In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re on a bit of an eggplant kick at the moment, so we’ve rounded up a list of vegetarian eggplant recipes (or vegetarian aubergine recipes).
Basically, it’s like last week’s vegan eggplant recipe list but with a LOT more cheese.
Reading: vegetarian christmas main dish eggplant
We’ve included delicious recipes for eggplant parmesan, cheesy eggplant pasta, eggplant pizza, and even an eggplant curry with halloumi. It’s a pretty tough list to beat.
On top of these fabulous recipes, a new compilation of vegetarian eggplant recipes was necessary because I’ve learnt a new word for eggplant or aubergine: brinjal.
Brinjal is the South African spin on the name for this vegetable. With three different names in English alone, it seems like it might be time to pick one name and stick to it!
Whether you call this a list of vegetarian eggplant recipes, a list of vegetarian aubergine recipes or a list of vegetarian brinjal recipes, you’re sure to enjoy these delicious dishes.
Cheesy and Healthy?
There’s a reason I’ve set out to make these lists of aubergine recipes, and it’s not because I had lots of spare eggplants lying around.
It’s actually because eggplants are a pretty fantastically healthy veggie.
They’re officially considered a nutrient-dense food, because they’re full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. They’re also high in antioxidants.
Because of all that, eggplants are good for your heart, your cholesterol levels, your eyes and your brain. That’s a pretty impressive repertoire for a single vegetable.
Think about all the benefits you’ll get from trying our list of vegetarian eggplant recipes.
Plus, it’s hard to beat a delicious eggplant dip like baba ganoush or an eggplant dinner recipe like vegetarian moussaka.
Keep reading to try out our favorite vegetarian aubergine recipes.
Mains
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUpBonus: easy, mega delicious, nutritious and versatile dish
The vegetarian Christmas dilemma is solved with these amazing sides – Christmas feasts are better and more vegetarian than ever!
Ready in: 1 hour 2 minutes (12 minutes prep)Recipe by: KalynsKitchenBonus: delicious and healthy dish
Grilled Eggplant with Feta and Herbs is a delicious way to cook eggplant that even eggplant avoiders will enjoy!
Ready in: 1 hour 30 minutes (just 25 minutes prep)Recipe by: TheAccidentalChefBonus: easy, tasty, full of flavour and important nutrients
Crunchy, cheesy and intensely savoury this Aubergine Lasagne with lentils & walnuts is an attractive alternative to the traditional meat-laden lasagne. Complete with a crunchy golden mozzarella topping.
Ready in: 1 hourRecipe by: LittleSugarSnapsBonus: easy to make, hearty and incredibly tasty
This pasta al forno recipe combines rigatoni pasta, a hearty aubergine ragu and plenty of mozzarella cheese. This aubergine pasta bake is fantastic meat-free comfort food.
Ready in: 45 minutesRecipe by: SuperGoldenBakesBonus: super tasty, so easy, hearty and filling
This hearty vegetable curry recipe is packed with aubergine, courgette, chickpeas and topped with grilled halloumi. Easy to make, super delicious and slimming friendly too!
Ready in: 55 minutesRecipe by: BowlOfDeliciousBonus: easy, tasty, healthy and so comforting
These roasted eggplant parmesan stacks are lighter, easier, and faster than traditional eggplant parmesan recipe, and they’re gluten free too! Just roast the eggplant slices, layer with sauce and cheese, and bake!
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUpBonus: so simple, tasty and spicy dinner
This easy pasta arrabiata can be made just as spicy as you like it – you’re in control with our step by step guide. Sugo all’arrabbiata here we come!
Ready in: 1 hour (just 15 minutes prep)Recipe by: GFreeFoodieBonus: beautiful, simple, mega tasty
Try this beautiful and delicious gluten-free recipe for Baked Eggplant with California Figs and Leeks from KC the G-Free Foodie – it’s easy to make, healthy, tasty and impressive. What’s not to love?
Ready in: 40 minutesRecipe by: SixHungryFeetBonus: easy to cook, healthy and absolutely delicious
Japanese-style dish. Umami packed, Miso-glazed Aubergine is a simple and delicious dish that the whole family will love.
Bonus: quick, nutritious and very delicious, can be stored for a while in the fridge
Read more: vegetarian dish made with red wine vinegar
This amazing aubergine curry (or eggplant curry) is quick, vegan and soooo tasty. Brought to you by the kings of curry.
