38 Mouthwatering Vegan Eggplant (Aubergine) Recipes (2024)

Most vegans out there have known the disappointment of a roasted eggplant dish as the only vegan option in an otherwise fancy restaurant, but this list of vegan eggplant recipes (or vegan aubergine recipes) is here to prove that there are more eggplant dishes out there.

In fact, eggplant is often used as a meat replacement BECAUSE it’s so versatile and can be used in many delicious recipes. The issue is that when it’s not cooked well, it can be too soft, too bland or too bitter.

To solve that, we’ve put together this list of vegan eggplant recipes. And rest assured, all of these recipes are tasty and exciting.

There’s everything from stuffed eggplant, to eggplant pasta, to eggplant meatballs in here!

All the delicious vegan eggplant recipes (or vegan aubergine recipes) you could hope for

If you’re looking for more vegan recipes check out our free 7-day vegan meal plan.

Mains

Bonus: quick, nutritious and very delicious, can be stored for a while in the fridge

This amazing aubergine curry (or eggplant curry) is quick, vegan and soooo tasty. Brought to you by the kings of curry. We’re keeping the calories at just below 500kcal per serving with low-fat coconut milk!

Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp
Bonus: a 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!

Protein: 25g
Calories: 448kcal
Ready in: 1 hour
Recipe by: MyPurePlants
Bonus: creamy, hearty, yet healthy dish

What do you need to make the BEST ever Vegan Moussaka? I would say layers of roasted eggplant slices, a hearty tomato-based mince ragú sauce, and a creamy white bechamel baked together.

Ready in: 1 hour 5 minutes (just 5 minutes prep)
Recipe by: FitFoodieNutter
Bonus: will beat any takeaway

Whether you’re looking for a family friendly meat-free weeknight dinner or a winning recipe for a dinner party with friends, this super easy yet utterly delicious Asian-inspired sticky aubergine will tick all the boxes. Vegan and can be made gluten-free.

Protein: 16.4g
Calories: 491kcal
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: aSimplePalate
Bonus: meaty, delicious and super healthy

6 ingredient roasted eggplant pasta in a rich tomato sauce. This pasta dish is filled with satisfying flavor and can be served with your favorite gluten free or vegetable pasta! Simple & delicious.

Protein: 12g
Calories: 349kcal
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: ItsAVegWorldAfterAll
Bonus: quick, easy and so delicious

This vegan eggplant recipe is flavorful, easy to make, and served with homemade teriyaki sauce (the perfect beginner’s veganuary recipe). It’s a great 30-minute dinner recipe for busy nights!

Protein: 9g
Calories: 326kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: CookeAtLiveLove
Bonus: a hearty amount of fillings and a perfect crunch

Delicious meaty eggplants layered with lots of crunchy veggies and the added flavors of a salty, briny olive spread.

Protein: 4g
Calories: 318kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: LittleSunnyKitchen
Bonus: creamy, delicious and really easy

Aubergine and chickpea curry is perfect for a mid-week dinner as it takes just 30 minutes to prepare. Served over white rice and garnished with chopped fresh parsley leaves.

Protein: 1g
Calories: 36kcal
Ready in: 1 hour
Recipe by: MyPurePlants
Bonus: simple, healthy and so delicious

Roasted eggplant has this amazing texture and fairly neutral flavor, so with proper seasoning, it can be turned into many tasty things. If you would like to try eggplants for the first time or just looking for vegan recipes with eggplants, this 6-ingredient vegan eggplant meatballs recipe might be exactly what you need.

Protein: 5g
Calories: 237kcal
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: ProfusionCurry
Bonus: quick, flavorful and mega delicious

Chinese Spicy Eggplant is easy to make, full of aromatic flavors and excellent taste. Learn how to cook this simple yet delicious recipe that is gluten free, vegan, soy free and uses just a few ingredients.

