31 Eggplant Recipes to Help You Get Excited About That Summer Haul
Eggplant is no one-trick pony. Sure, this versatile vegetable is amazing fried and baked into eggplant Parmesan, but that’s just one of the many eggplant recipes we adore. Whether roasted, fried, grilled, baked, or stuffed, eggplant is a worthy star in dishes across the globe. This meaty veg shines in creamy, smoky dips, hearty vegetarian dinners, and zesty side dishes (caponata, anyone?). Remember, eggplant soaks up and enhances the flavors it mingles with, so don’t skimp on the olive oil, tomato sauce, spices, or whatever else you’re adding to it. Read on to discover the many eggplant recipes we find ourselves making over and over.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou1/31Crispy Eggplant With Fish Fragrant Sauce
Fish fragrant sauce doesn’t have any fish in it, but the sweet, sour, and spicy elements in it are traditionally used for cooking Sichuan fish dishes, hence the name of this Japanese eggplant dish. Don’t skip the cilantro and sesame seed finish—then try this version with minced pork.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano2/31
Mutabbal (Eggplant-Tahini Dip)
Not to be mistaken for baba ganoush, this eggplant and tahini appetizer leans heavily on spices like cumin and black pepper rather than focusing on citrus for flavor. Charring the eggplant enhances the smoky notes of the dish—and you can do it over the burners, inside the oven, or even on the grill.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton3/31
Ratatouille
This is not the ratatouille made famous by the eponymous film, but we dare say it's just as good. It comes from the June 1991 issue of “Gourmet,” and the reviews speak for themselves.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell4/31
Grilled Whole Eggplant With Harissa Vinaigrette
Looking for a simple, easy eggplant recipe that'll impress some late-summer dinner guests? Cook the whole thing, unpeeled and uncut, in the glowing embers of charcoal after you've done the rest of your grilling, and dress it simply with a spicy, herb-flecked vinaigrette.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell5/31
Chickpea Crepe "Tacos" With Eggplant and Lamb
Thin, naturally grain-free chickpea flour pancakes (a.k.a. socca) stand in for tortillas in these warmly spiced lamb and eggplant “tacos.” The tomato-laced filling can be made ahead, as can the crepes.
- Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo6/31
Baigan Chokha
Eggplant is one of those vegetables that absolutely lives for high heat (chokha refers to roasting over fire). In this Trinidadian eggplant recipe, you’ll blast the eggplant beneath the broiler or on the grill for maximum smoky goodness and then mix the flesh with fried garlic, onions, and tomatoes. Serve with a nice big stack of roti.
- Photo by Evi Abeler7/31
Baked Eggplant Parm
In this gluten-free slice of comfort food, you’ll swap traditional breading for a zesty mixture of ground almonds and Parmesan cheese. Then, you’ll bake the eggplant slices instead of frying and layer them with cheese and sauce.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Simon Andrews8/31
Grilled Eggplant With Garlicky Tahini-Yogurt Sauce
Grilled eggplant and tahini are soulmates, forever entwined by some primordial cosmic love. The charred, crispy eggplant skins cry out for the cool, rich creaminess of a yogurt-tahini sauce, which melts into the soft flesh of the cooked eggplant.
- Photo by Dan Perez9/31
Broiled Eggplant Salad With Sumac Chicken and Pine Nuts
Cookbook author Reem Kassis took a Thai preparation for roasted eggplant and infused it with Middle Eastern flavors to give an Arab spin to this dinner party–worthy dish.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Laura Rege10/31
Tortang Talong
In this popular Filipino dish, eggplants are heavily charred and then battered with egg and pan-fried, making them smoky, creamy, and satisfying. Serve tortang talong as a vegetable side to a bigger meal, or on its own with a bowl of rice and some fish sauce on top.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton11/31
Stuffed Eggplants and Zucchini in a Rich Tomato Sauce (Baatingan w Kusaa Bil Banadoura)
For this eggplant dish, stuff peak summer produce with spiced ground lamb, then cook it in an oniony tomato sauce. Top it off with crispy garlic, herbs, and yogurt for contrast.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson12/31
Mediterranean Eggplant and Barley Salad
Spiced grains, roasted peak-season vegetables, and a lemony garlic dressing make this a stand-out side dish that doubles as a satisfying lunch. Can’t find ricotta salata? Swap in feta cheese.
- Photo by Matt Russell13/31
Eggplant and Mushroom Tahcheen
Tahcheen is traditionally made with poached chicken, but this beautiful, saffron-hued vegetarian alternative swaps in rich, earthy portobello mushrooms and meaty eggplant. Entertaining? Prepare everything in advance and pop it into the oven a few hours before you're ready to eat.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich15/31
3 Fruits of the Earth
Heilongjiang in Northeast China doesn’t have a vast recipe repertoire, but this eggplant recipe should put it on the map. Simple and inspired, it takes three imports—potatoes and sweet red peppers from the Americas and eggplants from the Middle East—and transforms them into a local favorite.
