Favorite eggplant recipes from The Perfect Pantry {vegetarian, gluten-free}
My husband Ted doesn't adore eggplant, so it's not often that I manage to incorporate it into dishes we both enjoy. At this time of year, when we're eating as much corn and tomatoes as we can -- and as much zucchini as we can stand -- it's easy to forget about eggplant, which is also at its peak right now. To make sure you don't pass over eggplant at the farm stand, here are a few of my favorite eggplant recipes, perfect for summer.
I love these "poor little eggplants" (in the top photo), scored on top and baked in the oven at very high heat. Look for small striped eggplant, or the long, thin, Japanese variety.
Roasted eggplant spread with garlic, pepper and onions can be made way ahead, and stored in the refrigerator. Serve with pita chips or celery sticks.
Caponata has a sweet-and-sour quality that soaks right into slices of bruschetta for a wonderful party starter.
A reader shared this Indian dish of roasted eggplant with cumin and cilantro, and it's become one of our favorites as a vegetarian main, or a side dish with grilled chicken.
I've been making this Moroccan eggplant salad for more than twenty years, since I first learned the recipe from my local dry cleaner.
For something completely different, try this Asian cold aubergine (eggplant) salad, flavored with black vinegar.
And my new summer favorite, this roasted ratatouille with fresh basil and balsamic vinaigrette uses all of the vegetables of the season.
What's your favorite way to prepare eggplant?
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Hi, I'll be sure to try some of these delicious sounding recipes!
Unfortunately my husband is also not an eggplant lover so we tend to stick to Baba Ghanoush -an Moroccan eggplant dip- and the alltime favorite Greek oven dish Moussaka.
Tip: make a tradional Moussaka recipe but slice some waxy potatoes not too thick and put these in the dish under the tomatosauce layer. They will soak up the flavors and your dish will go a lot further.
Love from Holland, Katja
I was never much of an eggplant fan until I started growing them in the garden. Sigh, no garden this year but I need to get some from the farmers market. All your recipes look great!
Katja, my husband likes both of those dishes, but would never pick eggplant as a favorite. Love the idea of adding sliced potatoes to your moussaka!
Kalyn, I've never grown eggplant, and maybe that's the key. Everything tastes better when it's from your own garden.