25 Mouthwatering Eggplant Recipes For Every Occasion

This recipe collection offers a variety of inspiration, including sautèed, baked, stuffed eggplant, pasta, soup, salads with eggplant, and more. These health–conscious recipes transform the humble eggplant into mouthwatering dishes. From quick weeknight meals to impressive entertaining options, these recipes prove that eggplant can be both easy to prepare and incredibly satisfying. Whether you’ve been a long-time eggplant enthusiast or are just beginning to explore its potential, this selection offers something for everyone. Simple Italian ingredients combine to create a triumph of flavors and textures in the comfort of your home kitchen.

2. Roasted eggplant

A tender and hearty way to make a vegetable side dish is roasted eggplant. Cook this recipe, and you will have a base for many excellent meals: eggplant caponata, pasta salad, curries, parmigiana, and so much more.

3. Sautèed eggplant

Italian sauteed eggplant is a hearty and easy side dish to serve with your favorite pasta. Combining fresh herbs, tender eggplant, and tomato will please everyone around your table. Best of all, it cooks in 20 minutes!

4. Caponata

If you love eggplant, you must try this Sicilian eggplant salad. Caponata is made of olives, tomato, aubergine, and pine nuts with a sweet and sour flavor. You can even serve this tender eggplant recipe as a quick appetizer on bruschetta.

6. Stuffed eggplant

These roasted eggplant boats cradle a savory chickpea filling and a creamy avocado spread. This dish is a nutritious vegetarian meal and a colorful dinner, perfect for kids and grownups alike.

7. Baba ganoush

Endlessly creamy and smooth, this eggplant dip is a perfect dip, spread, and side dish. Serve it as an appetizer with grilled vegetables or a healthy spread on a sandwich or pita bread.

8. Eggplant curry

Try this creamy curry with tender roasted eggplant paired with curry-spiced coconut sauce. Serve eggplant curry with basmati rice, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon. Or make this recipe in one pot on the stovetop in just 30 minutes and top it with croutons.

10. Creamy eggplant risotto

This risotto dish can be made in just over 30 minutes and served for a delicious and comforting Italian dinner. The creamy tomato risotto base and small pieces of eggplant make this dish a great way to eat more veggies (and camouflage them).

11. Breaded eggplant

It’s a perfect vegetable side dish and a base recipe for eggplant parm. This breaded eggplant recipe makes tender and bready discs of eggplant, perfect with most main dishes.

12. Zaalouk

Zaalouk is a delicious Moroccan eggplant salad with tomatoes, garlic, cumin, and olive oil. Learn how to make it in one pot in about 30 minutes. This velvety eggplant spread is an excellent Middle-Eastern recipe on a mezze platter as a starter or side dish.

14. Fried eggplant

This fried eggplant recipe is crunchy outside and tender inside. It’s also suitable for vegetarians and vegans and works well as an appetizer or side dish with a serving of marinara sauce.

15. Vegetable stew

Our vegetable stew recipe combines colors, textures, and flavors into a hearty and satisfying meal for the whole family. It is an excellent dish for a weeknight dinner or meal prep, as you can make it in 30 to 40 minutes with the veggies and chickpeas you have at hand.

16. Grilled eggplant

Smoky, tender eggplant slices are perfectly charred on a hot grill or skillet. Drizzle with garlic-infused chimichurri sauce and sprinkle with fresh herbs for a beautiful summer side dish. You can make it ahead and store it in the fridge for up to five days; it’s excellent as a lunchbox and potluck dish.

18. Vegetable couscous

Here is an excellent way to use veggie leftovers with this eggplant and zucchini couscous. Serve it with a dollop of hummus for a satiating and protein-rich meal.

19. Thai red curry

Better than Asian takeaway, this homemade Thai red curry is an aromatic, creamy, and fresh Asian dinner idea. We love it with white rice, fresh lime juice, and Thai basil.

20. Pasta alla Norma

Learn how to make this delicious Sicilian eggplant pasta recipe in about 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients and fresh eggplants. Eggplant is incredibly well-suited to pasta, tomato, and fresh basil, and this simple dish is a guaranteed crowdpleaser. Tip: to make this recipe even more delicious, add roasted or air-fried veggies like cauliflower, eggplant, or zucchini.

22. Eggplant bruschetta

Eggplant bruschetta is a delicious appetizer made with tender diced eggplant cooked with simple ingredients and served on crunchy bread. Bruschetta is mainly served as an appetizer, but many Italians also eat it for dinner as a light meal with a salad on the side.

23. Mediterranean Farro salad

Earthy, chewy, and vibrant, this Mediterranean farro salad is packed with veggies and drizzled with a mustard dressing It’s a wholesome grain and a guaranteed crowdpleaser – perfect for cookouts.

24. Italian rice balls

Eggplant–packed rice balls are made with leftover risotto, fried in vegetable oil (or air-fried), and served with marinara sauce. They’re great as a party food, cookout meal, appetizer, and crowd–pleasing dish.

25. Eggplant pizza

We end this list with an easy eggplant recipe where eggplants are cut into slices, roasted, and topped with a rich tomato sauce and melty cheese. This recipe is a sure hit with picky adults and kids as an appetizer or side dish.

Serve with a sauce: choose between refreshing condiments and dressings, such as basil pesto, hummus, and mustard dressing. Use in salads: Eating eggplant in the air fryer or sauteed in a pan is excellent for salads. Add it to vegan pasta salad, this creamy tofu salad, and quinoa salad. Serve next to pasta: serve eggplant sides with one of these recipes. Serve with a protein-rich dinner, such as these chickpea recipes, high protein meals, or tofu recipes.

40 Chickpea Recipes (easy meals)

30 High Protein Vegetarian Meals

45 Easy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

25+ Lentil Recipes (easy meals)

Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients. Easy right? Comment * Name Email Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me when Louise or Nico reply to my comment.

Δ Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.