed red pepper. This is the perfect side salad for a summer BBQ or to pair with grilled chicken or fish.
Eggplant Spinach Grilled Cheese Sandwich
This eggplant spinach grilled cheese sandwich draws on Greek flavors for a deliciously cheesy vegetarian grilled cheese. It’s hearty and filling, but without feeling too heavy since it’s veggie-packed too!
Easy Penne Alla Norma (Eggplant Pasta)
This Penne Alla Norma is a plant-based spin on the classic Sicilian dish! Tender eggplant and red peppers simmered in a homemade tomato sauce, then tossed with al dente pasta. It’s the perfect weeknight meal any day of the week!
Vegan Eggplant Parmesan
Crispy baked eggplant layered with your favorite marinara sauce and easy vegan mozzarella cheese, this Vegan Eggplant Parmesan is the BEST way to eat eggplant.
Eggplant Hummus
As an ultra fan of hummus, I proclaim this roasted eggplant hummus the second-best thing. You can char or bake the whole eggplant which gives it a smoky, deep flavor that is just fabulous! Ready in 45 minutes, it’s a flavorful and healthy dip recipe!
Mediterranean Eggplant Chickpea Salad
Mediterranean Eggplant Chickpea Salad features tomatoes, pine nuts, and fresh basil in a simple vinaigrette. It’s made with thin, quick-cooking Japanese eggplant that are grilled to bring out their sweet flavor. Easy to prepare in under half an hour, this hearty summer salad is perfect for picnics, barbecues, and delicious meals any day of the week.
Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant
This simply seasoned air fryer eggplant comes out crispy and delicious. It’s an easy side dish everyone will absolutely love and goes with almost any main course.
SMOKY EGGPLANT VEGAN CHILI
This Smoky Eggplant Vegan Chili is simple comfort food at its best. My plant based chili is simple to cook from scratch, meat free, yet hearty enough for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian or just bored of ground beef, this gluten and dairy free ‘chile non carne’ is the perfect midweek meal!
Low Carb & Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan
Enjoy Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan with crispy, golden breading, fresh marinara, and lots of gooey mozzarella cheese. This effortless, baked dish is so divine, no one will know they are also enjoying a low carb and keto-friendly recipe!
Stuffed Eggplant Boats With Sausage
Ready to devour an easy eggplant dinner recipe with simple ingredients, yet rich, robust flavor? Baked eggplant boats are stuffed with a sweet Italian sausage tomato sauce and topped with a gooey cheese layer. This family-friendly gluten-free eggplant recipe uses no breadcrumbs so it can be enjoyed as a low carb dinner option as well!
Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, this Roasted Vegetable Lasagna with eggplant and zucchini makes an incredibly rich and delicious dinner.
Pasta alla Norma (eggplant tomato pasta)
Pasta alla Norma is a simple and delicious combination of pasta wrapped in a luscious eggplant and tomato sauce, topped with ricotta salata. It’s an easy and satisfying vegetarian meal that lets summer produce shine.
Vegetable Galette
This easy Vegetable Galette is an elegant and tasty mix of Mediterranean veggies, flaky crust, goat cheese, and herbs. This ratatouille open pie is simple enough for weeknights but elegant enough for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Caponata (Sicilian Sweet and Sour Eggplant Relish)
Caponata is one of the world’s best eggplant dishes. Eggplant, peppers, onions, celery and garlic are sautéed to perfection and then simmered with vinegar, sugar and tomatoes until the vegetables tenderize and become infused with irresistible sweet and sour flavors. I love serving caponata as an appetizer on toasted bread for a beautiful and uniquely delicious bruschetta.
Eggplant Pizza
Easy to make and fun to eat, these mini eggplant pizzas are a great healthy alternative. Cheesy and delicious, everyone will love them!
Easy Baked Eggplant Rollatini
If you’re looking for a vegetarian meal for Meatless Monday, look no further than this Eggplant Rollatini recipe! It’s EASY to make and full of flavor!
