Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients 26 of the Easiest-Ever Eggplant Recipes Including pizza, fries, salads, and sandwiches. (Seriously, this is one versatile vegetable.) By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is a food writer and editor with more than a decade’s experience working on titles such as Food Network Magazine, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping. She is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple and is currently overseeing all food and nutritional content for Well+Good as senior food editor. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple.com. Prior to joining Real Simple, she wrote and edited stories about food trends, plant-based food, nutrition, and new product releases for Food Network, LIVEKINDLY, and Eat This, Not That. She also launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. She is a graduate of New York University as a University Honors Scholar. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 22, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: JEN CAUSEY Eggplant is the best kind of vegetable, which is to say, it's a multi-tasker. It's a healthy meat substitute. It can stand up to being grilled, fried, or baked (like in eggplant Parmesan or eggplant rollatini), and it's delicious roasted, stewed, or sautéed for ratatouille or a healthy dip. Bonus: Learning how to cook eggplant is pretty easy if you start with these simple eggplant dishes and cooking methods. Here's Why You Need to Try Japanese and Chinese Eggplants 01 of 26 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 02 of 26 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. This eggplant recipe has all the cheesy, saucy 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 03 of 26 Eggplant and Chicken Caponata Pizza Jen Causey Here, fresh eggplant, shredded chicken, and salty capers create a delicious (and surprising) topping for pizza. Get the recipe 04 of 26 Eggplant "Sandwiches" Katherine Wolkoff A sandwich sans bread might not sound like much of a sandwich, but when you replace standard bread slices with slabs of thick, fried eggplant, the result is pretty darn delicious. Stuff some beefsteak tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and goat cheese crumbles in the middle, and you've got yourself a satiating sandwich alternative. Get the recipe 05 of 26 Greek Lamb Burgers with Baked Eggplant Fries Greg DuPree Alongside this delicious burger recipe comes eggplant fries, which are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The key to coating these 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 06 of 26 Grilled-Eggplant Salad Andre Baranowski Let the eggplant shine in this simple grilled salad recipe. To avoid any bitterness, choose young, smaller eggplants that don't have a lot of seeds. This recipe utilizes more fresh summer produce, but feel free to vary the other vegetables depending on the season. get the recipe 07 of 26 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 brighten 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 sliced into small squares for a bite-sized appetizer. Get the recipe 08 of 26 Eggplant Panzanella Andrew Purcell A panzanella is a traditional Italian salad that features cubes of deliciously grilled bread. While it's hard to beat that, this version's protein-packed kale and meaty eggplant chunks make it filling enough for dinner. And don't sleep on the lemony vinaigrette and juicy cherry tomatoes, which give this salad plenty of fresh, acidic notes. Plus, we love that the whole thing is tied together with shaved Manchego cheese and fresh dill. get the recipe 09 of 26 Miso Eggplant Dip Caitlin Bensel If you're a dip fan, you've probably had baba ganoush, and while this dip is similar, we'd argue that it's actually tastier than the Middle Eastern classic. It combines baba ganoush with the umami flavor from miso eggplant. To make this flavorful dip, you'll blitz the flesh of a roasted eggplant with miso paste, nutty tahini, mirin, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil. The result is a rich dip you'll want to make again and again. Bonus: It goes with crackers, crudités, and everything in between. get the recipe 10 of 26 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 a perfectly 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 11 of 26 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 12 of 26 Spicy Summer Squash Stir-Fry Greg DuPree While summer squash is the star of this vegetarian stir fry, half-moons of Japanese eggplant help make this spicy dish extra hearty. The meal, which riffs off Kung Pao, features a savory cornstarch-soy sauce that thickens around the crisp summer veggies. It also