Eggplant

For storage, care, and easy prep ideas, check out our eggplant product page.

Recipes on this page:

Baked Eggplant Parmesan Casserole     Basil-Eggplant Salad     Couscous with Tomato Eggplant Sauce     Eggplant-Squash Dip     Eggplant Parmigiana     Grilled Eggplant Sandwich     Herbed Baby Eggplant     Eggplant Appetizer     Pasta-Free Eggplant Lasagna     Summer Vegetable Stew     Grilled Eggplant Dip     

Recipes from around the web:

Vegan Gluten-Free Heavenly Eggplant Stew     Delicious Eggplant Recipes     Slow Cooker Mediterranean Eggplant Salad     Moroccan Zaalouk     Roasted Eggplant     Stuffed Miso Eggplant    Oven Baked Eggplant Fries     Eggplant Chips with Cilantro Pesto     Everything You Need to Know About Eggplant    

Baked Eggplant Parmesan Casserole (return to top)
(from Louisa F.)

• 24 ounce jar any flavor tomato sauce.
• 2 medium-sized eggplants, sliced about ½ inch thick, leaving skin on
• Olive oil, about 2 to 3 TBS
• ¾ cup Italian breadcrumbs
• ½ to ¾ c shredded parmesan cheese (divided in half)
• Seasoned salt if desired
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1 pkg (8 Oz) fresh mozzarella, shredded

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Spread the bottom of  a 9” x 14” pan with ½ jar of sauce.  Place the eggplant in overlapping layers.  Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the eggplant, & top with ½ of the parmesan cheese.  Season with salt and pepper as desired.   Top with the remaining sauce and cheese.  Cover with foil, and bake at least 40 minutes until the eggplant is tender.  Remove from the oven and remove the foil.   Top with the mozzarella cheese and return to the oven for 3 to 5 minutes to melt the cheese.  Let rest 15 minutes before serving.

Basil-Eggplant Salad (return to top)
Makes 8 servings

• 3 medium eggplants, skin on, cut into chunks
• 1 c olive oil, divided
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• Black pepper
• 1 c fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
• Juice of 2 lemons

Place eggplant in foil-lined roasting pan. Toss with 1/2 c olive oil, salt, and garlic.
Bake 35 minutes at 400 degrees, or until eggplant is soft but not mushy. Cool 5 minutes on pan; transfer to large bowl.
Heat remaining olive oil in large skillet; add onions and cook, covered, over low heat until tender, about 15 minutes.
Add onions to eggplant. Season generously with pepper.
Add basil and lemon juice; toss. Serve at room temperature.

Couscous with Tomato Eggplant Sauce (return to top)

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 eggplant, skin on, diced
• 1 green pepper, finely sliced
• 2 c chopped fresh tomatoes
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp each dry basil, rosemary, & oregano
• 1/4 c minced fresh parsley
• 1 c water
• 1 lb whole-wheat couscous

Cook onion until golden in olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.
Add eggplant and green pepper; cook and stir 10 minutes.
Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, paprika, basil, rosemary, oregano, parsley and water; stir.
Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring often. Mash eggplant, then cook 30 minutes more.
Cook couscous according to package directions. Serve sauce over hot cooked couscous.

Eggplant-Squash Dip (return to top)

• 1 lb yellow summer squash, cubed
• 1 medium eggplant
• 2 Tbsp tahini (sesame butter)
• 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• Juice of 1 lime or lemon
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/4 c freshly chopped parsley

Steam squash until tender; drain. Mash to a coarse consistency. Scoop into a serving dish.
Pierce eggplant skin at 1-inch intervals with fork. Broil, turning often, until eggplant is uniformly browned, which takes about a half hour.
Cool eggplant, cut open, and spoon pulp into bowl with squash. Mix vegetables; blend in add tahini, sesame seeds, garlic, lemon or lime juice, and salt. Chill.
Drizzle cooled dip with oil and garnish with parsley. Serve with pita bread or crackers.

Eggplant Parmigiana (return to top)

• 3-4 eggs
• 1 1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 2 c bread crumbs
• Olive oil for frying
• 2 large eggplants, peeled & sliced 1/2-inch thick
• Prepared marinara sauce
• 16 oz mozzarella, sliced

In a bowl, beat eggs with 1/4 c grated cheese. Place bread crumbs in a bowl or pie plate.
Heat 1/2 inch oil in skillet. One at a time, dip eggplant slices in egg mixture to coat, then in bread crumbs to coat. Lay on waxed paper. When oil is very hot, but not smoking, fry eggplant, working in batches, about 30 seconds per side till lightly browned. Remove to paper towels.
In a 9- by 13-inch baking pan, place layers of eggplant, marinara sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan until pan is full, ending with Parmesan.
Bake at 350 degrees 40-45 minutes, until heated through and cheese is melted.

