HEALTHY RECIPES COLLECTIONS

Healthy eggplant recipes that taste good—and are good for you!

Eggplant's lovely purple skin adds a colorful punch to many dishes. And its satisfying texture is very versatile—eggplant slices are sturdy enough to stand up to the fire of a grill to serve as the basis for a hearty vegetarian sandwich, and chunks of eggplant can be roasted and pureed into a silky, smooth dip. Perhaps we’re most familiar with it served up breaded and fried and covered in melted cheese—hardly healthful fare! However, if it's classic Eggplant Parmesan you're craving, we've got a makeover recipe you've got to try! This collection of eggplant recipes has both taste and health in mind.

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Healthy Eggplant Recipes

Sides, Salads and Appetizers

• Baba Ganouj
• Grilled Mediterranean Vegetable Salad
• Grilled Smoky Eggplant Salad
• Ratatouille à la Casablancaise
• Roasted Eggplant & Feta Dip

Main Dishes

• EatingWell’s Eggplant Parmesan
• Eggplant Parmesan Pizza
• Eggplant, Lamb & Rice Casserole
• Eggplant-Cheddar Bake
• Eggplant-Couscous Rolls
• Eggplant-Shallot Stew
• Eggs Baked Over a Spicy Vegetable Ragout
• Grilled Chicken Ratatouille
• Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich
• Indian-Spiced Eggplant & Cauliflower Stew
• Mediterranean Baked Penne
• Middle Eastern Chickpea Platter
• Poor Man’s Steak (Bistecche dei Poveri)
• Rigatoni with Beef & Eggplant Ragu
• Roasted Vegetable & Feta Sandwiches
• Soba Noodles with Roasted Eggplant
• Thai Green Curry with Duck
• Torta Rustica
• Turkey Cutlets with Spicy Eggplant Relish

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Eggplant Cooking Tips

Shopping tip: When buying eggplant, also known as aubergine, look for dark-purple skin and an even, smooth egg-like or globe shape. In general, look for medium-sized fruits that weigh about a pound—small, firm, shiny eggplants may be underdeveloped, and large, overripe ones can become foamy and bitter. Don't confuse underripe standard eggplants with Italian "baby" ones, however—these should be clearly labeled and are slightly sweeter and more tender than their larger counterparts. Other varieties of eggplant include the thinner, elongated light- to dark-violet Japanese and Chinese eggplants, several varieties of striped eggplants of varying shades, and white eggplants, which may give an indication of where the name originated.

Storage and preparation tips: Eggplants are fairly perishable and quite delicate, so handle gently to avoid bruising the flesh and store in the refrigerator in a paper or perforated plastic bag for 4 to 7 days, depending on initial freshness of the fruit. When you are ready to use the eggplant, keep in mind that the light flesh oxidizes very quickly and will begin to brown within minutes—a light brush of lemon juice will help prevent this.

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