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With its endless possibilities for preparation and gorgeous aubergine hue, eggplant is one of our favorite produce items. Technically, it's a fruit, but it's generally treated like a vegetable, and it comes in a range of shapes, sizes, and colors. It's also versatile: Try it grilled, broiled, or as part of a vegetable stew. Eggplant makes a great sandwich filling or pasta sauce—and it can even be made into meatballs and more. Here, you'll find a roundup of some of our all-time favorite eggplant recipes so you can make good use of the vegetable any time of year.
Before we share our favorite eggplant recipes, it's important to know how to identify a good one at the market: The flesh should give a bit when it is gently pressed. The skin should be shiny and smooth (not wrinkled or mottled) and the stems should be green. A whole eggplant will keep up to a few days in a cool place, but don't store it in the refrigerator—this will damage its texture.
Roasted-Eggplant Dip With Greek Yogurt
This is our simplified take on baba ganoush. The eggplants are torched over a flame until the skins blister and the centers soften (this can also be done under a broiler). The buttery eggplant flesh is then mixed with minced garlic, Greek yogurt, and lemon juice to create a creamy dip.
Grilled Ratatouille Muffuletta
This vegetarian variation on the muffuletta sandwich replaces cured meats with similarly meaty eggplant. We grill the eggplant, along with zucchini and tomatoes, then pile them onto a loaf of rustic bread with jarred roasted red peppers and an herbaceous olive and pepperoncini spread.
Baked-Eggplant Parmesan
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Grant Webster
Since eggplant skin tends to be the most bitter part of the vegetable, we like to strip the outer peel before slicing it into rounds, dredging, and battering. Bake the eggplant until golden and crisp before layering it into a casserole dish with tomato sauce and cheese.
Nobu’s Eggplant With Miso
Japanese eggplants have a sweeter, more delicate flavor than regular ones, and their slender shapes make them fun to eat, too. These are halved and scored with a crosshatch pattern before broiling with a sweet and savory miso glaze (the crosshatch allows the glaze to permeate every part of the eggplant).
Grilled-Vegetable Agrodolce
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Double up on the eggplant in this enticing starter. The vegetables take a dip in a sweet-and-sour reduction and are served with ingredients that are guaranteed to mellow out the astringent flavors. We like to include burrata, goat cheese, fatty cured meats, and bread in the spread.
Crispy Lemon-Parmesan Eggplant
Our irresistible riff on eggplant parm calls for broiling long slices of eggplant and topping them with a zesty panko mixture. It's quick to make and easy to love.
Spaghetti and Eggplant "Meatballs"
Our vegetarian spin on meatballs is packed with familiar flavor agents, such as cheese, garlic, and oregano. A blend of eggplant and white beans replaces the beef and is bound together with breadcrumbs and egg.
Ravioli With Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Capers
Roasted eggplant is combined with cherry tomatoes, shallots, and capers to make a quick version of pasta alla Norma. The vegetable sauce is tossed with store-bought cheese ravioli for an easy weeknight vegetarian dinner.
Roasted Eggplant Sandwich With Soy-Lime Glaze
If you've been searching for the perfect vegetarian sandwich, look no further. Eggplant slices are brushed with a glaze of soy sauce, lime, rice vinegar, and garlic, then roasted until tender and creamy. Don't forget the quick-pickled carrot, radishes, and cucumber that add a tangy crunch.
Eggplant Involtini With Fresh Tomato Sauce
Sweet, roasted, and nutty, this one-pan dinner is sure to delight. Flame-kissed, tender slices of eggplant are stuffed and rolled with three cheeses (fresh mozzarella, ricotta, and feta), currants, pine nuts, and breadcrumbs, then baked in a fresh tomato sauce.
Tomato-Eggplant Gnocchi
For a quick, hearty, and meat-free meal, try this recipe that starts with store-bought gnocchi. Sautéed, diced eggplant is combined with ricotta, fresh diced tomatoes, and basil. It's a combination you'll want to enjoy on the regular.
Mushroom-Eggplant Lasagna
Cremini mushrooms and eggplant make a perfect filling for vegetarian lasagna. It tastes so meaty, no one will be the wiser (even the kids will enjoy this meatless main dish with little to no speculation).
Grilled-Eggplant Parmesan
Here's a lighter, low-carb version of eggplant parmesan. Instead of breading and frying the slices, they are grilled. Top with mozzarella, return to the grill until the cheese melts, and then top with tomatoes, shallots, and fresh basil.
Eggplant and Roasted-Pepper Pasta
Yes, the charred roasted red peppers are delicious, and yes, the campanelle-shaped pasta is a unique choice, but the real star of the show is sweet sautéed eggplant. Make this dish for a summer potluck and watch as it disappears instantly.
Eggplant Meatball Casserole
You've heard of vegetarian lasagnas, but have you ever heard of vegetarian meatballs? Tender puréed eggplant, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and an egg white are whirred together to create a paste, then rolled into large balls and pan-fried.
Blistered Eggplant With Tomatoes, Olives, and Feta
The only cooking required for this plant-based main is broiling the eggplant until it becomes juicy and crispy. The rounds are then topped with fresh cherry tomatoes, olives, parsley, feta, and a rich drizzle of olive oil. Serve with crusty bread to sop up all the juices.
Skillet Pizza With Eggplant and Greens
Roasted eggplant might not seem the most obvious topping for pizza, but you really should give this recipe a try. It starts with homemade or storebought pizza dough; add a quick tomato-onion sauce, Swiss chard, roasted eggplant, and melty provolone cheese.
Soba Salad With Grilled Eggplant and Tomato
Refreshing and nutritious, this charred, vegetable-based soba noodle salad makes a delicious lunch or side dish—it's also vegan.
Eggplant, Pistachio, and Pomegranate Pizza
Here's another not-so-traditional take on pizza, and this one is quick to put together. With deep-purple eggplant, green pistachios, and bright red pomegranate seeds, it's also a vibrant, but harmonious mix of colors, textures, and flavors.
Grilled Eggplant With Tomatoes, Basil, and Feta
This is a stunning summer dish that's a little like a caprese salad—but with eggplant and feta standing in for the usual mozzarella. Large slices of eggplant are grilled, then topped with a combination of cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, pine nuts, and basil.
Traditional Eggplant Parmigiana
What would a list of eggplant recipes be without this Italian-American classic? There are layers of red sauce, meaty fried eggplant, and melted cheese in every bite.
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