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!
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.
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 Fries with Greek Tzatziki Sauce
Healthy Baked Eggplant Parmesan
Spicy Garlic Oven Roasted Eggplant Slices Recipe
Quinoa Stuffed Eggplant with Tahini Sauce
Greek Moussaka (Eggplant Beef Bake)
Roasted Eggplant & Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
Eggplant Chips – Mediterranean Style
Related Reading: How to Grow Eggplant in Your Vegetable Garden
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
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:
Jamaican Jerk Grilled Eggplant
Caprese Grilled Eggplant Roll ups
Grilled Eggplant and Spinach Salad
Grilled Eggplant Gyros with Fresh Tzatziki
Grilled Eggplant Salad with Halloumi
Related Reading: How to Preserve Eggplant
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:
Vegan Chickpea Curry with Eggplant
Grilled Eggplant Tahini Satay Kebabs
Vegan Lentil and Eggplant Patties
Szechuan Eggplant in Garlic Sauce
Oven-Fried Eggplant PoBoy Sandwiches
Vegan Eggplant Pulled Pork Burger
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
Glyko Melitzanaki me Grenadini
Cheesy Eggplant Apple Quesadillas
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)
Melitzanosalata (Greek Eggplant Dip)
Roasted Eggplant and White Bean 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
What a fabulous list of eggplant/aubergine recipes! Thanks for including my pickled version!
It looks amazing. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
This recipe looking so healthy and tasty. Thank you so much for the recipes.
Eggplant Bolognese Pasta is best