30 Gluten Free Eggplant Recipes

These 30 Gluten Free Eggplant Recipes highlight all the ways to utilize this versatile ingredient. Check out these healthy eggplant dishes!

What Is Eggplant?

Eggplant (also known as aubergine or brinjal) is a member of the nightshade family. Other nightshades include tomatoes, potatoes, and bell peppers. It prefers hot climates and is in season during the late summer and early fall months. The flesh, skin, and seeds of the eggplant are all edible.

There are numerous health benefits to eggplant including lots of nutrients and antioxidants. It is low in fat and calories and can help balance blood sugars.

Eggplant is actually a fruit and not a vegetable, even though it is treated as a vegetable. There are a number of varieties of eggplant available. The most common varieties are Globe and Italian eggplants, known by their distinct oblong shape and dark purple skin.

Other popular varieties include Japanese and Chinese eggplant as well as baby or Indian eggplants (often used in South Asian cooking).

How To Cook Eggplant

Eggplant is incredibly versatile - it can be used to make dips, soups, stews, casseroles, stir-fry, pizza, and salads. It can be grilled, roasted, fried, and sautéed. Eggplant doesn't have a lot of flavor on its own, but is one of those ingredients that tends to pick up the flavors of whatever else is added to it.

There are so many ways to enjoy eggplant and it is found in cuisines all around the world.

It is common in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines as well as Italian, French, Greek, Indian, and Asian cuisines.

Popular eggplant dishes include Eggplant Parmesan, Baba Ghanoush, Baingan Bharta, and a variety of dips and appetizers.

Why Salt Eggplant Before Cooking?

Many eggplant recipes call for salting the flesh before cooking. This is not completely necessary, but it can help to draw out any bitter flavor in the eggplant (this is especially true if the eggplant is overripe).

It also helps to draw some of the water out of the eggplant, which results in a better texture. The flesh of an eggplant is soft and spongy and can soak up too much oil if it has not firmed up, which can be achieved by salting it before frying or roasting.

Is Eggplant Gluten Free?

Eggplant is naturally gluten free, making it a great addition to lots of gluten free dishes.

It's a fun ingredient to cook with and there are so many ways to utilize it! Here are some of my favorite Gluten Free Eggplant Recipes.

Borani Banjan Vegan Afghan Eggplant

This Borani Banjan features golden, creamy eggplant slices layered with a lightly spiced tomato sauce and finished with a garlic yogurt topping. It's a vegan Afghan dish that's full of spices and perfect served as part of an appetizer platter.

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Mediterranean Roasted Eggplant Salad

This Mediterranean Roasted Eggplant Salad is made with bell peppers, tomatoes, lemon juice, and fresh herbs. It can be served warm or cold as a salad or a healthy appetizer!

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Stuffed Eggplant with Chicken and Mozzarella

This Stuffed Eggplant with Chicken and Mozzarella is so healthy and simple to make. With just a few ingredients, this healthy dish will be ready in 30 minutes. You will never miss all of the carbs and sugar in this stuffed eggplant!

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Roasted Eggplant

This Roasted Eggplant is flavorful, tender, and one of my favorite easy low-carb side dishes. Roasting brings out its natural sweetness and creates perfectly caramelized bite-size pieces that are delicious for dipping, serving as a side, or tossing into pasta, salads, and grain bowls.

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South Indian Eggplant Curry

This South Indian Eggplant Curry is made with sauteed eggplant that's cooked with lots of Indian spices and a spicy curry sauce! It's perfect served over rice or with flatbread.

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Baked Eggplant Parmesan (Gluten Free)

This Baked Eggplant Parmesan is a lightened up version of the classic! It's made with crispy breaded eggplant rounds that are baked in a casserole dish with marinara sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and topped with fresh basil.

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Baingan Bharta

This Baingan Bharta is a North Indian dish made with roasted eggplant, onions, tomatoes, and garlic. Cooking the eggplant over an open flame gives it a smoky taste. It is best served with warm roti or paratha.

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Miso Eggplant with Black Garlic

This Miso Eggplant is made with roasted Asian eggplants brushed with a sweet and savory miso glaze! It's got black garlic, miso, sake, and mirin and can be served with noodles, rice, or tofu.

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Mediterranean Style Eggplant Chips

These Mediterranean Eggplant Chips are a light and healthy snack! It's made with eggplant rounds that are roasted in olive oil and then tossed in a blend of Mediterranean spices.

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Moroccan Eggplant Salad with Chermoula

This Moroccan Eggplant Salad is made with roasted eggplant and topped with chermoula! It's packed with spices, fresh herbs, and lemon juice for a bright and healthy dish.

