Get our favorite dishes highlighting the summertime staple, from grilled side dishes to zingy stir-fries
Most varieties of eggplant work beautifully in this stir-fry. A side of rice is a must.
This (non-casserole) version of eggplant parmesan is lighter and fresher tasting than the classic—we ditched the breading and added spicy sauce and fresh herbs.
Recipe: Eggplant Parmesan
Make easy eggplant sandwiches by using naan bread to wrap the grilled vegetables for delicious eating. Creamy Greek yogurt sauce adds a tangy flavor.
Recipe: Grilled Eggplant Naan Wraps with Tahini-Yogurt Dressing
Serve this as a side dish, or try it with rice for a light vegetarian meal.
Recipe: Miso-glazed Eggplant (Nasu Miso)
The pork and eggplant on these kebabs get a sticky, glazed coating when grilled, which gives the dish a delicious salty-caramelized flavor.
While some wines are a hard match for vegetables, Syrah works well with earthy and herbal veggies like eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers ― especially when they're grilled.
Caponata, a sweet, tangy Sicilian eggplant-pepper relish, tastes downright addictive spooned over toasts with mild, creamy ricotta cheese.
Recipe: Sicilian Bruschetta
Oyster sauce adds wonderful 'umami' to this Asian-inspired dish, and can be found in the ethnic foods aisle of most supermarkets. Serve over fluffy rice for a satisfying meal.
Recipe: Stir-Fried Eggplant and Tofu
Grilling eggplant is a fun way to get this summer staple onto the table in a tasty way.
This dish was inspired by the classic Japanese recipe for miso-marinated black cod. We recommend using Japanese eggplants, which are smaller and more slender than bulbous Italian eggplants.
Recipe: Grilled Miso Salmon and Eggplant
This vegetarian Stroganoff was submitted by reader Karen Rose, of Mariposa, California. To make it even creamier, Karen suggests using half-and-half in place of the milk.
Recipe: Eggplant Stroganoff
Here's a fresh new vegetarian main course for a summer night: grill the tofu and eggplant in foil, open up the fragrant bundle, and top it with a spicy salad.
Recipe: Tofu and Eggplant Hobo Bundles
Serve over steamed jasmine rice, or toss with a tangle of cooked rice noodles for a one-dish meal.
Recipe: Spicy Eggplant with Pork
Merguez, an aromatic North African sausage usually made from lamb, takes practically no time to grill. Spicy and smooth, the accompanying chickpea purée can stand in for hummus any old time. To make the eggplant jam especially silky, peel and seed the tomatoes. You could use skin-on seeded tomatoes in a pinch, or even good-quality canned.
Classic ratatouille, typically a side dish, comes front and center as the filling of these inventive tarts. Annie Somerville, chef at San Francisco’s Greens Restaurant, reenvisioned her original recipe by combining cream cheese with masa harina (dried corn dough for tortillas) in the crust, which gives it a rich toasted-corn flavor.
Recipe: Provençal Tartlets