Best 26 Vegetarian Eggplant Recipes
In the immense universe of vegetarian recipes, eggplants or aubergines stand out for the endless properties they possess. They are extremely delicious, very low in calories, a good source of fiber and contain powerful antioxidant and diuretic agents.
Today we share 26 of the best vegetarian eggplant recipes that will make you crave for more and allow you to preserve the great original flavor of this fantastic product.
1. Provencal Vegan Stuffed Eggplants
These vegan stuffed eggplants will make you taste the rainbow with a combination of colorful vegetables and herbs for a satisfying vegetarian or vegan main dish.
Fresh summer vegetables, toasted breadcrumbs and aromatic Mediterranean herbs make for a perfect meal. Serve as an entrée or in smaller portions as a side dish.
2. Baba ghanoush or Middle Eastern Eggplant Mousse
The name baba ghanoush means ”spoilt father” and comes from an ancient Arab legend. This dish is very often eaten in oriental restaurants.
Baba ghanoush is a light dish, but filling and extremely tasty. The surprise is that it can be prepared very easily at home, from just a few main ingredients.
Another variation of this Middle Eastern treat is a simple, yet delicious eggplant mousse.
3. Vegan Greek Musaka
This vegan Greek moussaka replaces minced meat with a mixture of tofu, walnut, oatmeal and spices to create an equally good but much healthier result.
Although it takes some time and involves a few separate steps of preparation, we recommend this recipe for cold evenings when you need something filling, reminiscent of your childhood.
4. Roasted Eggplant and Pepper Salad
This easy Mediterranean salad is my favourite dish for family gatherings or weekend summer barbecues. It features a delicious blend of sweet, sour and smoky flavours from the grilled eggplant, roasted capsicum, tomatoes, fresh herbs, olive oil, and vinegar.
You can serve this versatile salad warm, or cold as a side dish. The roasted eggplant salad will complement any meal, no matter what you are serving.
5. Stuffed Eggplant with Yogurt and Quinoa
When I think of Greece several recipes automatically come to mind, including yogurt and a few other ingredients. Prepare these eggplants filled with Greek yogurt and greens to travel without leaving the kitchen.
6. Vegetarian Rice with Eggplant
I searched in vain for years in various cookbooks for this recipe, be they Greek or Turkish but I couldn’t find it. This made me suspect that it is one of those great dishes, invented and perfected by an exceptional housewife and which, being unpublished, risks being lost. Luckily Manu’s Menu saved us and shared their delicious eggplant rice recipe.
7. Eggplant Meatballs
These eggplant meatballs from Lynette Marie are baked to perfection and make for the ultimate meal. Serve them with some homemade sauce or with zucchini noodles and you get a low-carb and healthy dinner for the whole family.
8. Teriyaki Eggplant
This teriyaki eggplant and rice recipe is perfect for meal-planning. It lasts in the fridge for up to 5 days and can be also stored in the freezer.
Teriyaki sauce is often used to cook poultry or meat, but for some reason few people know that you can fry and bake vegetables with it. Even the most common pumpkin, eggplant and pepper get an extraordinary taste with this sauce without any extra effort.
9. Greek Stuffed Eggplant with Chickpeas
Get ready to indulge in a mouthwatering Greek vegan delight – stuffed eggplants with chickpeas. This recipe takes the humble eggplant to new heights, as it becomes the vessel for a flavorful, aromatic and protein-packed chickpea filling that will leave you craving for more.
10. Morrocan Spiced Stuffed Eggplant
Briam, also known as tourlou, is one of those traditional Greek dishes that has it all – hearty, healthy, delicious and easy to prepare… and is also suitable for vegetarians as this recipe contains no meat!
11. Eggplant Chickpeas Curry
Lately, it’s getting harder and harder for me to eat meat products, be it due to the heat or due to my conscience or a mixture of the two, I don’t know. What is certain is that I try, at least in summer, to find veggie alternatives. That’s how I came across this eggplant chickpea curry. It’s so simple, you only need a few ingredients and it has that exotic and interesting taste that tickles your taste buds.
12. Eggplant Pasta
Pasta often gets me out of trouble at dinner time. Especially this eggplant pasta recipe that does not have a fatty sauce and many calories. Perfect for those who get home late and need to have dinner ready in a hurry.
13. Eggplant Vegan Pizza
You can improvise this pizza recipe with eggplant, baked peppers and mozzarella using exactly the ingredients you definitely have at hand. It is a child favourite and makes for a perfect healthy snack. Here’s a vegetarian pizza recipe that’s finger licking good.
14. Eggplant Fries
These eggplant fries will definitely make you see eggplant in a totally new light. Crispy but healthy since they are oven baked, they pair well with any sauce.
15. Eggplant Tahini Kebab
I kept telling you that I love eggplants and that I cook them in many ways, not just in the form of the classic eggplant salad. I like them fried or baked, au gratin (plain or stuffed), or in the form of this delicious kebab.
16. Bolognese Pasta
You just have to try this vegetarian pasta dish, so hearty and full good proteins! Roasted eggplant, homemade sauce and fresh herbs, it makes for a quick dinner to satisfy even the most picky of eaters.
17. Peanut Curry Sauce
Curry in a hurry? You bet! This is a unique recipe for those who are not thrilled about the flavour of eggplant. If that’s you, then I really recommend you try this eggplant and peanut curry sauce!
18. Eggplant Miso and Chilli Soup
One of the things I really love about this eggplant soup is how it manages to incorporate so many different textures. You will not believe that it is made with only a handful of ingredients. For a vegetarian alternative swap the chicken stock for the vegetable one and you get the same amazing taste.
19. Eggplant Wraps with Spicy Tahini
These eggplant wraps make for the ideal packed lunch or picnic food. The spicy tahini sauce is a delight in and of itself and you will find yourself making it again and again.
20. Caponata
Caponata is a delicious eggplant-based dish from Sicily, though Malta also has its version of the dish called kapunata.
This is a very versatile dish. Caponata can be served as a first course; all it needs is a sprinkle of fresh shaved Parmesan cheese. It also makes a great main course accompaniment for lamb, game, poultry or beef.
Enjoy this classic caponata recipe.
21. Eggplant and Tomato Tartines
This recipe looks like it might be complicated to make, but it is very simple and only takes you 15 minutes. Promise.
22. Eggplant Chips
Yes, you read that correctly. Crispy eggplant chips with Parmesan topping is about to become your next favourite thing to snack on. Steal the recipe here.
23. Pressed Eggplant Sandwiches
Since we were speaking of the perfect packed lunch or picnic food, we have another recipe for you to try. Packed with toasted bell peppers and a fresh pesto sauce you can throw this Mediterranean deliciousness together in no time.
24. Tomato Eggplant Zucchini Bake
Just one look at this colourful dish and you will immediately want to start on making it. I know I did. You can make it for your next gathering or just enjoy it all by yourself.
25. Eggplant Parmesan Bites
Have I made it obvious yet that eggplant and parmesan is a match made in heaven? If you are still not convinced we have one last recipe to change your mind. The parmesan breadcrumbs are fried to golden-brown perfection and pair well with almost any sauce.
26. Eggplant in Mustard Gravy
This is a delicious vegan Indian eggplant dish by Christine Manfield. It was published in one of Christine’s books – Tasting India – which is regarded as one of the best Indian cookbooks our there.
This eggplant in mustard gravy is called locally baigan saiso and is a traditional Utar Pradesh dish.
