50 Delicious Eggplant Recipes for the Whole Family (2024)

Eggplant is one of my favorite vegetables to grow in the garden. But to be honest, the first year I grew it we all had to get used to the taste!

But now I know how versatile eggplant is in recipes! It’s perfect as a meat substitute in vegetarian recipes and it has the ability to soak up any flavor you throw at it.

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Sometimes you might just want roasted eggplant sprinkled with a little salt and pepper and olive oil, but sometimes you want a little more spice in your eggplant recipes.

Below you will find more than 50 amazing eggplant recipes- you’ll never be lacking in ideas on how to cook up eggplant during harvest season!

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What is Eggplant?

Eggplant is large plant in the night shade family, which bears the eggplant fruit.

Most eggplant is somewhat egg shaped with dark purple skin. But there are many different varieties of eggplant– some of which are long and skinny, with thinner skin, or some with green, white, or yellow skin.

Generally speaking, the eggplant is rather tasteless with the ability to absorb the flavors of the dishes. The flesh of an eggplant is creamy white and has a somewhat spongy texture

Is Eggplant a Fruit or a Vegetable?

Botanically speaking, the eggplant is a fruit, because it comes from the flower of the plant. In culinary terms, it is considered a vegetable.

(You can read more about these differences on my Is a Cucumber a Fruit or Vegetable post. I’ll be calling it a vegetable for the remainder of this article.

All About Eggplant Nutrition

Eggplant is a nutritionally dense vegetable. It is high in fiber, B vitamins, copper, potassium, and folate.

Eggplant is low in calories, with 1 cup, cubed eggplant having about 35 calories.

Eggplant is also low in carbohydrates, with only 8 total carbs in a 1 cup serving. About 1/3 of these carbs come from natural sugars.

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Health Benefits of Eggplant

Eggplant contains phytonutrients, some of which contain antioxidant properties.

Specifically, it contains nasunin, a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent free radicals and protects the cells from damage.

Eggplant is also said to contain nutrients that can improve cardiovascular health and cholesterol.

50+ Eggplant Recipes for Every Taste

I’ve divided up the eggplant recipes below by categories. You’ll find over 50 ways to eat eggplant including roasted, sauteed, grilled, as a main course or as a side dish! Enjoy!

Note: How to Cook Eggplant

Eggplant should be washed, with ends removed before cooking.

Most eggplant varieties can be eaten with or without the skin, but some skin is tougher than others- and peeling may be favorable.

Eggplant can be baked, grilled, steamed, or roasted. If cooking whole, prick the skin with a fork a couple of times before placing it in the oven.

Baked or Roasted Eggplant Recipes

Generally speaking, eggplant is placed on a baking sheet and baked at about 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, depending on size.

Below are 13 different eggplant recipes that feature baked or roasted eggplant.

Baked Eggplant Crisps

Garlic Roasted Eggplant

Baked Eggplant Fries with Greek Tzatziki Sauce

Healthy Baked Eggplant Parmesan

Spicy Garlic Oven Roasted Eggplant Slices Recipe

Quinoa Stuffed Eggplant with Tahini Sauce

Julia Child’s Eggplant Pizzas

Greek Moussaka (Eggplant Beef Bake)

Roasted Eggplant & Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

Cheesy Eggplant Casserole

Crispy Eggplant Stacks

Eggplant Bolognese Pasta

Eggplant Chips – Mediterranean Style

Related Reading: How to Grow Eggplant in Your Vegetable Garden

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Sauteed or Fried Eggplant Recipes

When sauteing eggplant, the skin is usually removed first. Eggplant cooks quickly over medium to medium high heat. Eggplant can readily soak up oil, so go easy when sauteing for frying eggplant.

And we all know and love the timeless favorite featuring fried eggplant: Eggplant Parmesan! Who can resist the mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce and parmesan crusted eggplant!

But if you are in the mood for a new fried eggplant recipe, here are 8 sauteed or fried eggplant recipes:

Easy One-Pan Eggplant Chicken Dinner

Moroccan Honey Glazed Eggplant

Healthy Pan Fried Baby Eggplant with Gremolata

Sauteed Eggplant

Eggplant Mango Kadhi

Chicken Fried Eggplant

Eggplant Parmesan Bites

Eggplant Fries

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Featured: Moroccan Honey Glazed Eggplant, Vegan Eggplant Pulled Pork Burger, & Eggplant Bolognese Pasta

Grilled Eggplant Recipes

Grilling eggplant can be one of the tastiest ways to cook eggplant. The charred taste that comes with grilling is amazing! Like, sauteing, grilling eggplant is quick- and only takes about 10 minutes to cook.

Here are some amazing grilled eggplant recipes to try:

Balsamic Grilled Eggplant

Grilled Eggplant Rollatini

Jamaican Jerk Grilled Eggplant

Caprese Grilled Eggplant Roll ups

Grilled Eggplant Tacos

Grilled Eggplant and Spinach Salad

Grilled Eggplant Gyros with Fresh Tzatziki

Grilled Eggplant Salad with Halloumi

Grilled Eggplant Involtini

Grilled Eggplant Parmesan

Related Reading: How to Preserve Eggplant

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Vegetarian Eggplant Recipes

Eggplant is the perfect meat substitute. It can soak up all sorts of flavors and it’s spongy and meaty texture will give you something to sink your teeth into.