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Baba Ghanoush (Vegan and Gluten Free)

This Baba Ghanoush is a smoky Middle Eastern eggplant dip! It's made with roasted garlic, tahini, lemon juice, and smoked paprika. This dip makes a great appetizer to serve with crostini or crackers.

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Eggplant Shakshuka

This Eggplant Shakshuka is a Middle Eastern breakfast or brunch dish that's made in a skillet with a spiced chunky tomato and eggplant sauce along with perfectly cooked eggs!

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Brinjal Fry

A side dish from South India, this Brinjal Fry (eggplant stir fry) is delicious, flavorful, and can be made in less than 20 minutes. It's made with roasted chana dal, urad dal, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and red dried chilies ground, then sprinkled on the stir-fried brinjals. The roasted spices lend unique flavors and tastes to the eggplant.

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Georgian Eggplant Walnut Rolls

These Georgian Eggplant Walnut Rolls are made with roasted eggplant slices that are stuffed with a savory spiced walnut mixture and served as a flavorful appetizer!

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Greek Eggplant Dip

This Greek Eggplant Dip is made with garlic, lemon, parsley, olives, and roasted eggplant. It's pureed, topped with olive oil, and perfect served on an appetizer platter with veggies or bread for dipping!

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Eggplant Lasagna (Vegan and Gluten Free)

This Vegan Eggplant Lasagna is a hearty and comforting gluten-free main dish packed with rich Italian flavor. Made with simple ingredients, this nutritious vegetable lasagna is full of delicious flavor and perfect for a cozy family dinner.

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Grilled Eggplant Tacos

These Grilled Eggplant Tacos put a twist on traditional tacos! It's made with eggplant slices that are topped with a black bean, corn, and tomato salsa as well as melted cheese and fresh cilantro.

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Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches with Miso Mayo

These Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches are a vegetarian dish with Asian flavor! It's made with eggplant rounds that are served on toasted buns with a miso mayo dressing and kimchi.

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Vanji Batata Bhaji Eggplant Potato Curry

Fiery and layered with flavour, this Vanji Batata Bhaji eggplant potato curry is an authentic hidden gem from Maharashtra, India. It's simmered in a flavorful sauce packed with spices. Perfect with naan, chapati, or rice.

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Mutabal Charred Eggplant Dip

This Mutabal is a charred eggplant dip that's made with roasted eggplant, tahini, yogurt, garlic, and lemon juice! It's drizzled with pomegranate molasses and served as an appetizer with flatbread.

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Roasted Eggplant with Tahini and Za'atar

This Roasted Eggplant with Tahini and Za'atar is made with baby eggplants that are roasted along with Middle Eastern spices and then drizzled with a creamy lemon tahini sauce!

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Garden Fresh Lasagna (Gluten Free)

This Garden Vegetable Lasagna is full of summer veggies! It's made with roasted eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, spinach and layered with marinara sauce and a ricotta cheese mixture.

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Grilled Eggplant with Feta and Herbs

This Grilled Eggplant with Feta and Herbs is a great side dish for grilling season! It's made with eggplant rounds that are topped with fresh herbs like mint and cilantro, feta cheese, and a flavorful vinaigrette!

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Eggplant Gratin with Feta Cheese

This Eggplant Gratin is a decadent side dish for any meal! It's made with eggplant rounds that are baked along with a creamy Gruyere and feta cheese mixture.

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Sicilian Caponata

This Caponata is a traditional Sicilian eggplant dip made with tomatoes, olives, garlic, olive oil, and capers! It's a sweet and sour dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, sandwich spread, or topping for meat or seafood.

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Turkish Musakka

Musakka - the Turkish version of this comforting dish combines tender eggplant, potatoes and spiced ground beef in a rich tomato sauce. Unlike the Greek version, this recipe skips the béchamel and keeps things lighter but every bit as satisfying. Serve with rice, yogurt, and a fresh salad for a hearty family meal.

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Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

This Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan is made without the breading, but every bit as flavorful as the original! It's got Italian spices, marinara sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on crispy eggplant rounds.

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Zaalouk Moroccan Eggplant Tomato Dip

This Zaalouk is a Moroccan eggplant and tomato dip made with garlic, spices, parsley and cilantro, and lemon juice. It's a flavorful appetizer that can be served with bread or veggies!

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Indian Spiced Stuffed Eggplant and Potatoes

This Stuffed Eggplant and Potatoes is made with baby eggplants that are packed with an Indian spice blend and tossed with potatoes to create a flavorful dish that's great served with rice or flatbread!

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Eggplant Parmesan Fries (Air Fryer)

These Eggplant Parmesan Fries are crispy and flavorful! They're coated in a spiced breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese mixture, air fried or baked, and served with marinara sauce for dipping.

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