32 Vegan Eggplant Recipes

These 32 vegan eggplant recipes include plenty of choices for enjoying this versatile summer veggie. Try a new recipe for an appetizer, salad, pasta, stir-fry, and more…plus quick cooking recipes made in an air fryer or Instant Pot! It’s easy to make your own delicious eggplant dishes.

One of the first vegetarian meals I tried was eggplant parmesan – and I have been a fan ever since! While eggplant parmesan is a staple at Italian restaurants, it’s great to look at other vegan eggplant recipes to limit the saturated fat found in cheese and fried foods. It may be used as a meat substitute in some recipes. While eggplant is nutritious, it isn’t very high in protein – so keep that in mind when planning your meal.

Eggplants come in many varieties. Purple globe eggplants are most common in the U.S. and are nearly black in color. Look also for smaller, thinner purple Japanese eggplants, round eggplants, and white eggplants. I have found that medium-sized globe eggplants taste better than larger ones. Eggplants are usually called aubergines in the United Kingdom.

Eggplant Cooking FAQs

Q: Should you remove the skin from eggplants?

A: That’s a personal preference. If the eggplant is very ripe, the skin could taste bitter also.

Q: What is the healthiest way to cook eggplant?

A: There are many options in this post you can try, including baked, roasted, and grilled eggplants and using an air fryer or Instant Pot. It’s best to avoid battered and fried eggplant, or recipes with excess salt, vegan or regular cheese, or oil.

Q: Do you need to salt eggplant?

A: No. But sprinkling with salt can draw out some fluids and may result in a creamier texture.

Q: Do you eat the seeds in eggplant?

A: Yes. But if the eggplant is too ripe, the seeds may be a little bitter learn more about eggplants from Eggplant: A Savory Fruit with a Juicy Past by Michele Redmond RD in Food and Nutrition magazine.

Q: What should you serve with eggplant?

A: This depends on the style of eggplant you are making. If you are making an Italian eggplant dish, try a salad, a dish with beans for more protein, broccoli, and whole grain bread. For an Asian eggplant stir-fry, tofu or tempeh, rice, noodles, spring rolls, or dumplings.

Appetizers

Try these eggplant appetizers for a vegetable-filled start to your meal, Baba ghanoush is a well-known Middle Eastern eggplant dip. My tip is to make sure you have cooked the eggplant until it is very soft.

crispy baked eggplant with fork on flowered plate

Crispy Baked Eggplant (Vegan) – one of my popular recipes: a perfect base recipe for sandwiches and eggplant parm.
Easy Eggplant Penne – by Beatriz Buono-Core
Caponata alla Giudia – Helen Goldrein – this is a Jewish Sicilian recipe.
Georgian Eggplant Rolls With Walnut Filling – Elena Szeliga
Baba Ganoush Recipe – Jessica Randhawa
Eggplant Hummus – Paula Montenegro

Eggplant Salads

Roasted or grilled eggplant also work well for salads:

Roasted Eggplant and Pepper Salad – Daniela Lambova
Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant Salad – Amy Katz

Eggplant Bacon

Vegan Eggplant Bacon Slices – Lyn Croyle

Mediterranean and Italian Style Vegan Eggplant Recipes

Eggplant goes very well with pasta, tomatoes, garlic, and onions. Enjoy it in these classic dishes:
Vegan Eggplant Parmesan – Anya Coleman
Pasta With Eggplant And Spinach – Amanda Scarlati
Plant-based Eggplant Baby Bella “Meatballs” – Jackie Newgent RD
10-Minute Vegan Spaghetti Alla Norma – Emily Leary -I like that this is made using edamame pasta. Consider using less salt for sprinkling the eggplant to reduce the sodium in the dish.
Mediterranean Roasted Eggplant – Monica Morgan Davis
Roasted Eggplant Pasta – Bethany Shannan
Vegan Pasta Arrabiata – Dave at Hurrythefoodup.com