Protein: 17g
Calories: 604kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: YumVeganLunchIdeas
Bonus: delicious, nutritious and versatile

These easy one dish Baked Eggplant Fajitas are seriously tasty and full of flavor. This easy recipe with eggplant, black beans, and veggies is so so good.

Protein: 1.9g
Calories: 44kcal
Ready in: 50 minutes
Recipe by: KetoVegetarianRecipes
Bonus: a great choice for cleaning eating and Paleo

These vegan eggplant meatballs are a tasty plant based meatball for a low carb vegetarian or vegan meal (and if you like the sound of this, then you also need to try our vegetarian low carb meals here!). Made with a mix of eggplants and mushrooms they are baked but could be cooked in an air fryer too. These meatballs quite different from the ones further above. Worth trying both of them!

Protein: 9g
Calories: 410kcal
Ready in: 21 minutes
Recipe by: Mrishtanna
Bonus: both instant pot and stovetop methods for cooking

Brinjal rice is a vegan, gluten-free, and one-pot meal that you can prepare in less than 30 minutes when you have the powder ready to go.

Protein: 1g
Calories: 57kcal
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: CookeAtLiveLove
Bonus: easy and crispy eggplant to answer all your bacon cravings

Thinly sliced eggplant brushed with a sweet and smoky marinade imitate bacon in this quick and easy vegan bacon recipe.

Protein: 9g
Calories: 378kcal
Ready in: 55 minutes (just 10 minutes prep)
Recipe by: FitFoodieNutter
Bonus: an easy, nutritious and flavorful dish

This mouth-watering vegan BLT sandwich with eggplant bacon is a delicious plant-based bacon fix for vegans or meat eaters alike. Smokey oven-roasted eggplant, crispy lettuce, juicy tomatoes and creamy vegan mayonnaise make this vegan sandwich taste out of this world.

Protein: 9g
Calories: 199kcal
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: SlenderKitchen
Bonus: quick, healthy, delicious and so easy!

These easy one dish Baked Eggplant Fajitas are seriously tasty and full of flavor. This easy recipe with eggplant, black beans, and veggies is so so good.

Protein: 10g
Calories: 394kcal
Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes (just 20 minutes)
Recipe by: LittleSunnyKitchen
Bonus: can be stored in the fridge a couple of days

Stuffed aubergines cooked the Middle Eastern way in tomato sauce. These stuffed aubergines/eggplants are made vegan as they’re stuffed with just rice, veggies, spices and no meat!

Sides and Salads

Bonus: a soft and beautifully delicious dip with a smoky flavor 🙂

Baba Ganoush Recipe (Eggplant Dip / Aubergine Dip) is smoky, soft and delicious. Flatbreads and pita bread go perfectly with this beautiful fusion of Arab-Mediterranean cuisines. Why not try it right away? 😊

Protein: 4g
Calories: 132kcal
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: ThePeskyVegan
Bonus: super easy and fun cooking time

This teriyaki grilled aubergine is a great addition to any vegan barbecue. Golden, slightly crispy, and gluten-free, you can enjoy it as either a side or a main.

Protein: 9g
Calories: 391kcal
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: YumVeganLunchIdeas
Bonus: beautiful smoky flavor, fresh vegetables and a zesty dressing

This moroccan eggplant salad is the perfect summer BBQ salad recipe (more vegetarian bbq ideas in this list!). With delicate Moroccan spices, a smokey BBQ flavour, roasted chickpeas, fresh rocket leaf salad and a zesty dressing – this is a must try. BBQ eggplant is creamy and flavorsome. This roasted eggplant salad recipe is sure to impress!

Protein: 4g
Calories: 137kcal
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: InTheKitch
Bonus: simple, easy to prep, and easy to cook, perfect for any occasion

Escalivada is a traditional Spanish dish made from grilled vegetables. While that might not sound too exciting on the surface, prepare to have your mind blown by just how delicious some well cooked vegetables in a tangy, savory dressing can be.

