15 Creative Vegan Eggplant Recipes

From eggplant bake to vegan eggplant parmesan, these healthy recipes from the best of the blogs should turn anyone into a fan of the humble aubergine.

Italian Layered Vegetable Casserole
via fat free vegan

Italian Layered Vegetable Casserole

Creamy bean filling elevates roasted eggplant and zucchini in Fat Free Vegan Kitchen’s Italian Layered Vegetable Casserole. Garnish with chopped parsley for a vibrant hit of green—and a hefty dose of vitamin C, which can give a boost to your immune system. And while you’re thinking of it, check out the many health benefits of vitamin C.

Sweet-and-Sour-Eggplant
via tori avey

Sweet and Sour Eggplant

Sweet and sour eggplant from blogger Tori Avey balances the bright flavors of rice vinegar and soy sauce with the sweetness of red bell peppers and brown sugar. Finish off with sesame seeds for a subtle crunch and some important good-for-your-body minerals, like magnesium, calcium, and iron.

ajvar-roasted pepper and eggplant
FAT FREE VEGAN

Ajvar (Roasted Red Pepper and Eggplant Relish)

Ajvar (pronounced “eye-var”), a condiment made from roasted pepper and eggplant, can be spread onto crackers, served like salsa, or swapped for your go-to sandwich spread. Try stirring this version from the blog Fat Free Vegan into warm pasta for a tangy sauce. Want to kick the health benefits up a notch? Try these 6 pasta alternatives for a carb-free meal.

Baingan Bharta
via bites out of life

Baingan Bharta Indian Eggplant Dip

Baingan Bharta, a popular North Indian curry, is traditionally made with coal-roasted eggplant. On the blog Bites Out of Life, the cooking process is simplified with boiled and then sautéed eggplant, resulting in a smooth, rich texture without an open flame. Perfect for summer!

oil eggplant chips
via scratching canvas

Oil Baked Eggplant Chips

Have fun dunking these oil baked eggplant chips from the blog Scratching Canvas into your dip of choice. You’ll want to reach for these when you’ve got the munchies—and then try one of these other 30 healthy, no-guilt snacks too.

zaatar crusted eggplant
Sunday morning banana pancakes

Za’atar Crusted Eggplant Tomato Basil Naan Flatbreads

Za’atar, a middle eastern spice blend, complements roasted eggplant in this vegan eggplant topped naan recipe from Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes.

chickpea ratatouille
via 86 lemons

Eggplant Ratatouille

Ratatouille is just a fancy word for a traditional southern France vegetable stew, but this simple eggplant ratatouille from the blog 86Lemons combines eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, onion, mushrooms, and bell peppers for a rich, savory meal. It’s a great one to make in the summer, when you can buy the veggies in season. If that means the farmers market, then be mindful of the 5 questions you need to ask to get the freshest produce.

stuffed eggplant
via dine and dash

Stuffed Eggplant

Looks fancy, but isn’t! Twice-baked stuffed eggplant from Dine & Dash is topped with feta and parsley (swap feta for almond slivers to keep it vegan). Toss any leftovers with plain penne or spaghetti for a quick weeknight meal.

eggplant-mushroom-pesto-pizza
via this rawsome vegan life

Eggplant Mushroom Pesto Pizza

Hearty and wholesome: Eggplant mushroom pesto pizza from This Rawsome Vegan Life layers veggies with tofu and a savory dairy-free pesto sauce loaded with flavor from pine nuts, basil leaves, olive oil, olives, garlic, and vegan milk. If making this gives you a taste for homemade pie, try these 11 other alternatives to take-out pizza.

eggplant tomato bialy sandwich
sunday morning banana pancakes

Eggplant Tomato Bialy Sandwich

Sunday Morning Banana Pancake’s eggplant tomato bialy sandwich wedges veggies in the traditional Polish roll for a comforting weekend lunch or a light dinner. And good for you too. Eggplant, like all its veggie counterparts, is rich in phytonutrients that can keep you healthy as you age.

Roasted Eggplant Dip
via lexis clean kitchen

Roasted Eggplant Dip

Dip whatever’s on hand into a bowl of creamy roasted eggplant dip from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen. The key to this smoky dip? Roast the veggies and whole garlic cloves drizzled with sea salt, pepper, and oil first before adding lemon juice and blending together.

eggplant-parmesan
via fat free vegan

Vegan Eggplant Parmesan

Fat Free Vegan’s eggplant parmesan turns the cheesy comfort food staple into a vegan dinner featuring a velvety sauce of silken tofu, tahini, or cashew butter, and soy milk. For more recipes that feature dairy alternatives, try these dairy substitutes that still provide flavor without the lactose.

eggplant arugula wraps cashew cheese
via the full helping

Eggplant and Arugula Wraps with Tomato Basil Cashew Cheese

Pinwheels, the ultimate party appetizer, are typically loaded with meat and cheese, but this version from the blog the Full Helping reinvents the wheel with eggplant and arugula wraps. Also fun: Stuff the fillings into collard green leaves for a gluten-free appetizer.

Baked eggplant strips
via skinny taste

Baked Eggplant Sticks

From the blog Skinny Taste, baked eggplant sticks are breaded with egg whites (or a vegan milk of your choice), Parmesan cheese, and seasoned bread crumbs. Serve with a big bowl of marinara for dipping. So much better for you than the deep-fried versions of this dish that you get in a restaurant.

roasted baby eggplant
via I breathe I'm hungry

Roasted Baby Eggplant

The blog “I Breathe I’m Hungry” features a gorgeous roasted baby eggplant recipe using a handful of simple ingredients like olive oil and ricotta cheese for an elegant side or appetizer. Top with vegan cheese or sour cream if you choose. Either way, it’s delish! If you need a recipe, try this one for vegan sour cream that we got from a dietitian.

Perri O. Blumberg
A former food editor at Reader's Digest, Perri Blumberg is a writer and editor based in New York City. After attending Columbia University, where she received a BA in psychology, she went on to study food at a health-supportive culinary school. Her work has appeared in O Magazine, Men's Journal, Country Living, and on Mind, Body, Green, among others.