Even eggplant skeptics will fall for these 15 tasty eggplant recipes! With tacos, pasta, salads, and extra, they embrace one thing for everybody.
Of all of the vegetable recipes I submit, eggplant recipes are essentially the most divisive. Early on, this shocked me, as a result of eggplant recipes have all the time been a few of my favourite meals to eat. As a child, I by no means wished to cease taking part in at dinnertime, besides when my mother was making eggplant Parmesan. And after I began to discover vegetarian cooking by myself, grilled eggplant was one of many first dishes I mastered.
But when I’ve discovered one factor via writing Love and Lemons, it’s that not everybody likes eggplant. I’ve heard it known as spongy, bitter, and bland, and to that I say, “Legitimate!” If it’s not ready nicely, it may be all these issues. However when it’s performed proper, it’s scrumptious. Plus, its character completely transforms relying on the way you prepare dinner it. It is perhaps meaty and smoky coming off the grill, wealthy and silky after it cooks within the oven, or crisp on the skin and tender within the center after a couple of minutes on the range. Certain, you don’t prefer it a technique, however when you cooked it in a different way, you may adore it!
In brief, I hope all you eggplant skeptics will give this controversial veggie one other likelihood. To get you began, I’m sharing 15 simple eggplant recipes beneath. They embrace vibrant summer time pastas, recent grilling recipes, cozy casseroles, and all the pieces in between. Throw warning to the wind, and have enjoyable exploring these tasty eggplant recipes! I guess you’ll discover one you’re keen on.
Grilled Eggplant Recipes
Of all of the totally different eggplant recipes on the market, grilled eggplant recipes will all the time be my favourite. I like how the skin of the eggplant will get properly charred, whereas the within turns into silky clean.
Grilled Eggplant
Once I was first studying to prepare dinner greens, grilled eggplant was one in every of my favourite issues to make. It’s not arduous to see why: it’s tremendous simple, and it’s completely scrumptious! Get pleasure from it as a aspect dish by itself, or take it to the following degree by piling a recent couscous salad on high.
Eggplant Salad
This eggplant salad recipe is a celebration of summer time produce! Tender, smoky grilled eggplant performs off tender peppers, juicy tomatoes, and recent herbs.
Grilled Ratatouille Tartines
When it’s too sizzling to face over a pot of ratatouille on the range, I make these grilled ratatouille tartines as an alternative! Pair them along with your favourite rosé, and your friends (and also you) received’t have the ability to get sufficient.
Zucchini Lemon Orzo
In late summer time, I might eat this vibrant orzo pasta each evening! It will get its daring, recent taste from easy substances like lemon, feta cheese, pine nuts, and grilled eggplant and zucchini.
Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant, web page 179 of Love & Lemons Every Day
No grill? No worries! You may make this recipe two methods: on the grill and within the oven. Within the grilled model, I stir recent basil and arugula into the bulgur filling, and within the baked model, I smother the stuffed eggplant with crispy panko and pecorino cheese. Each methods are scrumptious!
Grilled Eggplant Pasta, web page 139 of The Love & Lemons Cookbook
This grilled veggie pasta is the proper meal for a gradual summer time evening. It packs an enormous punch of taste, nevertheless it comes collectively in minutes!
Baked Eggplant Recipes
Cooking eggplant within the oven exhibits off its versatility. Chop it up and roast it briefly, till it’s golden brown and tender, or bake it entire, till it collapses to the contact. You’ll discover each of those approaches within the baked eggplant recipes beneath.
Eggplant Parmesan
My lighter riff on my mother’s basic recipe! As a substitute of frying the eggplant slices, I bake them with a panko and Parmesan coating. After they’re golden brown and crisp, I layer them with selfmade marinara sauce, recent mozzarella, and basil to create a comforting, crave-worthy dish.