Ready in: 1 hour 5 minutes (just 20 minutes prep)Recipe by: LittleSugarSnapsBonus: healthy, high-protein and delicious dish
This vegetarian rogan josh curry is packed with wholesome ingredients – it’s healthy comfort food for chilly days. This curry is vegetarian/ vegan and a great way to satisfy a curry craving.
Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes (just 15 minutes prep)Recipe by: CookEatLiveLoveBonus: super crispy, flavorful, easy to make, full of nutritional benefits
Delicious sliced eggplant breaded and baked in the oven until crisp. This easy to make vegan entree has tons of flexibility. Change up the sauce and way of serving up this easy to make eggplant recipe for a new and different meal each time.
Ready in: 45 minutesRecipe by: FamilyFriendsFoodBonus: mega delicious, flavorful, crunchy and full of taste dish
A delicious dish of aubergines in a sweet-and-sour tomato sauce, with olives and capers.
Ready in: 1 hour 25 minutesRecipe by: ItalianFoodFastBonus: creamy, light, and super tasty meal
Durum wheat pasta pipes filled with creamy mascarpone and ricotta cheese as well as the natural smokiness and richness of the roasted eggplant, all covered in scummy white sauce and finished with sweet cherry tomatoes.
Ready in: 35 minutesRecipe by: PickyEaterBlogBonus: easy, cheesy, healthy and delicious
This low-carb, healthy eggplant parmesan is a lightened up version of the classic Italian dish. Made without breadcrumbs, each slice is low in calories without compromising on flavor. Make sure you pick a vegetarian parmesan to keep it vegetarian.
Ready in: 45 minutesRecipe by: ConnoisseurusVegBonus: simple, yet delicious and nutritious meal
This vegan eggplant cacciatore is made with melt-in-your mouth slabs of roasted eggplant simmered in a light white wine tomato sauce with savory mushrooms, garlic and bell peppers.
Ready in: 45 minutesRecipe by: EmmaEatsAndExploresBonus: mega cheesy, delicious and nutritious, freezer-friendly dish
This is such a great dinner party dish which is why I make it in such huge portions. Also it freezes amazingly well so it’s a great one to make more than you need and freeze the extra portions for another night.
Ready in: 1 hourRecipe by: PinchAndSwirlBonus: quick and easy preparation, beautiful and full flavor dish
A wonderfully flavorful, lightened up version of the classic pasta dish from Sicily!
Recipe by: MayurisJikoniBonus: easy, healthy and mega delicious!
Eggplant pizza is a fun way to enjoy the flavors of a pizza without any guilt.
Ready in: 35 minutesRecipe by: ElkeLivingBonus: cheesy, tasty, full of flavors
Get ready for a meal in a sandwich! Perfectly fried eggplant stacked with fresh mozzarella, marinara, and fresh basil!
Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutesRecipe by: MayurisJikoniBonus: delicious, healthy, nutritious and full of flavor dish
Vegetarian Moussaka is a flavorful, creamy and delish version of the original meat moussaka. Herb flavored lentil tomato sauce is spread between layers of vegetables, topped with Béchamel Sauce and baked.
Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: VegRecipesOfIndiaBonus: quick, easy, tasty and full of health benefits curry
Hyderabadi style baingan recipe – absolutely delicious brinjal curry. Accompanies chapati, rotis and bhakris and biryanis very well.
Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: VeggieDessertsBonus: so tasty, easy, full of flavour and kids-friendly
Aubergines give a dense and ‘meaty’ texture to these balls. I’ve kept any spices to a minimum so the garlic and oregano don’t overpower the balls – making them perfect for fussy kids. Our whole family love these balls and they’re a great way to subtly introduce the flavour of aubergines.
Ready in: 1 hour 20 minutes (just 20 minutes prep)Recipe by: TacoAndTiramisuBonus: delicious, rich, cheesy and healthy
Eggplant Parmigiana (in Italian: Parmigiana di Melanzane) is a classic dish, made of eggplants and parmesan cheese.
Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: TinnedTomatoesBonus: simple, delicious and flavorful
A quick, simple and tasty spaghetti sauce packed with vegetables and packed with flavour.
Sides and Salads
Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: StraightToTheHipsBabyBonus: crunchy, beautiful, mega tasty and full of health benefits
Read more: what vegetarian dish should i make for dinner
I used fresh, ripe tomatoes with plenty of basil and creamy buffalo mozzarella. Delicious on its own, the flavor and texture is amped-up by freshly fried, crispy, Panko-breaded, slices of eggplant. I wanted to lighten up this dish a bit, so instead of deep-frying, the dredged eggplant slices are actually baked at a high temperature with a bit of avocado oil.