- Photo by Jonathan Lovekin16/31
Eggplant With Buttermilk Sauce
Ever since this Ottolenghi eggplant recipe appeared on the cover of Plenty, we've been making it on repeat. Greek yogurt combined with buttermilk becomes a zesty condiment that works wonderfully with eggplant that’s been roasted until it collapses. It's an easy vegetarian starter that, when served with pita, could really be a light meal on its own.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks17/31
Zucchini "Noodles" With Eggplant and Tomatoes
The classic flavors of ratatouille mingle in this colorful mess of a dish, which calls for zucchini "noodles" topped with pan-seared eggplant and cherry tomatoes. Thinly sliced fresh mozzarella and slivered fresh basil make for the perfect topping.
- Photo by Kristin Perers18/31
Eggplant and Yogurt Spread (Borani-E Bâdenjân)
This silky Iranian eggplant dip draws its lusciousness from both yogurt and grilled eggplant, which turns soft and supple as it cooks. Sautéed onions, a sprinkle of saffron, and a shower of chopped walnuts complete the dish.
- Photo by Peden + Munk19/31
Roasted Eggplant and Crispy Kale With Yogurt
Crispy is always better, right? Well, this eggplant dish gives you a double dose of crispness thanks to the crackly skin of the roasted eggplant and the gently charred kale. A dressing of cool, creamy yogurt brings the whole thing into balance.
- Johnny Miller20/31
Eggplant, Tomato, and Pesto Stack
Think peak late summer. We love a caprese salad, and we love different takes on caprese, too. You've got all the usual suspects here—ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and bright fresh basil in the form of pesto—plus meaty slices of roasted eggplant.
- Photo by Romulo Yanes21/31
Eggplant and Walnut Phyllo Pie
This delicious eggplant pie reminds us of moussaka, but it takes a slightly different turn with walnuts instead of meat and cheese instead of a heavy béchamel. Be sure to wash your leeks well before preparing the filling.
- Photo by Susan Bell22/31
Chickpea and Eggplant Salad
This subtly flavored salad pairs protein-rich chickpeas with silky eggplant, lemon juice and zest, and fresh tomato. The slivered almond topping adds a hearty crunch.
- Jason Lowe23/31
Eggplant Fritters With Honey (Berenjenas con Miel)
Yes, this eggplant recipe skews sweet, but it's not dessert. Soak thin slices of eggplant in milk before coating them in flour to prevent them from absorbing too much oil during frying, and they'll wind up thin and crisp. Top the whole thing with a tantalizing drizzle of honey.
- Tara Donne, food styling by Chelsea Zimmer24/31
Pasta with Grilled Sausage, Peppers and Eggplant
We love pasta with marinara sauce, but we might love a pasta that incorporates our favorite Italian sandwich fillings—grilled sausage, bell peppers, and eggplant—even more. Perhaps a dollop of ricotta on top?
- Photo by Romulo Yanes25/31
Crisp Eggplant Chips
Can you chip it? With eggplant, the answer is yes. While it may sound peculiar, confectioners' sugar helps brown the eggplant, while the breadcrumbs add crunch to this salty-sweet snack.
- Photo by Noah Fecks and Paul Wagtouicz26/31
Ultimate Green Curry (Gaeng Khiaw Wan Gai)
Fragrant with coconut and Thai basil, this green curry—from New York chef Hong Thaimee—is chock-full of boneless chicken thighs and tender chunks of eggplant. Serve with jasmine rice, rice noodles, or roti.
- Christopher Testani27/31
Eggplant With Lentils and Goat Cheese
If you’re looking for a vegetable recipe that’ll suffice for a main course, look no further than these stuffed eggplants. The quick filling here is made with spicy lentils, goat cheese, and lots of filling veggies.
- Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott28/31
Long-Roasted Eggplant with Garlic, Labne, and Tiny Chile Croutons
Here, eggplant is halved lengthwise, drenched in olive oil, and cooked until its interior is practically custardy and its exterior is crisp and smoky. Enjoy this Mediterranean-leaning dish warm or at room temperature.
- Photo by Danny Culbert29/31
Caramelized Eggplant With Harissa Yogurt
If you’ve never made eggplant in the air fryer, this recipe may make you a convert. Not only do you get a wonderfully smooth interior texture, but you also end up with delicious vegetable nuggets that rival stovetop-fried eggplant without the mess.
- Photo by Romulo Yanes30/31
Tuna Tonnato With Eggplant Salad
Looking for the ideal last-minute picnic? Dress up jarred eggplant, capers, and canned tuna with an easy tomato and mint salad spooned over the top. The result is a refreshing lunch that's mostly pulled from your pantry.
- Photo by Andrew Purcell, prop styling by Sarah Cave, food styling by Rhoda Boone31/31
BBQ Eggplant Sandwiches With Provolone and Mushrooms
These cheesy, BBQ sauce-slathered eggplant sandwiches will give your local sandwich spot's eggplant parm a run for its money. Your broiler does all the work here, browning the vegetables and melting the cheese.
David Tamarkin
Amiel Stanek
Wilder Davies
Joe Sevier