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15 Best Eggplant Recipes That Will Make You Fall in Love With It
Ree says it's "one of life's sheer pleasures!"
One of the best parts about warmer weather is the abundance of summer vegetables in our gardens and farmers' markets. From zucchini recipes to corn recipes—the start of summer means the introduction of so many fresh dishes. And, of course, summer wouldn't be complete without a few of our favorite eggplant recipes, too!
Eggplant is one of those veggies (that's actually a fruit) in which you can make a variety of meals. It can be cooked and mashed into a smoky party dip, sliced and grilled for a quick summer recipe, or breaded and fried for a comfort food favorite. And if you ask Ree Drummond, you won't want to miss the melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness of tender roasted eggplant. "Roasted eggplant is one of life's sheer pleasures," she says, "and it converts even the staunchest anti-eggplant humans."
Perhaps one of the best-known ways to use eggplant is in a classic eggplant parmesan. It's layered with marinara sauce and plenty of cheese to make a vegetarian main course that even a cowboy would love. Here, you'll find variations on the traditional dish, including Ree's grilled eggplant parm hoagies. And speaking of Italian dinner ideas, this list also includes eggplant in pasta recipes, summer salads, simple sides, and more. So read on for everything you need to know about cooking with eggplant!
Fried Eggplant
Eggplant becomes meltingly tender on the inside and extra-crispy on the outside when fried with panko breadcrumbs. Serve it up with tomato sauce for dipping and watch the whole family gather round!
Get the Fried Eggplant recipe.
Eggplant Parmesan
Just like chicken parmesan, this layered casserole is ooey-gooey and oh-so comforting. It's a great option for a vegetarian main course.
Get the Eggplant Parmesan recipe.
Eggplant Lasagna Roll-Ups
This twist on veggie lasagna makes dinner easy to serve. Everyone in the family can portion out their serving based on how many roll-ups they want to eat!
Get Ree's Eggplant Lasagna Roll-Ups recipe.
Grilled Eggplant Parm Hoagies
Eggplant parm lovers will appreciate this variation that's ready in less than an hour! It stacks grilled eggplant with marinara sauce, sliced tomato, and provolone cheese onto crusty hero rolls. You can also add sliced olives or pickled peppers if you prefer.
Get Ree's Grilled Eggplant Parm Hoagies recipe.
Beautiful Roasted Vegetables
Along with meltingly delicious eggplant, this assortment of veggies includes asparagus, bell pepper, mushrooms, and squash. It's perfect for serving as a side for steak or in a sandwich, panini, or quesadilla.
Get Ree's Beautiful Roasted Vegetables recipe.
Roasted Zucchini and Eggplant Puttanesca Pasta
Traditional puttanesca is typically made with tomatoes, olives, capers, and anchovies so it's simple, yet briny. This version adds roasted summer veggies (zucchini and eggplant) for even more fresh flavor.
Get the Roasted Zucchini and Eggplant Puttanesca Pasta recipe.
Baba Ghanoush
Baba ghanoush is a traditional Mediterranean spread (or dip) that's made with smoky eggplant, tahini, garlic, and fresh herbs. As Ree says, "It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This."
Get Ree's Baba Ghanoush recipe.
Grilled Vegetable Salad
Take your eggplant outdoors with this beautiful rainbow-inspired vegetable salad. It would be perfect for summer cookouts.
Cheesy Roasted Eggplant Skillet Casserole
This recipe is similar to an eggplant parm, but it has the addition of hearty white beans and creamy ricotta cheese. It can be a main course when paired with a side salad or bowl of pasta.
Get the Cheesy Roasted Eggplant Skillet Casserole recipe at Food Heaven Made Easy.
Ratatouille
This classic French dish is everything we love about summer: tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and lots of fresh basil! Serve it up with crusty bread for dipping or use leftovers for a delicious side to fried eggs.
Roasted Eggplant Caprese Salad
If you love the combination of tomatoes and mozzarella, just wait until you try it with roasted eggplant added in! You can serve it chilled as a salad or warmed up so the cheese gets melty.
Get the Roasted Eggplant Caprese Salad recipe at The Mediterranean Dish.
Miso Eggplant
For this savory side dish, you'll score the eggplant halves before cooking, which allows the caramelized miso glaze to really get into all those nooks and crannies.
Eggplant Pasta
Fresh ingredients, like eggplant and bell peppers, pairs with pantry staples, like jarred pasta sauce and crushed red pepper flakes, to make this 30 minute meal.
Eggplant Moussaka
This Mediterranean dish layers roasted eggplant with scrumptious meat sauce and creamy cheese sauce for a hearty casserole that you can make all year-round.
Grilled Eggplant Chimichurri
Eggplant has a meaty texture that makes it great for grilling! Plus, the grill’s char adds smoky flavor to eggplant which basically takes away any fear of a bitter flavor.
Get the Grilled Eggplant Chimichurri recipe at Foodie Crush.
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