These healthy eggplant recipes are the kind of appetizers and side dishes that will have you scratching your plate all summer long. From hearty and cheesy pasta dishes to zesty grilled eggplant, these four- and five-star-rated dishes highlight seasonal vegetables in a delicious way. Be sure to stock up on freshest eggplant because recipes like our Penne Bolognese with Sausages and Eggplants and our Gnocchi Salad with Summer Vegetables will leave you wanting more!
Eggplant Parmesan from EatingWell
Here we cook breaded eggplant for crispy results with fewer calories to boot. This makeover of the classic eggplant parmesan recipe was originally developed by our Test Kitchen in 1995 and was updated in 2020 for our 30th anniversary issue.
Gnocchi salad with summer vegetables
This pasta salad is best served warm while the gnocchi are nice and tender. Plus, grilled vegetables are delicious fresh off the stove in this easy gnocchi recipe.
Eggplant Pomodoro Pasta
In this eggplant pasta dish, diced eggplant becomes tender when sautéed with garlic and olive oil. Toss with fresh plum tomatoes, green olives and capers and you have a simple and flavorful sauce. We like eggplant pasta sauce over angel hair pasta, but any kind will work. Serve with freshly grated parmesan and a mixed green salad.
Low Carb Eggplant Pizzas
These eggplant pizzas have all the classic flavors of a real pizza without all the carbs. Opt for spicy Italian sausages if you like it hot! Serve these mini pizzas with a green salad on the side to complete the meal.
Yatimcheh (Iranian eggplant, tomato and potato stew)
Yatimcheh is a comforting, economical and easy-to-prepare Iranian vegetarian stew made with eggplant, tomatoes and potatoes. This dish can be made all year round but is especially tasty with sweet late summer tomatoes and eggplant. Serve yatimcheh with flatbread, such as lavash or sangak, or rice, along with fresh herbs like parsley, mint, basil or green onions, and natural yogurt. Read more about the author’s link to the recipe in Even though we are miles apart, my mother always guides me in front of my stove.
Penne bolognese with sausages and eggplant
Here, we infuse flavor into the eggplant Bolognese by cooking the eggplant in the sausage juice. Serve this baked pasta as a family with a salad and pour the adults a glass of Chianti.
Oven Breaded Eggplant
This breaded eggplant is cooked to perfection with a crispy exterior and soft interior. It’s wonderful dipped in marinara. If you want to jazz it up even more, add a sweet and tangy drizzle of balsamic glaze and a sprinkle of fresh basil leaves.
Easy eggplant stir-fry
This eggplant stir-fry is easy to make. We call for long, tender Japanese eggplants, but regular eggplants will also work well, cut into 1-inch pieces. Jalapeño peppers can range from mild to very spicy. If you need to lower the heat, opt for small, sweet peppers instead.
Crispy eggplant parmesan fries
The cheesy flavor and crispy crust of these eggplant “fries” are like Parmesan-fried eggplant, but with a fraction of oil. It’s the perfect aperitif for an Italian evening! Dip these crispy fries into a big hot bowl of your favorite marinara.
Eggplant lasagna rolls
Vegetarians and meat eaters alike will devour these comforting lasagna rolls. We use thinly sliced eggplant in place of pasta to reduce carbs. Pre-roasting the eggplant helps develop flavor and softens the slices for easy rolling.
Eggplant stuffed with Caprese
We’ve taken all the elements of a classic caprese – tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil and balsamic vinegar – and stuffed them into freshly cooked eggplant. The result is a perfect late summer vegetarian dinner that everyone will enjoy.
Eggplant Rollatini
This tender eggplant rollatini will melt in your mouth. Double cooking the eggplant helps soften the eggplant slices for rolling. If you have extra eggplant, chop and fry them in oil with a little garlic and toss them with wilted dark leafy greens like spinach or kale for an easy side dish. A piece of toasted wholemeal bread completes the meal.
Roasted eggplant with lemon
This simple lemon roasted eggplant recipe is both tangy and flavorful and makes a delicious side dish to pair with chicken or salmon. In addition to lemon, we season the eggplant with salt, pepper and the herbaceous, nutty flavor of za’atar. Za’atar is a seasoning blend that usually contains oregano and thyme (or similar herbs); sumac, which has a pleasant citrus flavor; and toasted sesame seeds. Chili powder, coriander, and cumin may also be included in some za’atar mixes.
