27 Hearty and Healthy Eggplant Recipes 

April 16, 2019
Dan Goldberg
Eggplant is truly one of the most versatile foods you can buy. Whether it's grilled, fried, or roasted, this flavorful vegetable adds a little something special to so many summer dishes. From robust pastas to creamy dips, we've got the eggplant recipes for you. 
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Grilled Eggplant-and-Corn Romesco Napoleons

Photo: Cedric Angeles; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Grilled Eggplant-and-Corn Romesco Napoleons Recipe

Eggplant is an incredibly versatile vegetable and a good choice for meatless meals. In this cheesy Rollups recipe, eggplant stands in for a delicious substitute for pasta. Eggplants enjoy the same growing conditions as tomatoes, so try growing your own this year.

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Eggplant Rollatini

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton and Kady Wohlfarth; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
Eggplant Rollatini Recipe

Savory Eggplant Rollatini is an easy and unexpected party appetizer. Cut each roll-up in half and serve with toothpicks for a pop-in-your-mouth bite.

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Greek Eggplant Skillet Dinner

Caitlin Bensel
Greek Eggplant Skillet Dinner Recipe

Protein-rich tofu teams up with meaty eggplant in this Greek-inspired skillet supper. Pick up San Marzano tomatoes if you can find them; their sweet flavor and low acidity balance the flavors of this dish. Crush them gently with your hands before chopping to release any excess juices. Be sure to purchase extra-firm tofu so that it holds its shape. Serve with toasted whole-wheat pita bread.

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Spicy Eggplant With Plums

Caitlin Bensel
Spicy Eggplant With Plums Recipe

This combo of spicy char, sweet fruit, and creamy yogurt is a surefire hit. For a tasty swap, try halved pitted cherries in place of plums.

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Miso-Glazed Eggplant Steaks

Caitlin Bensel
Miso-Glazed Eggplant Steaks Recipe

To quote Robin Bashinsky, the mastermind behind this recipe, “This is a dish full of char and vigor.” Savory miso is a natural match for thick eggplant steaks; look for miso in the refrigerated section of your grocery store’s produce department.

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Eggplant Caponata

Caitlin Bensel
Eggplant Caponata Recipe

Caponata is a classic Sicilian side typically made with fried eggplant. Our lighter version gets a quick sauté in heart-healthy olive oil.

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Warm Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Eggplant

Victor Protasio
Warm Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Eggplant Recipe

Congratulations—You just found your new go-to pasta salad! This veggie-packed beauty is nice and filling, thanks to meaty eggplant. If you can’t find burrata, simply tear 6 ounces of fresh mozzarella into bite-size pieces. Heading to a potluck? Feel free to make this recipe ahead of time; just be sure to let it come to room temperature and toss with an extra drizzle of vinegar and oil before serving. Add a few tablespoons of chopped fresh basil leaves for an extra layer of flavor.

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Eggplant Parmesan

Caitlin Bensel
Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

Perfect for Meatless Mondays, this eggplant parmesan recipe is not only delicious, but also healthy. Make eggplant parmesan instead of lasagna to skip the unnecessary carbs and still enjoy all the cheesy goodness. When breading the eggplant, make sure to use whole-wheat panko instead of regular panko to avoid sogginess. A great crowd-pleaser Italian dish, elevate this eggplant parmesan with our homemade tomato sauce. Don’t skimp on the fresh basil to provide a fresh and earthy flavor to this baked dish. Make sure to save enough cheese at the end to sprinkle on top for the final crispy, cheesy layer. 

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Harissa-Roasted Eggplant with Minced Chicken

Jennifer Causey
Harissa-Roasted Eggplant with Minced Chicken Recipe

Here we play with the concept of meat as condiment, using a small amount of rich chicken thighs as a sort of relish on spicy roasted eggplant. Creamy Greek yogurt offers cooling balance to the heat of harissa.

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Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

Our Test Kitchen made eggplant Parmesan easier (and healthier!) without sacrificing any of the comforting flavor of the original home-cooked dish.

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Roasted Tomato-Eggplant Soup with Garlic Croutons

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Roasted Tomato-Eggplant Soup with Garlic Croutons Recipe

Tomato soup gets a flavorful new twist: Roasted eggplant adds creaminess, and caramelized onions and carrots add sweetness.

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Charred Eggplant Dip with Tahini

Sara Tane
Charred Eggplant Dip with Tahini Recipe

Perfect for entertaining or a hearty spread to snack off of all week, this nutritious charred eggplant dip is as easy as to make it is delicious. Roasting the eggplant at a super high temperature leads to a creamy flesh that's the perfect backbone for a your dip. Don't worry if the skin is extra charred and looks burnt—this makes for a more flavorful end product. Mixed with Greek yogurt and tahini, this Meditteranean-inspired spread is ultra rich. Serve it with fresh veggies, warm pita, or smear it across a piece of toast. You could even use it as your sauce for a flatbread or pizza; simply top with roasted or fresh veggies and a sprinkle of crumbled feta or goat cheese.

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Grilled Japanese Eggplant, Zucchini, and Onions

Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Grilled Japanese Eggplant, Zucchini, and Onions Recipe
This 3-ingredient recipe is perfect for outdoor grilling on warm summer nights.

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Eggplant Pappardelle

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis 
Eggplant Pappardelle Recipe

If you thought zoodles were good, wait until you give eggplant “noodles” a go. Swapping pappardelle pasta for long ribbons of eggplant makes for a stunning and flavor-packed, veggie-forward entree you’ll love to serve to guests. The key is to make sure you do not overcook the eggplant, as it should be tender, but still have some body to it. To do this, be sure to get the oil hot before adding your eggplant, and cook the eggplant undisturbed to promote browning. Turning the heat off when stirring in the pesto keeps the eggplant from burning. This dish is not ideal for reheating, so aim to eat what you make. However, on its own, the scrumptious pesto sauce is worth doubling to have leftovers you can use throughout the week.

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Lamb and Rice Stuffed Eggplant

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis 
Lamb and Rice Stuffed Eggplant Recipe

If you’ve ever experienced the disappointment that is a bland eggplant boat hidden under copious amounts of sauce and cheese… rest assured, this isn’t that. A variety of dried spices provide a wealth of warm, aromatic flavors, while ground lamb delivers a distinct richness, and fresh mint provides a pop of herbaceous energy—ultimately, making for an incredibly satisfying meal. 

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Pasta with Eggplant, Burrata, and Mint

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele
Pasta with Eggplant, Burrata, and Mint Recipe
All you need is a glass of chilled white wine and a bowl of this pasta to transport yourself to Italy on a weeknight. This dish might look simple but it’s surprisingly decadent, thanks to luscious burrata cheese, which is fresh mozzarella filled with cream.

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Charred Eggplant with Salsa Verde and Burrata

Charred Eggplant with Salsa Verde and Burrata Recipe
Take advantage of the summer sun and cook a deliciously healthy dinner on the grill.

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Eggplant Butter

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Eggplant Butter Recipe

This umami-rich compound butter is the perfect summery spread to put eggplant to delicious use. Spoon the butter over grilled meats, toss with roasted veggies, swirl into sauces or pastas, or sread it simply over grilled bread for a scrumptious snack. 

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Eggplant and Ham Fritters with Creamy Mustard Sauce

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis 
Eggplant and Ham Fritters with Creamy Mustard Sauce Recipe

Crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside, these golden, savory fritters are the perfect starter or brunch dish. With a delicate eggplant flavor, deliciously balanced by smoky ham, this is the perfect gateway recipe for anyone who claims to “hate” eggplant. Try not to over-mix the batter as this will make your fritters chewy, and be sure to work in small batches while frying so you don’t overcrowd the pan. If you have trouble finding crème frâiche, you can easily substitute full-fat sour cream. 

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Eggplant Bolognese

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr
Eggplant Bolognese Recipe
This hearty veggie-forward main dish swaps pork and beef with grated eggplant and mushrooms for a robust, vegetable-based take on traditional pasta bolognese. That said, this is not the type of veggie dish that leaves one wanting, the eggplant and mushrooms develop a deeply rich flavor as the sauce simmers and thickens, delivering plenty of satisfying, umami goodness.

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Eggplant-Yogurt Dip

Greg DuPree
Eggplant-Yogurt Dip Recipe
Prepare to sample your next favorite dip recipe. Creamy and flavorful, this dip pairs perfectly with pita chips or veggie slices.
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Eggplant Rollups

Greg Dupree
Eggplant Rollups Recipe
Looking for a lower-carb alternative to lasagna? Try these delicious Eggplant Rollups filled with herbed ricotta and baked in your favorite marinara sauce.

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Eggplant "Pizzettes"

Eggplant "Pizzettes" Recipe

Lunch: Keep hunger pangs away with these healthy and delicious dishes! 150 calories and under. Lose weight the 5:2 way. This healthy, quick and easy recipe is featured in the lunch section of the new 5:2 Starter's Guide to The 2-Day Diet. The book provides a selection of over 100 tasty recipes that meet the daily 500 calorie allotment for the 2 days of intermittent fasting, as required by the 5:2 Diet.

 

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Grilled Eggplant and Purple Cauliflower Caponata

Grilled Eggplant and Purple Cauliflower Caponata Recipe

Purple cauliflower is becoming more widely available at farmers markets; white cauliflower would also be delicious here.

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Cheesy Eggplant Crust Pizza

Cheesy Eggplant Crust Pizza Recipe

Eggplant and pizza—they make sense together. But this cheesy-good recipe puts the tasty pairing to work in a new, veggie-forward way.

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Grilled Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Zucchini

Dan Goldberg
Grilled Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Zucchini Recipe

This basic method for grilled eggplant, tomatoes, and zucchini works for other vegetables too, including green onions and halved bell peppers.

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