includes a spicy red jalapeño and crushed red pepper flakes, which bring some serious heat. To ensure the vegetables don't get soggy, go ahead and sear them in batches. This way, you'll be left with tender, golden-brown pieces. Get the recipe 13 of 26 Eggplant-Mushroom "Meatballs" Jennifer Causey Yes, it's possible to make meatballs without any actual meat, and yes, the result is still delicious. In this vegetarian recipe, the toothsome combo of eggplants and mushrooms helps ensure that these meatballs still deliver the familiar texture you know and love. Rolled oats and brown rice help bind the meatballs together while also adding plenty of satiating fiber to the meal. Throw in some garlic, parsley, and a shallot, and you've got the perfect meat-free sub filling or salad topper! get the recipe 14 of 26 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. 15 of 26 Torn Pita and Eggplant Salad With Parsley and Green Tahini Jennifer Causey Eggplant isn't as popular a salad ingredient as, say, tomatoes, but that doesn't mean you should shy away from using this meaty nightshade in your next bowl of greens. In this recipe, which is kind of like a deconstructed baba ganoush, you've got broiled, seasoned eggplant, crispy pita pieces, and parsley leaves. Everything is tied together with flavorful green tahini, which is as tasty as it is versatile. Seriously, you're going to want to make extra and pair it with everything from grain bowls to crudités. Get the recipe 16 of 26 Roasted Summer Vegetable Pasta Marcus Nilsson Eggplant is joined by other colorful veggies—think bell peppers and cherry tomatoes—in this dish to create a vibrant summer meal. Eat it warm for dinner, or serve it at room temperature for your next picnic. Pro-tip: If you're extra hungry, toss in some fresh mozzarella, crumbled feta, or goat cheese crumbles. get the recipe 17 of 26 Eggplant Dip With Feta and Crudités Victor Protasio If you want to really impress guests at your next gathering, kick things off with this picture-perfect mezze platter. It's packed with feta cheese, pita, and fresh vegetables, but the undisputed star is the baba ganoush. The savory roasted eggplant dip is creamy, smoky, and packed with flavor. If you're feeling a bit adventurous, sprinkle some sumac on top of the dip, which will add tart, citrus-like notes. Get the recipe 18 of 26 Eggplant and Tofu Stir-Fry José Picayo Add a sliced chili to this vegetarian stir-fry for a boost of heat. Get the recipe 19 of 26 Spicy Chicken and Eggplant Stir-Fry Jen Causey Eggplant's meaty texture makes it a true stir-fry star. Here, the hearty ingredient joins chicken breast pieces and scallions to create an easy-to-make meal that's ready in less than 30 minutes. Toasted sesame oil, fresh ginger, and teriyaki sauce help deliver that familiar stir-fry taste, while fluffy jasmine rice makes this dish a complete meal. Get the recipe 20 of 26 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. 21 of 26 Curried Eggplant With Tomatoes and Basil Con Poulos Serve this fresh, summery dish with plain yogurt to balance out the warming curry sauce. 22 Soothing Soup Recipes That Are Incredibly Easy to Make Get the recipe 22 of 26 Deep-Dish Eggplant Parmesan Paul Sirisalee Is there anything more satisfying than digging into a rich plate of eggplant Parmesan after a long day? Not really. This version of the classic dish features layers of baked eggplant, marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, and fresh mozzarella cheese. The whole thing is topped with panko breadcrumbs, which get perfectly crispy after a trip to the oven. If you're on a quest for a family-friendly meal that takes roughly one hour to make, this is it! Get the recipe 23 of 26 Eggplant Parm Panini Caitlin Bensel For a take on eggplant parm that requires slightly less hands-on work, try the classic dish in panini form. To make this irresistible Italian sandwich, you'll start by roasting the eggplant slices until they're melt-in-your-mouth tender. The eggplant is then joined by sliced tomato, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella, and marinara sauce, and the whole thing is sandwiched between two slices of crispy ciabatta bread. Get the recipe 24 of 26 Grilled Eggplant Provolone James Baigrie Eggplant halves become the main attraction when grilled and topped with melted, bubbly provolone cheese. 25 of 26 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 26 of 26 Ratatouille Maura McEvoy This rustic French classic is chock-full of healthy summer veggies, including zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, and—of course—eggplant. A Go-To Guide for Using Up Every Bit of Your Fresh Summer Produce Get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit