23 Easy Eggplant Recipes - How to Cook and Choose Eggplants

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Eggplant is the best kind of vegetable, which is to say, it's a multi-tasker that can take on many different and delicious forms. It can stand up to being grilled or fried, tastes bomb when breaded (like in eggplant parmesan or eggplant rollatini) and lives its best life when roasted, stewed, or sauteed for ratatouille, baba ghanoush, and more. Bonus: eggplant works as a substitute for meat, too.

One of the most popular types of eggplants in America resembles a long pear-shaped zucchini, with glossy skin and a deep purple color. The flesh inside is beige-colored and spongy in consistency with seeds. Choose eggplants that have a firm, smooth, and shiny skin and feel heavy for their size. They should be free of discoloration, bumps, and bruises, which indicates that the veggie's been damaged and could be decayed. Eggplants are also available in plenty of other sizes and colors, including lavender, green, orange, and yellow. Though they're available year-round, eggplants are in peak season from July to October.

The nightshade veggie packs a host of vitamins and minerals, including fiber, vitamin B, copper, vitamin K, and folate, plus it contains phytonutrients and plenty of antioxidants. It's easy to prepare and tastes divine good when done right—try one of these easy eggplant recipes and you'll be part of the purple gang in no time.

RELATED: Here’s Why You Need to Try Japanese and Chinese Eggplants

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Eggplant, Feta, and Lemon Tart

Greg DuPree

This elegant eggplant tart recipe is easy, fresh, and incredibly flavorful. The thinly-sliced eggplant melts into the buttery pastry, and the thin slices of lemon brightens up every bite. And did we mention the slices of feta? This flavorful tart is the star of any dinner party as a veggie main, or slice into small squares for a bite-sized appetizer.

Get the recipe: Eggplant, Feta, and Lemon Tart

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Roasted Eggplant With Miso and Sesame Seeds

Antonis Achilleos

In this Asian-inspired recipe, the eggplants roast at high heat, making the outside skin crispy and the inside succulent. The rich miso dressing gives it a salty umami flavor that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. Serve alongside a piece of fish or meat for an easy and impressive meal.

Get the recipe: Roasted Eggplant With Miso and Sesame Seeds

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Eggplant Parmesan Rollatini

Jonny Valiant

Give eggplant parmesan a twist—literally—by rolling the ricotta mixture inside each pre-baked eggplant slice before topping with marinara sauce and freshly grated mozzarella. It has all the cheesy, sauce-y goodness you’d expect from lasagna, but without the heaviness of pasta noodles. Bake until browned and bubbly, then serve warm to guests.

Get the recipe: Eggplant Parmesan Rollatini

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Eggplant and Chicken Caponata Pizza

Jen Causey

Here, fresh eggplant, shredded chicken, and salty capers come together to create a delicious (and surprising) topping for pizza.

Get the recipe: Eggplant and Chicken Caponata Pizza

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Crispy Eggplant With Minty Yogurt

Antonis Achilleos

To make this delicious dip, you'll simply stir mint jelly with yogurt sauce and serve it with crispy eggplant rounds. The mint jelly adds a fresh herbal twist, plus welcome sweetness to balance out the crunchy coating on the eggplant rounds.

Get the recipe: Crispy Eggplant With Minty Yogurt

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Greek Lamb Burgers with Baked Eggplant Fries

Greg DuPree

Alongside this delicious burger recipe comes crispy eggplant fries. The key to the coating on these crispy on the outside and tender on the inside fries, is a bath in frothed egg whites and then a toss in panko, or Japanese breadcrumbs. It’s easy, but with complex flavors—the best kind of entertaining recipe.

Get the recipe: Greek Lamb Burgers with Baked Eggplant Fries

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Eggplant Caviar

Ditte Isager

For a fun alternative to salsa or hummus, serve this dip made from roasted eggplant, onion, garlic, and parsley.

Get the recipe: Eggplant Caviar

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Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad

Greg DuPree

Who doesn’t love pasta salad? Salty olives and feta cheese combined with fresh tomatoes, chewy pasta, and tender cubes of roasted eggplant make this the perfect satisfying and healthy lunch or dinner. The longer it sits, the more the flavors meld together, so make extra and eat well all week long!

Get the recipe: Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad

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Grilled Eggplant and Smoked Mozzarella Melts

Charles Masters

For those days when you’re just craving a sandwich, this open-faced melt will do the trick. Grilling thick slices of country bread and melting mozzarella over the top elevates the humble sammie into an elegant meal you would be proud to serve to anyone (or keep all to yourself).