Eggplant schnitzel with plum salad
Sesame seeds add another layer of flavor to the coating on these crispy eggplant slices. If plums aren’t in season, try another stone fruit for added sweetness. Tomatoes are another good alternative.
Eggplant stuffed with couscous and almonds
Smoky almonds, plump eggplant, and herby whole-grain couscous make this meal very satisfying. The harissa gives a little kick to the creamy sauce.
eggplant parmesan
Eggplant Parmesan doesn’t need to include layers of fried eggplant and mounds of cheese. This healthy eggplant parmesan recipe is satisfying without packing on the calories and fat. Don’t skip the step of salting the eggplant, especially if you want to freeze one of the casseroles. Salting helps draw out extra moisture so the eggplant holds up better in the freezer. Serve with a bitter green vegetable salad drizzled with a red wine vinaigrette. This recipe makes enough for two 8×8-inch casserole dishes (four servings each): have one for dinner tonight and freeze the other for a night when you don’t have time to prepare dinner.
Agrodolce Grilled Eggplant
In this vegetable side dish, the Italian agrodolce sauce translates to sour (“agro”) and sweet (“dolce”). Pro tip: It’s as delicious on grilled summer vegetables as it is on bitter greens and roasted winter squash. Here, the grilled eggplant acts like a sponge, soaking up that addictive sweet and sour sauce as it sits. No baby eggplant? No problem. Cut large eggplants into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
Grilled eggplant salad
This easy grilled eggplant salad is the healthy side dish you’ll want to serve all summer long. It prepares in just 25 minutes and can be served hot or at room temperature, so it’s suitable for both casual parties and weeknight dinners. The combination of eggplant, cherry tomatoes, red peppers, red onions and fresh herbs makes a salad full of flavor and bright colors. Serve it with grilled chicken or fish or as part of a vegetarian mezze platter with dips like hummus and pita bread.
Greek stuffed eggplant
This Greek-inspired stuffed eggplant is packed with vegetables and Mediterranean flavors. The dish is easy to prepare and the addition of cumin gives it a sweet, earthy note.
Roasted eggplant pasta
This easy roasted eggplant pasta dish is topped with eggplant, fresh cherry tomatoes, and lots of fresh herbs. Feta cheese adds a savory note while balsamic vinaigrette brightens the flavor. It’s the perfect vegetarian summer dinner.
Bulgur Pilaf with eggplant, peppers and tomatoes (Hondros me Melitzanes)
In Crete, this pilaf is often made with xynohondros, or cracked wheat simmered in sour goat’s milk. A pinch of feta pays homage to this flavor.
Eggplant Tortilla Casserole
This layered casserole is inspired by classic cheese enchiladas, without the hassle of rolling and stuffing individual tortillas. You’d never guess that inside this comforting casserole is a layer of thinly sliced eggplant. The thin slices become tender when roasted and add a subtle salty note.
Eggplant curry
We bake the eggplants in the oven to speed up the recipe and keep things from getting too unruly on the stovetop. While the eggplant is roasting, line up all your ingredients and start cooking so this easy eggplant curry comes together perfectly. Any leftovers will hold up well and are perfect to take to work for lunch.
Stuffed eggplant
In this Italian Stuffed Eggplant recipe, fresh breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and parsley make a simple but delicious filling for an “upside-down” Eggplant Parmesan. Serve these stuffed eggplants as a light dinner accompanied by a large salad.
Air Fryer Eggplant
This deep fryer eggplant is crispy on the outside with a tender middle. You can put more slices in the basket when using smaller eggplants. Dip these crispy slices in marinara or pesto, or drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Mixed Grill with Balsamic-Mustard Vegetables
This healthy dinner recipe is perfect for using up any fresh vegetables you have on hand. Just pay attention to the cooking time: denser vegetables, like peppers and onions, take a little longer than more tender ones like zucchini and squash. Smaller ones, like cherry tomatoes, may need to be cooked in a grill basket.
Baba Ghanoush
Grilled eggplant is pureed with garlic, lemon juice and tahini for a lighter version of the classic Middle Eastern dip. If you can’t find ground sumac for garnish, chopped pistachios are also traditional. Serve with pita wedges or use as a spread for sandwiches.
