There Are So Many Delicious Eggplant Recipes to Try This Summer
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When your garden is overflowing with eggplant, you might be wondering: what exactly can I make with eggplant, anyway? The answer is simple: There are so many creative eggplant recipes.
In fact, eggplant is one of those summer vegetables (that's actually a berry) in which you can make a variety of meals. It can be grilled, fried, stuffed, or roasted along with summer squash and tomatoes in a classic ratatouille. "Roasted eggplant is one of life's sheer pleasures," Ree Drummond says, "and it converts even the staunchest anti-eggplant humans." Another eggplant recipe Ree loves? Baba ganoush! It’s a smoky eggplant party dip that tastes great with pita bread or veggie sticks. But that's not all, eggplant can also be transformed into a comforting casserole or vegetarian main course.
Perhaps one of the best-known ways to use eggplant is in a classic eggplant parmesan. It's layered with marinara sauce and plenty of cheese to make a vegetarian main course that even a cowboy would love. Here, you'll find variations on the traditional dish, including Ree's grilled eggplant parm hoagies. And speaking of Italian dinner ideas, this list also includes eggplant in pasta recipes, summer salads, simple sides, and more. So read on for everything you need to know about cooking with eggplant!
Ratatouille
This beautiful summer dish layers slices of eggplant with zucchini, tomato, bell pepper, onion, and summer squash. It's a show-stopping side that would be perfect alongside a roasted chicken, fish, or even steak.
Get the Ratatouille recipe.
Grilled Eggplant
This might be one of the easiest ways to cook eggplant. You don't even need to peel it before grilling! And the result is a smoky side dish that goes with just about anything.
Get the Grilled Eggplant recipe.
Eggplant Lasagna
Swap the noodles in your lasagna for slices of tender eggplant instead! It's a fun and summery twist on this comforting casserole.
Get the Eggplant Lasagna recipe.
Eggplant Caponata
This tangy Italian dish is filled with tender veggies, salty capers, and sweet golden raisins. It's a unique spread for toasted crostini, but it can also be spooned over grilled chicken or pasta.
Get the Eggplant Caponata recipe.
Moussaka
This classic Greek dish layers roasted eggplant with scrumptious meat sauce and creamy cheese sauce for a hearty casserole that you can make all year-round.
Get the Moussaka recipe.
Roasted Veggie Cast-Iron Pizza
Add some veggies to your pizza night! This homemade pie is topped with tender roasted eggplant, asparagus, goat cheese, and a drizzle of tangy balsamic glaze.
Get Ree's Roasted Veggie Cast-Iron Pizza recipe.
Fried Eggplant
Eggplant becomes meltingly tender on the inside and extra-crispy on the outside when fried with panko breadcrumbs. Serve it up with tomato sauce for dipping and watch the whole family gather round!
Get the Fried Eggplant recipe.
Eggplant Parmesan
Just like chicken parmesan, this layered casserole is ooey-gooey and oh-so comforting. It's a great option for a vegetarian main course.
Get the Eggplant Parmesan recipe.
Eggplant Lasagna Roll-Ups
This twist on veggie lasagna makes dinner easy to serve. Everyone in the family can portion out their serving based on how many roll-ups they want to eat!
Get Ree's Eggplant Lasagna Roll-Ups recipe.
Beautiful Roasted Vegetables
Along with meltingly delicious eggplant, this assortment of veggies includes asparagus, bell pepper, mushrooms, and squash. It's perfect for serving as a side for steak or in a sandwich, panini, or quesadilla.
Get Ree's Beautiful Roasted Vegetables recipe.
Grilled Eggplant Parm Hoagies
Eggplant parm lovers will appreciate this variation that's ready in less than an hour! It stacks grilled eggplant with marinara sauce, sliced tomato, and provolone cheese onto crusty hero rolls. You can also add sliced olives or pickled peppers if you prefer.