Grilled Eggplant Sandwich (return to top)

• 1 large eggplant
• 1/4 c olive oil
• 1 long loaf crusty French bread
• 1/4 c basil pesto
• 1/4 lb provolone cheese, thinly sliced
• 6 sliced mild peppers, such as banana peppers
• 1 fresh tomato, optional

Slice eggplant 1/4-inch thick. Brush with olive oil on both sides. Grill over low to medium coals, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, 5-7 minutes total.
Cut bread in half lengthwise. Spread pesto on cut faces of bread. Place eggplant, cheese, peppers and optional tomato in layers on one half of loaf. Top with other half of loaf.
If desired, wrap loaf in foil and heat at 350 degrees 20 minutes. Cut crosswise into 4 sandwiches and serve.

Herbed Baby Eggplant (return to top)

• 3 lbs small Oriental-type eggplants
• 3 tsp salt
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 c olive oil
• 1/3 c sherry or red wine vinegar
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 c fresh basil leaves, cut into shreds

Remove eggplant caps and quarter. Sprinkle with salt; let drain 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
Spread pieces in a single layer on baking sheet, cut sides up.
Mix garlic and oil, and drizzle over eggplants. Bake 30 minutes, until the eggplant is brown and tender. Cool slightly.
Rinse basil leaves. Stack leaves and cut into thin shreds.
Place eggplant in a large bowl and drizzle with vinegar, add basil shreds and toss.

Eggplant Appetizer (return to top)

• 1 large eggplant
• 1/3 c chopped onion
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

Pierce skin of eggplant in several places. Cut in half lengthwise and place on greased baking sheet. Broil 8-10 minutes, until soft.
Scoop pulp from skin with a spoon and place in bowl. Add onion, olive oil, dill, salt, and pepper; blend well. Serve hot or cold with plain crackers or bread

Pasta-Free Eggplant Lasagna (return to top)
-Lisa K. “Super-easy, and you just use eggplant slices instead of lasagne noodles”
Serves 2 to 3

• 1 large or 2-3 small eggplants, peeled and sliced ¼-inch thick
• 1 large or 2-3 small tomatoes, sliced 1/4 –inch thick
• 1 c chopped fresh basil and/or parsley
• 1 c spaghetti sauce
• 1 c cheese (cottage cheese or shredded mozzarella or Italian blend)\
• Grated Parmesan cheese

In small baking dish, spread a spoonful of sauce.
Layer eggplant slices, tomato slices, all of the herbs and ½ of the sauce and cheese.
Make a second layer of eggplant, tomatoes, remaining sauce and cheese.
Sprinkle parmesan on the top.
Bake, covered, at 350 for 45 minutes.
Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes.
Serve with salad and/or crusty Italian bread.

Summer Vegetable Stew (return to top)

• 5 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 c vegetable oil
• 1 lb cubed pork
• 5 ripe tomatoes, sliced
• 1 c fresh green beans, cut into pieces
• 2 c peeled, diced eggplant
• 2 c diced green pepper
• 1 carrot, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 c uncooked rice (not instant)
• 1 c water
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Sauté onions in oil until soft. Remove from skillet and set aside. Add pork to skillet and brown; remove from heat.
Arrange half the onions in greased 9 x 13 x 3-inch baking dish. Add half the tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add in layers half of the beans, eggplant, green peppers and carrots. Top with all the rice and pork. Season with salt and pepper.
Add in layers remaining onions, tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, green peppers and carrots. Season. Pour water over. Cover and bake at 375 degrees 2 1/2 hours. Uncover and bake 30 minutes more.

Grilled Eggplant Dip (return to top)
(from CSA member Pamela S.)

2 long, slender eggplants (about 2lbs in all)
8 cloves garlic, cut lengthwise in half
1/2 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 scallions, both white and green parts, trimmed and finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

1. Preheat the grill to high.
2. Make 8 small slits in each eggplant, using the tip of a paring knife. Insert a half garlic clove in each.
3. When ready to cook, place the eggplants on the hot grate and grill, turning with tongs, until the skin is charred all over and the flesh is very soft, 20-30 minutes; the eggplants will have lost their firm shape. Transfer the eggplants to a plate to cool.
4. Using a paring knife, scrape the charred skin off the eggplants. Transfer the eggplant flesh, with its garlic, to a medium-size bowl and mash to a coarse puree with a fork (or use an immersion blender). Stir in the yogurt, cilantro, scallions, coriander, ginger, lemon juice, oil, and salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Note: makes about 2.5 cups; serves 8 as an appetizer or dip. Great with pita chips!