Home Recipes Ingredients Vegetables Eggplants
Lindsay ChampionUpdated: Dec. 20, 2023
If there was an award for "most versatile veggie," eggplant would take the grand prize. It's tasty in salads, on pastas, blended into dips or sliced on a sandwich. Read on for our most flavorful eggplant recipes.
Move over, eggplant parm! There are so many other fun, easy and exciting ways to cook with this farmers market find. A close cousin of tomatoes and bell peppers, eggplant is packed with fiber, potassium and folate. In addition to the big purple versions you typically see at the grocery store, there are dozens of different types of eggplant, including Japanese eggplant, Italian eggplant, Indian eggplant, Chinese eggplant and even graffiti eggplant.
And while it can technically be eaten raw (just don’t eat the leaves or flowers, which can be toxic), eggplant really shines when it’s fried, grilled or baked. Here are some of our favorite eggplant recipes, from dips like baba ganoush to entrees like ratatouille.
1/17
Air-Fryer Eggplant Fries
These guilt-free fries come together in less than half an hour, including the dipping sauce. Don’t have an air fryer? No problem. You can also make eggplant fries in the oven.
Go to Recipe
2/17
Baba Ganoush
It’s one of our takeout favorites, but it’s actually deceptively simple to make. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. But who are we kidding? There won’t be any leftovers.
Go to Recipe
3/17
Slow-Cooker Ratatouille
Don’t skip the important step of salting the eggplant and letting it sit for 30 minutes before putting it in the slow cooker. It draws out extra moisture, gives it a softer texture and prevents the eggplant from tasting bitter.
Go to Recipe
4/17
Eggplant Zucchini Bolognese
Time-saving tip: Roast the veggies in the oven while the pasta cooks. Your dinner guests will think you cooked all day, but the whole dish is ready in less than an hour.
Go to Recipe
5/17
Lime and Sesame Grilled Eggplant
Thanks to the addition of ginger, soy sauce, honey and crushed red pepper flakes, this flavorful side dish is anything but basic. Serve it with burgers, fish, chicken or tofu…the possibilities are endless.
Go to Recipe
6/17
Mamma’s Caponata
This eggplant, celery, tomato, olive and caper topping is delicious on a piece of toasted baguette. So delicious, in fact, you might be inspired to add it to pasta and make it the main dish.
Go to Recipe
7/17
Caprese Eggplant Hero
Craving a giant sandwich? Transform your kitchen into a sub shop with this next-level hero, featuring eggplant, tomato, mozzarella cheese, arugula, basil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Love balsamic vinegar? Find more ways to use it here.
Go to Recipe
8/17
Moussaka
Think of moussaka as a Greek eggplant casserole. While this recipe is on the advanced side—it includes par cooking veggies and making bechamel sauce—the extra prep work is definitely worth it.
Go to Recipe
9/17
Mediterranean Eggplant Dip
Roasting the eggplant in the oven makes this dish smoky, savory and complex. Try dipping with naan wedges, mini pitas, cherry tomatoes, red pepper, baby carrots or celery sticks.
Go to Recipe
10/17
Grilled Eggplant with Feta relish
This light, meat-free side dish is a win for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Best of all, it takes less than an hour from fridge to table.
Go to Recipe
11/17
Quinoa with Roasted Vegetables
Just call this dish “kitchen sink quinoa.” While eggplant, zucchini, sweet yellow pepper and grape tomatoes are suggested in the ingredients, it would be delicious with pretty much any seasonal veggie you happen to find at the farmers market.
Go to Recipe
12/17
Rustic Summer Vegetable Pasta
Looking for a healthy dinner recipe? This light and flavorful pasta is piled high with veggies and herbs, so you’re strongly encouraged to have seconds (and thirds).
Go to Recipe
13/17
Baked Veggie Cups
Pigs in a blanket? Yawn. Up your appetizer game with these delightful veggie cups, featuring zucchini, sweet red pepper and smoky baked eggplant. Looking for more tasty baked eggplant recipes? Right this way.
Go to Recipe
14/17
Creole Pork Tenderloin with Vegetables
Have last-minute dinner guests? Eggplant, fennel, summer squash and pork tenderloin come together for a vibrant, veggie-packed dinner that’s on the table in under an hour.
Go to Recipe
15/17
Roasted Eggplant Spread
Whether you’re serving this eggplant spread for a party, a pre-dinner snack or to devour on your own, you’re going to want to make a double batch. And since the recipe calls for mostly pantry staples, it’s not too tough to whip up some more.
Go to Recipe
16/17
Summer Bounty Ratatouille
This hearty dish from the Provence region of France is even more delicious when served over cubes of toasted baguette. If you can’t find herbes de Provence at the grocery store, combine dried rosemary, thyme, fennel, basil, savory and marjoram for a similar seasoning blend.
Go to Recipe
17/17
Spicy Fresh Tomato and Eggplant Sauce
Prediction: You’re going to want to slather this delightfully spicy sauce on everything, from chicken to pasta. Not a spicy sauce fan? Try our basic tomato sauce instead.
Go to Recipe
Originally Published: April 19, 2022
Lindsay Champion
Lindsay has worked in digital media for more than a decade, covering topics like food, health and wellness, and life in New York City. Though she now writes for sites like Taste of Home, PureWow and Well+Good, she originally got her start at Broadway.com as a features editor. Lindsay is the author of the novel "Someday, Somewhere" and is working on a second.
When she isn’t writing, you can find Lindsay curled up with a book, spending time with her family or exploring NYC.