Here are some vegetarian eggplant recipes to try out:

Vegetarian Eggplant Balls

Vegan Chickpea Curry with Eggplant

Crispy Eggplant “Bacon”

Grilled Eggplant Tahini Satay Kebabs

Vegan Lentil and Eggplant Patties

Szechuan Eggplant in Garlic Sauce

Oven-Fried Eggplant PoBoy Sandwiches

Miso Glazed Eggplant

Vegan Eggplant Pulled Pork Burger

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Featured: Grilled Eggplant and Spinach Salad, Grilled Eggplant Tacos, & Vegetarian Eggplant Balls

Unique Eggplant Recipes

Eggplant can be used in almost any kind of dish. It’s very versatile and can be even used in desserts!

If you are looking to try something completely new, try out some of these unique and unusual eggplant recipes:

Eggplant Crisp (for dessert!)

Low Carb Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic ‘Bread’ with Eggplant

Fermented Eggplant

Pickled Eggplant

Glyko Melitzanaki me Grenadini

Cheesy Eggplant Apple Quesadillas

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Eggplant Dips, Spreads and Sauces

And finally, eggplant can be used to bulk up a lot of different sauces and spreads. These flavorful eggplant dishes will look great on your next cheese and cracker or veggie tray!

Spicy Baba Ganoush (Eggplant Dip)

Ajvar (Eggplant and Red Pepper Sauce)

Eggplant Spread

Roasted Garlic Babaganoush

Melitzanosalata (Greek Eggplant Dip)

Roasted Eggplant and White Bean Dip

Eggplant Caviar

Indian Eggplant Relish

Creamy Roasted Eggplant Dip

Roasted Eggplant and Feta Dip

Which eggplant recipe will become your new favorite?

Looking for more recipes? Check these out:

50+ Zucchini Recipes for Your Summer Harvest

50+ Sweet Potato Recipes for Your Fall Harvest

13 Simple, Refreshing Frozen Watermelon Desserts

25 Salsa Recipes You’ve Got to Try

15 Amazing Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipes

75 Pumpkin Spice Recipes

50 Delicious Eggplant Recipes for the Whole Family (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to cooking eggplant? ›

"When you lay them on the tray to roast, make sure they're in a single layer and give them enough room to roast properly. Eggplant is about 80 to 90 percent water, so when you put them in the oven they need space to evaporate all that water and caramelize properly," says Covarrubias.

What to do with bulk eggplant? ›

From baba ganoush to layered bakes, dumplings, foccacia, curries, dips, slow roasts and salads, these diverse recipes prove there's no shortage of ways to use up your favourite nightshade at lunch, dinner or snack time.

What makes eggplant taste good? ›

The oil still left in the eggplant tissues contributes to the soft, buttery texture that's so appealing. Oil also carries the essence of added herbs and spices, so that eggplant dishes can become rich with the aromas and heady flavors of onions, peppers, anchovies, parsley, garlic, and lemon juice.

Is it necessary to peel eggplant before cooking? ›

While the skin of a small young eggplant is edible, the skin becomes bitter on larger or older eggplants and should be peeled. When in doubt, the answer to, "Do you peel eggplant before cooking?" is yes, peel it. Use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to remove the skin.

Does eggplant need to be soaked before frying? ›

Typically eggplant behaves like a sponge, soaking up heroic amounts of oil when fried. The Terzo Piano chefs use this trick to prevent heavy aubergines: Before frying, soak the strips of eggplant in an ice water bath. They will absorb water and drop in temperature.

What happens if you don't salt eggplant before cooking? ›

Older recipes call for salting eggplant to draw out the bitter juices, but today's eggplants are less bitter (unless very large), so salting is largely unnecessary. It will, however, help the spongy flesh absorb less oil and crisp up like a dream.

Why do you put an egg in eggplant? ›

Eggplant-type names

First recorded in 1763, the word "eggplant" was originally applied to white cultivars, which look very much like hen's eggs (see image). Similar names are widespread in other languages, such as the Icelandic term eggaldin or the Welsh planhigyn ŵy.

Why is my eggplant so slimy after cooking? ›

In addition, if the flesh of the eggplant is slimy, you'll want to throw it away.

Can too much eggplant be bad for you? ›

Eggplants contain oxalates, though they have fewer than most fruits and vegetables. Oxalates can contribute to kidney stone formation in some people who are more prone to absorbing oxalates. Without treatment, kidney stones can lead to acute kidney injury or kidney death.

Can we eat egg and eggplant together? ›

This eggplant with egg recipe is a meat-free, yet high protein dish that works wonderfully for meat-free days or vegetarians who eat eggs. Super easy to make, you can prep ahead by baking the eggplant and then put it all together in minutes.

How do you cook eggplant without it getting mushy? ›

Depending on the recipe, you might want to slice and salt globe eggplant slices before cooking them in order to draw out some of the water and keep them from turning to mush. In On Food and Cooking, Harold McGee writes that because eggplants are filled with tiny air pockets, they function like sponges.

Why do you soak eggplant in milk? ›

Milk is said to help draw out the bitterness in eggplant. Our recipe doesn't call for milk, but if you're worried that your eggplant will taste bitter, you can soak the slices in milk for 20 to 30 minutes. Drain and pat them dry before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.

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