Get the recipe: Grilled Eggplant and Smoked Mozzarella Melts

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Fettuccine With Spinach, Ricotta, and Grilled Eggplant

Christopher Baker

The ricotta will soften a little as it comes into contact with the warm pasta, adding a little creaminess to the final dish.

Get the recipe: Fettuccine With Spinach, Ricotta, and Grilled Eggplant

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Halibut With Grilled Eggplant Salad

Quentin Bacon

For a no-fuss meal, grill the fish and eggplant together, then drizzle with a no-cook dressing of rice vinegar, ginger, jalapeño, and soy sauce.

Get the recipe: Halibut With Grilled Eggplant Salad

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Bulgur Wheat Salad With Tomato and Eggplant

Kana Okada

Nutty and nutritious, bulgur bulks up this simple side dish with tender slices of baked eggplant.

Get the recipe: Bulgur Wheat Salad With Tomato and Eggplant

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Tortellini With Eggplant and Peppers

Dana Gallagher

Using only one large skillet, this vegetarian one-pot meal makes cleanup a snap. That, combined with its nutritious ingredients (eggplant and peppers), translates to a winning dish for the whole family.

Get the recipe: Tortellini With Eggplant and Peppers

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Creamy Eggplant and Feta Dip

Danny Kim

What's better than a creamy crowd-pleasing dip recipe that's as healthy as it is delicious? Simply mix together cheese, herbs, and a few other ingredients before cooking in the oven, when eggplant roasts to tender and silky.

Get the recipe: Creamy Eggplant and Feta Dip

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Eggplant and Tofu Stir-Fry

José Picayo

Add a sliced chili to this vegetarian stir-fry for a boost of heat.

Get the Recipe: Eggplant and Tofu Stir-Fry

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Spicy Eggplant With Cauliflower and Basil

Ann Stratton

Red curry paste provides the heat in an Asian-inspired vegetarian meal.

Get the recipe: Spicy Eggplant With Cauliflower and Basil

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Eggplant Pasta Salad

Anna Williams

This picnic-ready salad is loaded with ingredients that pack a punch, including capers, pine nuts, and sautéed tomatoes and eggplant.

Get the recipe: Eggplant Pasta Salad

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Curried Eggplant With Tomatoes and Basil

Con Poulos

Serve this fresh, summery dish with plain yogurt to balance out the warming curry sauce.

Get the recipe: Curried Eggplant With Tomatoes and Basil

RELATED: 6 Creative Ways to Use Celery

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Eggplant Lasagna With Herbed Ricotta and Asiago

Christopher Baker

Broiled eggplant slices stand in for traditional noodles in this meatless make-ahead dish.

Get the recipe: Eggplant Lasagna With Herbed Ricotta and Asiago

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Penne With Tomatoes, Eggplant, and Mozzarella

Christopher Baker

Instead of basil, sprinkle with fresh mint for an unexpected hint of cool, tingly flavor.

Get the recipe: Penne With Tomatoes, Eggplant, and Mozzarella

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Grilled Eggplant Provolone

James Baigrie

Eggplant halves become the main attraction when grilled and topped with melted, bubbly provolone cheese.

Get the recipe: Grilled Eggplant Provolone

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Roasted Baby Eggplant

Amy Neunsinger

Stuff the eggplant with lemons, garlic, and oregano to allow their pungent flavors to permeate the entire dish.

Get the recipe: Roasted Baby Eggplant

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Ratatouille

Maura McEvoy

This rustic French classic is chock-full of healthy summer veggies, including zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, and—of course—eggplant.

Get the recipe: Ratatouille

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23 of the Easiest-Ever Eggplant Recipes

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Eggplant, Feta, and Lemon Tart

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Roasted Eggplant With Miso and Sesame Seeds

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Eggplant Parmesan Rollatini

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Eggplant and Chicken Caponata Pizza

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Crispy Eggplant With Minty Yogurt

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Greek Lamb Burgers with Baked Eggplant Fries

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Eggplant Caviar

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Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad

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Grilled Eggplant and Smoked Mozzarella Melts

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Fettuccine With Spinach, Ricotta, and Grilled Eggplant

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Halibut With Grilled Eggplant Salad

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Bulgur Wheat Salad With Tomato and Eggplant

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Tortellini With Eggplant and Peppers

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Creamy Eggplant and Feta Dip

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Eggplant and Tofu Stir-Fry

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Spicy Eggplant With Cauliflower and Basil

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Eggplant Pasta Salad

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Curried Eggplant With Tomatoes and Basil

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Eggplant Lasagna With Herbed Ricotta and Asiago

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Penne With Tomatoes, Eggplant, and Mozzarella

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Grilled Eggplant Provolone

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Roasted Baby Eggplant

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Ratatouille

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