Protein: 3g
Calories: 80kcal
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: VeganPunks
Bonus: a spicy, soft and delicious dish

Aubergine bhaji, or brinjal bhaji, is a classic Indian side dish that pairs the rich, creaminess of aubergines with classic spices like garam masala and cumin. This recipe will serve 2 as a main and 4 as a side.

Protein: 18g
Calories: 398kcal
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: VeggieDesserts
Bonus: easy to make, beautiful and bursting with great taste

Roasted eggplant wedges get deliciously caramelised and are perfect on a salad. This method uses less oil, so it’s a healthy way to enjoy them. The baked aubergine is perfect with seasoned grains and kale in a salad or as a side dish. Vegan.

Protein: 5.1g
Calories: 343kcal
Ready in: 1 hour 5 minutes (just 15 minutes prep)
Recipe by: GreedyGourmet
Bonus: super quick, simple to make, delicious and full of flavor

Miso Eggplant, also known as Nasu Dengaku, is a Japanese eggplant starter recipe. Simply halve the eggplants, bake them, glaze with miso and grill. Serve on its own as a starter, or create a vegan meal by serving it with rice and salad.

Protein: 3g
Calories: 193kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes prep and 40 minutes cooking
Recipe by: Cooktoria
Bonus: simple, filling, hearty, and a great addition to any meal

This Easy Vegan Eggplant Stew is very simple and tasty. There is one extra step that makes the eggplant meaty, tender, and so soft.

Protein: 1g
Calories: 267kcal
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: CarolinesCooking
Bonus: easy to make, packed with fresh flavor and taste

This Moroccan eggplant with chermoula is easy to make, great for making ahead, and delicious for lunch or as a side.

Protein: 3g
Calories: 120kcal
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: SpicyTamarind
Bonus: authentic, simple and flavorful

Baingan bharta is a smoky rustic dish that is prepared by mincing eggplant which has been charred over direct fire.

Protein: 9g
Calories: 249kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: VeggiesSaveTheDay
Bonus: you can swap in more veggies and fresh herbs

Grilled Eggplant Salad with Chickpeas and Tomatoes is a flavorful Mediterranean-inspired recipe. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and healthy.

Snacks and Appetizers

Protein: 4g
Calories: 205kcal
Ready in: 1 hour (just 10 minutes prep)
Recipe by: WholeFoodBellies
Bonus: easy to make, healthy and nutritious, freezer-friendly dish

These vegan sausage rolls combine a mixture of eggplant, cannellini beans, garlic, onions, and parsley. They are able to be made ahead of time and enjoyed either hot or cold. Great for lunch boxes or paired with a salad for a nice homemade lunch at home. Meal prep and freezer-friendly to boot.

Protein: 1g
Calories: 46kcal
Ready in: 50 minutes (only 10 minutes prep)
Recipe by: HappyKitchen
Bonus: a fun and delicious way to cook eggplants

These Georgian Eggplant Rolls With Walnut Filling are a delightfully simply, healthy vegan appetizer. Three ingredients, some artfully chosen spices, and less than an hour of time and you have a vegan treat for the tastebuds with these walnut stuffed eggplant rolls.

Protein: 1g
Calories: 47kcal
Ready in: 1 hour 30 minutes
Recipe by: YourGuardianChef
Bonus: simple ingredients, healthy, and so tasty

Aubergine caviar may sound sophisticated, however, it is very simple to make. It is baked aubergine with plenty of garlic, thyme and olive oil.

Protein: 4g
Calories: 421kcal
Ready in: 50 minutes
Recipe by: CookingJourneyBlog
Bonus: healthy, tasty and mega delicious

This Japanese eggplant recipe makes a great appetizer. Are you looking for a healthy eggplant recipe for dinner? Avocado, cedar or pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and dry basil make a delicious avocado pesto that’s a great addition to the roasted eggplant.

Protein: 9g
Calories: 214kcal
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: VeggiesDontBite
Bonus: easy, mega tasty, crispy and healthy

These baked eggplant fries will turn even the eggplant hater into a lover. I know because this was me! Healthy, easy and so delicious.

Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: CookMorphosis
Bonus: a great appetizer or a side dish

This easy 30-minute Japanese miso eggplant recipe is perfect for a quick, delicious night meal. It’s also a dream dish for any eggplant lover.

Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: TheUrbenLife
Bonus: quick, easy, delicious and totally satisfying!

These eggplant pizza bites are dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and low-carb! Each slice is topped with pizza sauce, plant-based cheese, and fresh basil. Enjoy them as a light lunch or fun snack.

Ready in: 50 minutes
Recipe by: ForkfulOfPlants
Bonus: creamy texture and wonderful flavor

The love child of muhammara and baba ganoush, this Mediterranean dip is sweet, creamy, garlicky, smoky and a little bit nutty. Perfect enjoyed with warm grilled pitta and hungry friends.

Protein: 9g
Calories: 347kcal
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: ElectricBlueFood
Bonus: simple, flavorful and mega delicious

A flavourful appetizer inspired by the flavours of the Mediterranean. Enjoy this grilled eggplant bruschetta with fresh mint and, optionally, roasted cherry tomatoes!

Protein: 6g
Calories: 249kcal
Ready in: 1 hour
Recipe by: PepperBowl
Bonus: simple ingredients, super tasty and versatile

‘Baked Eggplant Recipe / Easy Crispy Eggplant’ is perfect recipe is great for snack / appetizer. Best way of celebrations.Best for using as the main ingredient for making sandwiches, lasagnas.

Eggplant or Aubergine?

In case I’ve confused the Brits out there, this is a list of vegan aubergine recipes. I’m just using the more widely used term: eggplant.

Interestingly, the term “aubergine” came from the French word for eggplant and was originally derived from an Arabic word.

“Eggplant”, on the other hand, comes from a plant variety that looks similar to a hen’s egg. This variation was more common in North America in the 18th Century, when the term was coined.

If my tangent on the history of the words eggplant and aubergine hasn’t bored you, you should read more about words that are different in the US and the UK.

How to cook eggplant

This is the big question, and the stumbling block for lots of new vegans when cooking vegan eggplant recipes.

First things first, make sure you know how to pick an eggplant. We’ve written about how to select the perfect aubergine in our baba ganoush recipe (that’s an eggplant dip, by the way).

Once you’re on to the cooking stage, remember that eggplant is mostly water and will soak up anything they are paired with. They can also get soggy if you’re not careful.

Interestingly, there’s a debate over whether or not to salt your eggplant.

All in all, I suggest you stick to whatever the recipes above state.

If you want to make these easy eggplant recipes even easier, check out these tips on cooking eggplants.

Vegan Eggplant Recipes FAQ

Should you peel eggplant skin?

No, it’s not necessary to peel an eggplant. The skin is edible and actually contains many nutrients.

Yet if the recipe calls for peeled eggplant you can remove the skin with a vegetable peeler or a knife.

What is the healthiest way to cook eggplant?

Steaming, stir-frying and roasting are some of the healthiest ways to cook eggplants. These techniques help bring out the flavor and retain the nutrients.

Theoretically, eggplants can also be eaten raw but usually taste bitter and can cause several issues.

How do you take the bitterness out of eggplant?

You can salt the eggplant and allow it to drain for about an hour before cooking to remove the bitterness.

Old and overripe eggplants are more likely to have a bitter taste so choosing shiny and firm eggplants is also a way to avoid an unpleasant taste.

But it’s not as relevant nowadays when eggplants are mostly bred without a hint of the old bitterness.

I’m pretty sure that this list of healthy vegan eggplant recipes has enough variation to provide inspiration for a long time (or all the eggplants you can get your hands on).

By covering all kinds of cuisines, like Chinese eggplant recipes and Japanese eggplant recipes, and different types of eggplant salads and dinner recipes, it really shows all the best that eggplants/aubergines have to offer.