Ready in: 1 hourRecipe by: CookEatBlogBonus: easy, chunky, smoky and tasty salad
This smoky, creamy, tangy delight is a real surprise of flavour and texture. An amazing little vegetable dish to have at your disposal. Learn how to make this simple little Spanish salad with my recipe.
Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes (only 25 minutes prep)Recipe by: MissionFoodBonus: super simple yet satisfying, delicious and flavorful
Escalivada, sometimes called escalibada, is a Catalan roasted vegetable dish. It features eggplant and red bell peppers, and sometimes onions and/or tomatoes. It’s a light option for a Spanish tapas menu or can act as a simple vegetarian side.
Ready in: 55 minutesRecipe by: BackyardBohemianBonus: easy to make, delicious and nutritious dish
Crispy oven baked eggplant cutlets are the perfect Italian side dish. Sliced eggplant is coated in a breadcrumb and parmesan cheese mixture and crisped to perfection.
Ready in: 1 hour 45 minutesRecipe by: SaladsWithAnastasiaBonus: light, delicious, spicy and so good
This Eggplant Salad is substantial enough to have for the main meal and has big bold flavours. A great vegetarian option for your next dinner.
Ready in: 1 hour (just 15 minutes prep)Recipe by: aCedarSpoonBonus: easy to make, healthy lunch or dinner option
This is the best Ratatouille Recipe I have tried and one my mom passed down to me. Fresh vegetables, like zucchini, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes are simmered with herbs and spices to create an easy vegan meal that you can eat on its own, over rice or paired with pasta. Your family will love this easy ratatouille recipe!
Ready in: 40 minutesRecipe by: aCedarSpoonBonus: easy, fresh, mega tasty and healthy salad
Mediterranean Eggplant Salad mixes grilled eggplant with fresh tomatoes, mint, parsley, green onion, bell pepper and tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, za’atar and crushed red pepper. This is the perfect side salad for a summer BBQ or party.
Snacks and Appetizers
Ready in: 50 minutesRecipe by: TheSassyFoodieBonus: tasty, creamy, and so versatile dip
Roasted eggplant dip, or baba ganoush, has always been a favourite of mine. It’s a blend of creamy, smokey, deliciousness. What’s not to love?
Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: BiteSizedKitchenBonus: easy, healthy and so yummy
Turn french fries into a healthy appetizer with these Crispy Oven Baked Eggplant Fries! They’re baked in the oven until crispy on the outside and tender inside. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce at your next party!
Ready in: 45 minutesRecipe by: CarolinesCookingBonus: so simple but delicious and flavorful
Easy to make, comforting and delicious, this roasted eggplant with tahini is perfect as an appetizer or part of a mezze.
Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: ThatGirlCooksHealthyBonus: quick, easy, authentic and healthy dip
This delicious eggplant dip called Baigan Choka can be made on the stovetop or oven and tastes equally as good.
Ready in: 45 minutesRecipe by: BakedTheBlogBonus: easy to make, creamy, healthy and versatile
A simple and easy dip recipe with roasted eggplant, roasted red pepper, roasted garlic, and red finger chile.
Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: CulinaryGingerBonus: quick, easy, healthy, so delicious
The eggplant is grilled instead of breaded and fried. It is then rolled up with homemade ricotta, fresh basil, Parmesan, fresh lemon and a hint of nutmeg. These eggplant rollatini make great appetizers or an entreé served with your favorite tomato sauce.
Ready in: 40 minutesRecipe by: CooktoriaBonus: so delicious, easy and soft appetizer
Tender baked eggplant stuffed with creamy goat cheese, juicy tomato and basil.
Bonus: smoky, soft and beautifully delicious dip 🙂
Baba Ganoush – (Eggplant Dip / Aubergine Dip) Flatbreads and pitas go perfectly with this beautiful fusion of Arab-Mediterranean cuisines.
If our two lists of easy eggplant recipes haven’t convinced you that aubergine is a fantastic vegetable I’m not sure what will. It’s the perfect combination of versatile and tasty.
Any one of the delicious vegetarian eggplant recipes listed above can prove my point, what with different ways to cook it, like roasted eggplant, baked eggplant and grilled eggplant, and the variety of forms it can take, like stuffed eggplant or eggplant meatballs.
There’s just so many choices in this list of vegetarian aubergine recipes that you’ll have to try them all! If you’re looking for more vegetarian recipe options, try our list of gluten-free vegetarian recipes.
Read more: side dish for vegetarian philly cheese
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