Roundups

19 Best Eggplant Recipes

By Samira Kazan

published July 16, 2025

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Eggplant is everywhere right now, and if you’re wondering how to cook it or what to make, these easy eggplant recipes are here to help. From long, slender, purple Chinese eggplants, which are tender and mildly sweet, to the small, round ones I use for makdous, eggplant comes in all shapes and sizes, and each brings something different to the table.

These recipes aren’t just a seasonal experiment. They’re dishes I’ve made and loved over the years, and I finally pulled them together in one place. If you’re new to working with eggplant or want to brush up on the basics, you can start with how to cook eggplant—it covers roasting, air frying, grilling, and more.

Whether you’re after a simple side dish, a cozy main, or a bold, flavor-packed dip, these eggplant recipes have something for every kind of eggplant fan.

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Table of Contents

• Basic eggplant recipes
• Main dish eggplant recipes
• Eggplant sides, dips & appetizers

Basic eggplant recipes

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to use eggplant, these simple (and delicious!) recipes are a great place to start. They’re perfect on their own or tucked into a wrap, tossed in a salad, layered in a bowl, or even used in lasagna.

How To Cook Eggplant (Baked, Broiled & Air Fryer Eggplant)

How to cook eggplant in the oven or air fryer! Bake, broil, or air fry it to golden, caramelized perfection—plus tips on timing based on size and method.

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Perfect Oven Roasted Eggplant Slices

These perfect oven roasted eggplant slices require minimal ingredients, time, and effort. They are perfectly tender in the middle and crisp and brown outside in just 3 simple steps.

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Perfectly Grilled Eggplant Recipe

This perfect grilled eggplant is a versatile addition to your cookout menus that's naturally low-carb, gluten-free, and with an incredible, smoky flavor.

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Main dish eggplant recipes

When eggplant is at its best, you might as well make it the main event! These hearty meals let eggplant shine. They’re rich, satisfying, and full of flavor. Whether it’s saucy pasta, cozy stew, layered bake, or wrapped delight, these recipes are filling enough to serve as a complete meal.

The Best Eggplant Parmesan

The ultimate vegetarian-friendly comfort food, this eggplant parmesan is so easy to make and an easy way to incorporate more veggies into your meals.

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Pasta alla Norma (Eggplant Pasta)

Pasta alla Norma, a classic Sicilian eggplant pasta, combines tender eggplant with rich tomato sauce, pasta, and Parmesan for a hearty, wholesome meal.

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Authentic Chinese Eggplant Recipe

Swap out your usual stir-fry for this flavorful Chinese eggplant recipe. It’s bold, saucy, and packed with garlicky goodness. This plant-based twist on a takeout classic doesn’t skip on taste.

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The Best Eggplant Stew

This hearty eggplant stew combines roasted eggplants with chickpeas, chopped tomatoes, aromatics, and flavorful spices. The perfect dinner for a busy weeknight!

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Simple Maqluba (Upside-Down Layered Rice)

Simple vegetarian maqluba is a classic upside-down rice dish layered with vegetables, soy mince, and onions. It’s easy to prepare and makes a wholesome, eye-catching meal.

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Grilled Eggplant Halloumi Wrap

This healthy Middle-Eastern eggplant and halloumi wrap is filled with grilled halloumi, eggplant, lettuce, and a fresh tomato and cucumber salad with garlic sauce. A quick and delicious vegetarian lunch and BBQ dish!

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Eggplant sides, dips & appetizers

These tasty eggplant recipes are perfect for snacking, dipping, or starting any meal. From creamy dips to crispy bites, they’re full of flavor, great for platters, mezze spreads, or easy side dishes. If you’re stuck in a side dish rut, try one of these bold, flavorful twists.

Grilled Eggplant Salad

My go-to grilled eggplant salad! Light, refreshing, and perfect year-round, this vegan dish is a staple for any meal and ideal as a BBQ side.

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Miso Glazed Eggplant

Tender, juicy, and perfectly caramelized, this miso-glazed eggplant is a simple yet impressive vegetarian main packed with umami flavor.

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Zaalouk (Eggplant Tomato Dip)

Zaalouk is a simple Moroccan eggplant and tomato dish made with just a few ingredients. It’s rich, smoky, and perfect for scooping up with crusty bread.

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My mom’s baba ganoush

This is my mom's original Baba Ganoush—a smoky, creamy eggplant dip made with grilled eggplant, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. Easy to make and incredibly delicious, it's the perfect way to enjoy eggplants!

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Smoky Eggplant Red Pepper Dip (Ajvar)

This eggplant red pepper dip is inspired by ajvar and baba ganoush, combining charred red pepper, eggplant, garlic, tahini, and lemon for a simple, flavor-packed red pepper dip!

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Spicy Roasted Eggplant Dip (Baigan Choka/ Bharta)

This Spicy Roasted Eggplant Dip is a combination of Trini-Indian Baigan Choka & Baigan Bharta dishes – combining roasted eggplant with onion, tomatoes, chili, and a scotch bonnet pepper for a flavorful mashed eggplant dip.

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Kashke Bademjan (Persian Eggplant Dip)

Kashke bademjan is a creamy Persian eggplant dip made with kashk (a tangy, fermented dairy product), sautéed onions, and just a few simple ingredients.

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Makdous (Lebanese Stuffed Eggplants)

This traditional Makdous recipe is my mom’s specialty. Small eggplants stuffed with red pepper, chili, walnut, and garlic, then cured in olive oil. Great for sharing as part of a mezze platter.

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Crispy Eggplant Chips with Honey (Berenjenas con Miel | Vegan)

Berenjenas con miel, or crispy eggplant with honey, is a beloved Spanish tapa. Crunchy eggplant chips fried, baked, or air fried are paired with rich black honey (cane molasses) for a perfect balance of sweet and savory.

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Crispy Baked Eggplant Fries

These simple oven-baked breaded eggplant fries are deliciously crispy on the outside and tender and creamy in the middle!

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If you try any of these eggplant recipes, I’d love to hear what you think! And if you have a favorite eggplant recipe of your own, feel free to share it in the comments. Don’t forget to leave a rating on the recipe card, too.