Oven Roasted Eggplant
This easy roasted eggplant is crisp and golden brown across the edges and melt-in-your-mouth tender within the center. I adore it as a aspect dish with recent herbs and lemon juice, nevertheless it’s additionally a beautiful addition to salads and pastas.
Eggplant Caponata
One other means to make use of roasted eggplant? In caponata! This Sicilian dish is tangy, briny, and frivolously candy with a mouthwatering silky texture. Serve it with crostini for a sublime summer time appetizer.
Baba Ganoush
Nope, that’s not hummus! It’s baba ganoush – a smoky, silky eggplant dip. It’s finest loved with recent pita and crunchy veggies, however when you’re something like me, you’ll end up standing on the counter, consuming it out of the meals processor with a spoon.
Vegetarian Tacos with Avocado Sauce
You may make these zesty tacos with virtually any roasted veggies, but when eggplant’s in season, I all the time add it. I like how the earthy roasted eggplant contrasts with the brilliant, tangy tomatillo sauce on high.
Eggplant Rollatini
Like eggplant Parm? You’ll love this recipe too! Delicate planks of roasted eggplant encompass a wealthy mix of ricotta, lemon zest, and pecorino cheese. Baked in marinara sauce, these little roll-ups are consolation meals at its most interesting.
Sautéed and Fried Eggplant Recipes
In these simple eggplant recipes, I prepare dinner the eggplant on the range. This fashion, it absorbs taste from different substances like olive oil, garlic, vinegar, and herbs because it cooks.
Ratatouille
No listing of eggplant recipes could be full with out ratatouille, a Provençal stew constructed from eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes. In my recipe, I sauté the veggies on the range till they soften. Then, I switch them to the oven, the place they soften right into a wealthy and tangy stew that’s unbelievable with a drizzle of olive oil and many crusty bread.
Zucchini Noodle Puttanesca, web page 177 of Love & Lemons Every Day
Sautéed eggplant acts like a sponge on this bight and briny pasta recipe. Because the eggplant cooks, it soaks up taste from sun-dried tomatoes, capers, olives, and white wine. While you sit right down to eat, it’ll be wealthy, tangy, and tender – be certain to get some in each chew!
Air Fryer Eggplant
As a substitute of frying this eggplant in a pan, I prepare dinner it within the air fryer! The nutty Parmesan coating will get fantastically crisp and golden brown, whereas the eggplant inside turns into comfortable and silky. Serve it over pasta with tomato sauce and cashew cream for a flavorful, satisfying meal.
Extra Favourite Summer season Recipes
Should you love these wholesome eggplant recipes, take a look at these scrumptious summer time recipes subsequent:
Eggplant Recipes: Baked Eggplant Parmesan
Serves 6 to eight
This baked eggplant parmesan is one in every of our favourite eggplant recipes!
- 2 massive eggplant, lower into ¼-inch thick rounds
- 2 eggs, crushed
- ¼ cup almond milk
- 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 tablespoons recent thyme
- ½ teaspoon pink pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon sea salt, extra for sprinkling
- Freshly floor black pepper
- Additional-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- 28 ounces Marinara Sauce
- 2 massive balls recent mozzarella, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup recent basil leaves
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Preheat the oven to 400°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
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In a medium-sized shallow dish, whisk the eggs and almond milk.
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In one other medium-sized shallow dish, mix the panko, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, oregano, thyme, pink pepper flakes, salt, and a number of other grinds of pepper.
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Dip the eggplant slices into the egg combination after which into the panko combination. Place onto the baking sheets, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 18 minutes or till tender and golden brown.
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In an 8×12 or 9×13-inch baking dish, unfold ½ cup marinara, layer half the eggplant, and high with 1 cup of marinara and half the mozzarella. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, the remaining marinara, and the remaining mozzarella. Sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with a number of extra pinches of sea salt. Bake for 20 minutes or till the cheese is properly melted. Flip the oven to broil and broil for two to 4 or till the cheese is browned and effervescent.
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Take away from the oven and high with recent basil.