20 Insanely-Good Eggplant Recipes to Make This Summer season

Eggplant has lengthy been a staple in vegetarian delicacies. Its satisfying texture and noteworthy capability to soak up different flavors makes it an ideal canvas for artistic within the kitchen. We’ve all heard of eggplant parmesan, however what about Moroccan eggplant stew (or Zaalouk)? Whether or not your food regimen is totally meat-free otherwise you’re simply incorporating extra plant-based meals into your weekly menu, there’s a world of prospects in relation to curating filling and wholesome vegetarian eggplant recipes.

In case you’re craving Mediterranean flavors, spicy Asian-inspired dishes, or maybe a fusion of each cuisines, now we have you lined. With this stellar fruit as our guiding star (that’s proper, eggplant’s a fruit!), we’ve compiled an inventory of 20 vegetarian eggplant recipes that unlock its true potential.

Featured Picture by Michelle Nash.

20 Vegetarian Eggplant Recipes to Fulfill Each Palate

Ratatouille-Fashion Roasted Vegetable Pasta

Why We Love It: Whereas ratatouille has been a preferred dish in French delicacies because the 1700s, I’ve discovered that only a few individuals really know what it consists of. Scrumptious bell peppers, zucchini—and sure, eggplant—comprise the proper recipe to transition from summer season to fall. It additionally offer you an ideal excuse to cozy up with a scrumptious bowl of pasta. (Who wouldn’t get pleasure from that?)

Hero Ingredient: Hearth-roasted tomatoes kick up the warmth.

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Wholesome Flatbread Pizza with Eggplant and Ricotta

Why We Love It: The right summer season dinner is right here! Apart from the eggplant, you seemingly have the components to create this scrumptious flatbread in your fridge or pantry. Any kind of pizza crust or pre-bought flatbread will work for this recipe, however I’d go for Camille’s home made pizza dough!

Hero Ingredient: Ricotta is the perfect summer season cheese so as to add to your pizzas. It’s creamy, a bit salty, and scrumptious unfold in a skinny layer or dolloped on prime.

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Charred Caprese Stuffed Eggplants

Why We Love It: The Italians know what they’re doing—caprese is just the perfect summery salad. Something made with tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and balsamic glaze is a must have when the climate heats up. Tossing stuffed eggplants with these components is a filling and simple method to get pleasure from all of the caprese flavors as an appetizer or gentle foremost.

Hero Ingredient: A very good high quality, aged balsamic vinegar is a recreation changer.

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Skillet Eggplant Lasagna

Why We Love It: Eggplant parmesan may need to maneuver apart as the perfect use of eggplant in an Italian dish. This skillet eggplant lasagna is lighter than the traditional tacky consolation dish, and it may be executed multi function pan. Rating!

Hero Ingredient: Child spinach is a good way so as to add a lift of inexperienced to your lasagna.

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Smokey Eggplant Dip

Why We Love It: Diverging from entrees, this eggplant dip is very addictive and past easy to make. Your eggplant is roasted, charred, and thrown right into a meals processor with different scrumptious components. I’m speaking garlic, tahini, and creme fraiche that come collectively to enhance the eggplant’s smokey taste.

Hero Ingredient: Smokey spices like paprika and toasted cumin convey the flavour.

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Stuffed Roasted Eggplants

Why We Love It: I’m a giant fan of stuffed fruits and veggies of any type. There’s one thing about having the ability to mix all of your components and getting an enormous burst of taste with every chew. Like baked potatoes, these eggplants may be custom-made to your crowd’s wishes with a wide range of scrumptious toppings.

Hero Ingredient: Pomegranate seeds add a deliciously sudden pop of taste and shade.

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Eggplant Caponata from Love and Lemons

Why We Love It: This recipe confirmed me the true great thing about crafting caponata. It’s made with roasted eggplant and a wide range of tangy, briny, and barely candy flavors and may be served over pasta or on freshly sliced crostini. I’d go as far as to name it the proper summery snack.

Hero Ingredient: Capers convey a little bit of briny taste. Don’t knock ’em till you’ve tried them!

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Jamaican Jerk Grilled Eggplant from Minimalist Baker

Why We Love It: We’re large followers of grilling absolutely anything—and eggplant is not any exception. After visiting Jamaica a number of years again, I turned obsessive about perfecting a jerk marinade crammed with the entire finest seasonings. Merely slice your eggplants into giant, steak-like items, and coat them in your tangy and spicy marinade earlier than popping them on the grill! Straightforward and scrumptious.

Hero Ingredient: This recipe features a scrumptious BBQ-based sauce that’ is an absolute’s vital for this savory grilled fruit.

