66 italian eggplant recipes

Rob's focaccia: pillowy overnight-risen bread crowned with peeled Roma tomatoes, roasted eggplant, fresh basil, anchovy, and parmesan. A rustic Italian flatbread baked golden and fragrant.

Easy eggplant Parmesan casserole layered with sauteed eggplant, Italian breadcrumbs, cooked rice, spaghetti sauce, and melted mozzarella. A hearty vegetarian main dish.

Fried Italian eggplant simmered in a spiced yogurt sauce with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, and cayenne. A rich Bengali eggplant dish (begun kalia) served with rice or naan.

Crispy fried eggplant slices rolled around creamy ricotta and mozzarella, baked in marinara until the cheese bubbles golden. An Italian-American classic that eats like lasagna without the noodles.

Eggplant stuffed l'italienne: small eggplants hollowed and refilled with their salted pulp, tuna, anchovy, capers, olives, tomato, and bread crumbs. Southern Italian summer at its briniest.

Grilled eggplant Parmesan sandwich layers smoky charred eggplant, fire-roasted tomato, wilted spinach, and melty mozzarella-Parm on toasted whole wheat. A vegetarian open-face take on the Italian classic.

Grilled tempeh with red onion and eggplant on toasted whole wheat bread, marinated in red wine, rosemary, garlic, and fennel. A smoky, vegetarian open-faced grill plate with Italian roots.

Marinated eggplant in olive oil: salt-pressed, vinegar-soaked strips layered with garlic, oregano, and chile in extra-virgin oil. An Italian antipasto that gets better for months.

Rustic white bean and eggplant stew with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Italian herbs. Slow-simmered, naturally vegan, and rich with Mediterranean flavor.

A whole chicken slow-baked with potatoes, eggplant, cauliflower, carrots, and tomatoes seasoned with dill. An Italian-inspired one-pot Sunday dinner for six.

Polenta pie sets a rosemary corn polenta crust in a springform pan, then layers grilled squash, eggplant, and roasted peppers inside. A vegetarian Italian showpiece, served chilled.

Sicilian caponata with sauteed eggplant, olives, capers, and a sweet-tangy vinegar sauce. A rustic Italian appetizer or side that tastes even better the next day.

Sicilian-style caponata with tender eggplant, olives, capers, and tomatoes in a tangy vinegar sauce. Make it ahead and serve cold as a rustic Italian appetizer.

Milanese vegetable soup: a light northern Italian broth with diced eggplant, zucchini, celery, carrot, Swiss chard, and bacon, finished with fresh basil. Clean, clear, and summery.

Penne with Provencal eggplant, slow-caramelized sweet peppers, garlic, and fresh basil in a lemony Italian-herb dressing. A meatless pasta bowl built on long, gentle cooking.

Quick pita bread pizza topped with pan-fried eggplant, roasted red pepper, pepperoni, and spaghetti sauce. A Greek-meets-Italian snack or appetizer baked in just 5 minutes.