14 Delicious Grilled Eggplant Recipes
Eggplant masquerades in many dishes. It is a bit of a sponge, soaking up marinades and the smoky essence of a grill. Grilled eggplant can be cut thick to replace meat on sandwiches; it can be cooked until silky and then pureed for a dip or spread. Some people love eggplant, but others not so much. If you're on the fence with eggplant, try it grilled. When you cook eggplant on a grill or barbeque, it becomes succulent, tender, and develops a rich, deep flavor. It may just make you a fan. Here are some of our favorite grilled eggplant recipes.
1 of 14
Chef John's Baba Ghanoush
In the words of Chef John, "This is a wonderfully savory yet refreshing vegetable dip." Here, the grilled eggplant is flavored with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. The dip gets an extra creamy consistency with the addition of Greek yogurt. Serve with warm pita bread.
1 of 14
2 of 14
Grilled Eggplant Rollups
In this recipe, slices of grilled eggplant are wrapped around goat cheese and roasted red peppers. The creator of the recipe says it "couldn't be easier" and "is good served hot, cold, or as leftovers."
2 of 14
3 of 14
Grilled Eggplant and Asparagus Salad
Yao-ming, who shared this recipe, describes it as "warm grilled eggplant, asparagus, and tomatoes [atop] a bed of cool, crunchy romaine and endive lettuce with a balsamic vinegar dressing."
3 of 14
4 of 14
Thai Charred Eggplant with Tofu
This recipe is made best with the Thai variety of eggplant, which is smaller in size, round in its shape, and has a bright green skin.
4 of 14
5 of 14
Eggplant Mixed Grill
In this colorful side dish, grilled eggplant is mixed with a variety of other grilled vegetables, including red onion, asparagus, crimini mushrooms, and bell peppers. Prior to grilling, the vegetables are marinated in olive oil, garlic, and lots of fresh herbs for ultimate flavor.
5 of 14
6 of 14
Grilled Vegetables with Balsamic Vinegar
Here's another recipe where eggplant is mixed with a variety of vegetables and marinated prior to grilling. In this case, the marinade is a combination of olive oil, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar, which adds a touch of sweetness. Rusty's girl says "Wonderful! Great on a roll with garlic mayo and any kind of cheese. Yum!!"
6 of 14
7 of 14
Melitzanosalata Agioritiki (Athenian Eggplant Salad)
The smoky flavor of eggplant in this salad really stands out against the briny feta, sweet tomato, and a simple vinaigrette. Our community member veka said, "The recipe is great. I did not change anything and it was just like we eat in Thassos this summer."
7 of 14
8 of 14
Marinated Barbequed Vegetables
For a fun presentation, cut the eggplant, bell peppers, and zucchini into cubes, and skewer along with mushrooms. Brush the kabobs with basil-garlic vinaigrette as they grill and enjoy with a yogurt dipping sauce.
8 of 14
9 of 14
Grilled Eggplant, Tomato and Goat Cheese
These vegetarian stacks of grilled eggplant, tomatoes, and goat cheese, make for "a delicious, no fuss appetizer," says recipe submitter Bubba's Mom. We think it'll also go well over a grilled crostini topped with pesto.
9 of 14
10 of 14
Grilled Eggplant Moussaka
This Greek layered lasagna features grilled eggplant slices instead of fried or pan seared. It makes for a lighter version of the Greek favorite comfort dish, one that is perfect for summer.
10 of 14
11 of 14
Italian Grilled Eggplant with Basil and Parsley
The classic Italian side dish, Melanzane Grigliate al Basilico e Prezzemolo, will be your go-to summer side when you have an abundance of basil and parsley. Eggplant is traditional, but you could use zucchini if that's what your garden is growing.
11 of 14
12 of 14
Grilled Eggplant Parmesan
Use the grill to lend smoky flavor to both the tomato sauce and the eggplant slices. The marinated eggplant slices quickly cook while you blend the ingredients for the sauce, which gets this grilled eggplant recipe on the table in less than an hour.
12 of 14
13 of 14
Italian Grilled Eggplant Caprese
This summer variation on insalata Caprese uses grilled eggplants for a fast and nearly-effortless summer appetizer or side dish. "It is really easy and yummy," writes reviewer Reen McGurl.
13 of 14
14 of 14
Grilled Eggplant Pepper Appetizer Dip
Grill a bushel of eggplant and peppers for an unforgettable dip. It's a great one to make when you've got a hot grill going for other things. "Like this recipe a lot. Added a pinch of ground cumin to enhance the chilies," writes reviewer HOPHEAD.