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Grilled Eggplant With Chimichurri from Foodie Crush

Why We Love It: Final 12 months, I took a cooking class the place I realized how you can create the proper chimichurri, and to my shock, it’s really fairly easy! Recent herbs like parsley and cilantro are key to creating the tastiest topping for your entire grilled delicacies.

Hero Ingredient: Cilantro is important for each this chimichurri’s signature taste and shade.

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Roasted Eggplant and Mushroom Curry from The Roasted Root

Why We Love It: In case you’re on the sting about incorporating eggplant into your food regimen, begin with this recipe. As talked about, eggplant is nice at absorbing daring spices and flavors, making it among the best bases for curry-like dishes.

Hero Ingredient: Coconut milk offers this dish the proper creaminess with out being overwhelmingly heavy.

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Eggplant Pizza Bites from Primavera Kitchen

Why We Love It: Not solely are these pizza bites lovely, however they’re additionally a plant-packed snack you may throw collectively in a pinch. In case you’re in search of a twist on the beloved bagel bites, these are good for a lightweight, summery dinner.

Hero Ingredient: Home made or store-bought will do, however remember to select a superb high quality tomato sauce.

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Zaalouk Toasts With Burrata from Pinch of Yum

Why We Love It: Right here it’s! The zaalouk recipe you’ve all been ready for. These toasts are a flavor-packed appetizer that mixes the normal Moroccan dish of zaalouk (cooked eggplants, tomatoes, and tons of spices) with creamy burrata cheese.

Hero Ingredient: I may go on and on about burrata cheese.

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Baked Eggplant Parmesan from Gimme Some Oven

Why We Love It: The traditional Italian dish you’ve all been ready for. This baked eggplant parmesan showcases the wealthy and comforting flavors of eggplant, tomato sauce, and melted cheese whereas being fully vegetarian-friendly.

Hero Ingredient: Heaps and plenty of freshly grated parmesan is mainly a requirement.

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Hearth Roasted Eggplant Dal from Filled with Vegetation

Why We Love It: In case you’re a fan of warmth, this fire-roasted dal may develop into one in every of your favourite consolation dishes. The Indian soup is made out of easy components—similar to lentils, chickpeas, or beans—simmered in a wide range of spices and served over a starch of alternative. It’s past cozy and precisely what I wish to curl up with on the finish of a protracted day.

Hero Ingredient: High with a dollop of yogurt or coconut cream for a bit added tang.

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Thai Basil Eggplant from Working on Actual Meals

Why We Love It: More often than not, throwing collectively an elaborate Thai dish doesn’t match into my schedule. However I at all times crave its comforting complexity. This stir-fried eggplant may be served with rice or noodles that complement its daring flavors—and it’s straightforward sufficient to throw collectively on a weeknight.

Hero Ingredient: Toss in your favourite baked tofu for an added little bit of protein.

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Eggplant + Tofu with Candy-Sizzling Chili Glaze from Sprouted Kitchen

Why We Love It: Eggplant and tofu are a extremely underrated pairing. The sweet-hot chili glaze makes use of Asian-inspired components you seemingly have on your favourite staple dishes. Merely bake or fry the eggplant and tofu utilizing your technique of alternative and stir-fry the entire remaining components with the sauce in your wok or a big saucepan.

Hero Ingredient: Sizzling chili sauce is a staple ingredient in my home.

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Butternut Squash and Eggplant Stir Fry from Downshiftology

Why We Love It: These stir-fried veggies make for the proper appetizer or addition to any entree. With a easy sauce made out of honey, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil there’s no excuse for bland veggies on the desk.

Hero Ingredient: Honey offers your sauce physique and the proper contact of sweetness.

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Baingan Bharta from Rainbow Plant Life

Why We Love It: If the smokey eggplant dip sounded up your alley, then this baingan bharta will make your coronary heart (abdomen?) soar. Indian-inspired spices complement this silky and hearty dish, which pairs completely with vegan naan, roti, or basmati rice.

Hero Ingredient: Ginger is a key fragrant on this recipe. Go large or go house.

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Roasted Eggplant Sandwiches with Vegan Arugula Walnut Pesto from This Savory Vegan

Why We Love It: Roasted eggplant is very versatile, however what’s less complicated than a sandwich? Paired with contemporary sourdough and arugula walnut pesto mayo (yum!), this eggplant sammie is something however boring.

Hero Ingredient: You’ll wish to add the arugula walnut pesto mayo onto each sandwich any further.

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Vegan Roasted Eggplant Salad From Meals Dolls

Why We Love It: This vegetarian eggplant recipe is the proper warm-weather dish to get pleasure from at your subsequent cookout or get-together. It’s nutritious and filling due to the protein and wholesome fat, and the tangy tahini dressing offers it the proper creamy chew.

Hero Ingredient: Tahini has the flexibility to raise absolutely anything—this dish included.