Get Ree's Grilled Eggplant Parm Hoagies recipe.
Roasted Zucchini and Eggplant Puttanesca Pasta
Traditional puttanesca is typically made with tomatoes, olives, capers, and anchovies so it's simple, yet briny. This version adds roasted summer veggies (zucchini and eggplant) for even more fresh flavor.
Get the Roasted Zucchini and Eggplant Puttanesca Pasta recipe.
Baba Ghanoush
Baba ghanoush is a traditional Mediterranean spread (or dip) that's made with smoky eggplant, tahini, garlic, and fresh herbs. As Ree says, "It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This."
Get Ree's Baba Ghanoush recipe.
Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Orzo
Summer eggplant paired with sweet roasted tomatoes are a match made in heaven! They come together in this light pasta dish along with crumbled feta, fresh herbs, and a lemon-garlic dressing.
Get the Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Orzo recipe at Cookie and Kate.
Moroccan Lentil-Stuffed Eggplant
Saucy, spiced lentils are the filling for this smoky stuffed eggplant dish. It's the perfect main course for vegetarians that even meat-eaters will love, too!
Get the Moroccan Lentil-Stuffed Eggplant recipe at Minimalist Baker.
Eggplant Pizza
This recipe takes a low-carb approach to your favorite pizza flavors using the eggplant slices as the base instead of pizza dough! Each round is topped with tomato sauce, cheese, spinach, and mushrooms for a tasty snack or healthy side dish.
Get the Eggplant Pizza recipe at The Mediterranean Dish.
Eggplant String Bean Stir Fry
This quick recipe puts two garden-fresh veggies to good use: eggplant and string beans! Depending on your spice levels, you can use a hot red chili or even a mild red bell pepper if you'd like.
Get the Eggplant String Bean Stir Fry recipe at The Woks of Life.
Grilled Vegetable Sandwich
Grilled veggies, creamy herbed ricotta cheese, and tangy balsamic all layered onto toasted ciabatta—it’s basically the perfect summer lunch!
Get the Grilled Vegetable Sandwich recipe at Foodie Crush.
Eggplant Tofu
This popular dish features eggplant, tofu, and red bell peppers tossed in a sweet and tangy brown sauce. You can serve it over a bowl of fluffy rice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
Get the Eggplant Tofu recipe at Table for Two.
Grilled Vegetable Salad
Take your eggplant outdoors with this beautiful rainbow-inspired vegetable salad. It would be perfect for summer cookouts.
Get the Grilled Vegetable Salad recipe at Jessica Gavin.
Cheesy Roasted Eggplant Skillet Casserole
This recipe is similar to an eggplant parm, but it has the addition of hearty white beans and creamy ricotta cheese. It can be a main course when paired with a side salad or bowl of pasta.
Get the Cheesy Roasted Eggplant Skillet Casserole recipe at Food Heaven Made Easy.
Roasted Eggplant Caprese Salad
If you love the combination of tomatoes and mozzarella, just wait until you try it with roasted eggplant added in! You can serve it chilled as a salad or warmed up so the cheese gets melty.
Get the Roasted Eggplant Caprese Salad recipe at The Mediterranean Dish.
Miso Eggplant
For this savory side dish, you'll score the eggplant halves before cooking, which allows the caramelized miso glaze to really get into all those nooks and crannies.
Get the Miso Eggplant recipe at Feasting at Home.
Eggplant Pasta
Fresh ingredients, like eggplant and bell peppers, pairs with pantry staples, like jarred pasta sauce and crushed red pepper flakes, to make this 30 minute meal.
Get the Eggplant Pasta recipe at Well Plated by Erin.
Grilled Eggplant Chimichurri
Eggplant has a meaty texture that makes it great for grilling! Plus, the grill’s char adds smoky flavor to eggplant which basically takes away any fear of a bitter flavor.
Get the Grilled Eggplant Chimichurri recipe at Foodie Crush.
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