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By Lisa Esile, MS Jul 6, 2021
Last Updated:
Simple to prepare, quick-cooking, and with a unique, melt-in-your-mouth creaminess, eggplant is a fantastic ingredient for the vegan cook. Added to stews, curries, and pastas; crisped up as chips; or blended to made a spread, these lightweight beauties are heavyweights when it comes to transforming a meal into something special. Whether you’re a novice user of eggplant or an old hand, here are 13 healthy vegan eggplant recipes to enjoy.
To learn more about how to select, store, and use these summertime stars, check out our guide to eggplants.
Baked eggplant and sweet potatoes make a satisfying sweet-and-savory filling in this plant-based take on gyros. Tangy watermelon rind pickles serve as a fresh, creative topper.
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The soft, creamy texture of eggplant adds an enticing depth of flavor to this simple pasta dish, while green lentils provide a rich, earthy base.
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Transform the eggplant in your fridge into an incredible meal in this quick skillet-cooked dish. Just add mushrooms, bell pepper, and tasty seasonings such as fresh ginger, fresh basil, and soy sauce.
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Need a change from hummus? This delicious dip features eggplant, canned tomatoes, a handful of spices, and lemon juice. You won’t be able to keep your fingers out of it! Serve as a dip or spread on bread.
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No roundup of eggplant recipes would be complete without baba ghanoush. The classic eggplant dip serves as a creamy spread for easy homemade vegan flatbreads. Quick-pickled veggie toppings add tanginess.
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Turn a simple pasta dish into a fancy one with these crunchy eggplant chips. To make the chips, coat eggplant slices with a seasoned mix of crushed crispbread crackers then cook in an air-fryer.
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Our favorite eggplant recipes are the ones that take advantage of the melt-in-your-mouth texture of cooked eggplant. Here, tender eggplant is the perfect complement to nutty chickpeas, tangy tomatoes, and roasted bell peppers. Whether you’re serving these tasty peppers as a main or a side, they’ll steal the show.
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This comforting dish with authentic Indian flavors features roasted eggplant and potato in a tomato sauce. Keep it simple and eat as a meal on its own, or serve over brown rice or quinoa.
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In this vegan take on an Italian classic, eggplant slices are rolled around a millet-spinach filling then baked in a basil-infused tomato sauce for delectable results.
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One of our readers’ favorite healthy vegan eggplant recipes: Earthy red lentils, creamy baked eggplant, and loads of veggies come together quickly and easily in this one-pot curry that pops with ginger-turmeric flavor. One reviewer writes, “So easy and absolutely delicious, we have this at least once a week.”
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Cubed eggplant works really well in this Szechwan-style stir fry, adding soft, velvety bites to complement the crunchy water chestnuts and flavor-packed sauce.
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Let your slow cooker do all the work in this scrumptious ratatouille. Serve alongside cooked wheat berries; eggplant’s rustic chewiness balances out the meal to perfection.
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The star of this delish dish is large, tender slices of eggplant baked with a rich, yellow split pea and tomato-saffron sauce. This recipe will make you feel like a pro!
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Preparing eggplant can be as simple as cutting it into slabs, slathering with your favorite seasonings, and roasting in a 400°F oven for 40 minutes until fork-tender, turning halfway through. For seasoning tips and more veggie-steak inspiration, check out our guide: How to Make Veggie Steaks.
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This vegan Mediterranean-inspired recipe leverages eggplant’s meaty quality to delicious effect. A homemade hummus takes it over the top.
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Lisa Esile is an author, illustrator, blogger, vegetable gardener, and whole-food enthusiast with a special fondness for potatoes. She has a master’s degree in human nutrition and is passionate about showing people how to live happier, healthier lives. Lisa is the author of Reach your Big Calm and the co-author of Whose Mind Is It Anyway?.
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Comments (2)
How can u s ramble egg olant
I just had a bumper crop of eggplants so this is perfect timing! Thank you for so many options.