From pasta to parmigiana, curries to stir-fries, now's a better time than any to put eggplant on the menu.
Jan 27, 2023 1:56amLuckily for us, eggplants have a long season in Australia so there are plenty of opportunities to work them into your culinary repertoire. Unleash the vegetable's smoky, earthy flavours in a charred eggplant dip (we have three variations), or in our barbecued eggplant salad with goat's curd, mint and pomegranate.
For longer cook times, the Sichuanese fish-fragrant eggplant braise swill have your lips tingling with lingering spice, while the impossibly soft eggplant parmigiana looks impressive, and tastes just so. Need a quick fix for your eggplant recipe cravings? We recommend the eggplant stir-fry with tamarind, or the stew of okra, turmeric and eggplant. Come picnic season, we make a bee-line for Danielle Alvarez's summer vegetable tian (featuring eggplant, of course).
1 / 0
Carrot and chilli fritters with eggplant pickle and yoghurt
Photo: James Moffatt
2 / 0
Harissa-roasted lamb rump with pomegranate and eggplant
Photo: James Moffatt
3 / 0
Palisa Anderson's gaeng keow wan gai (Thai green chicken curry)
Photo: Kara Rosenlund
4 / 0
Eggplant and pineapple curry
Photo: John Paul Urizar
5 / 0
Smoky eggplant with sumac onions
Photo: Alicia Taylor
6 / 0
Dainty Sichuan's fish-fragrant eggplant (yu xiang qie zi)
Photo: Mark Roper
7 / 0
Smoky eggplant and capsicum dip with pita bread
Photo: Will Horner
8 / 0
Tony Tan's eggplant and broad beans with soy-sesame dressing
Photo: Ben Dearnley
9 / 0
Dry curry of lamb and eggplant
Photo: Ben Dearnley
10 / 0
Good Luck Pinbone's Sichuan chilli eggplant with wood-ear fungus
Photo: Ben Hansen
11 / 0
Capitano's caponata
Photo: Ben Dearnley
12 / 0
Barbecued eggplant salad with goat's curd, mint and pomegranate
Photo: James Moffatt
13 / 0
Hanuman's eggplant pachadi
Photo: William Meppem
14 / 0
Calamari with spiced eggplant
Photo: Will Horner
15 / 0
Dandelion's Hmong spicy eggplant mash
Photo: Sharyn Cairns
16 / 0
Bone marrow with pickled eggplant salad
Photo: William Meppem
17 / 0
Pork and eggplant salad with salted chilli
Photo: William Meppem
18 / 0
Brent Savage's coal-roasted eggplant with black garlic
Photo: Alicia Taylor
19 / 0
Sichuan braised eggplant
Photo: Mikkel Vang
20 / 0
Photo: William Meppem
21 / 0
Spiced lamb with eggplant salad
Photo: William Meppem
22 / 0
Lau's Family Kitchen's eggplant stuffed with taro
Photo: Con Poulos
23 / 0
Roast eggplant, 'nduja and scamorza
Photo: Ben Dearnley
24 / 0
Analiese Gregory's flatbread with miso eggplant and urchin
Photo: Adam Gibson
25 / 0
Victor Liong's grilled eggplant with sesame, cumin and chilli
Photo: Alicia Taylor
26 / 0
Shane Delia's poached chicken salad with harissa, eggplant, spring onion and tahini
Photo: Rob Shaw
27 / 0
Charred prawns, eggplant and chickpeas with roast tomato vinaigrette
Photo: Ben Dearnley
28 / 0
Burrata with char-grilled eggplant
Photo: Prue Ruscoe
29 / 0
Eggplant, tofu and sugarsnap peas with ginger and soy dressing
Photo: Ben Dearnley
30 / 0
Grilled eggplant salad with lentils and sesame yoghurt
Photo: Prue Ruscoe
31 / 0
Longsong's eggplant salad with shallots and salted ricotta
Photo: Mark Roper
32 / 0
Palisa Anderson's yum makeua (grilled eggplant salad with prawns)
Photo: Kara Rosenlun
33 / 0
Smoky eggplant and walnut dip
Photo: Ben Dearnley
34 / 0
Blue Nile's Ethiopian eggplant dip
Photo: John Paul Urizar
35 / 0
Charred miso eggplant with nori and sesame
Photo: Chris Chen
36 / 0
Chickpeas with steamed eggplant and almonds
Photo: Aimee Jones
37 / 0
Quick okra, eggplant and turmeric stew
Photo: William Meppem
38 / 0
Christine Manfield's eggplant sandwich
Photo: William Meppem
39 / 0
Prime-rib minute steak, spiced eggplant and lemon couscous
Photo: Mark Roper
40 / 0
Eggplant zaalouk
Photo: William Meppem
41 / 0
Eggplant parma jaffles
Photo: Dean Wilmot
42 / 0
Stir-fried eggplant with sweet tamarind sauce
Photo: Chris Court
43 / 0
Dan Hong's crisp eggplant with fish-fragrant sauce
Photo: Jason Loucas
44 / 0
Roast eggplant, tomato and basil spelt pasta
Photo: Ben Dearnley
45 / 0
Papoutsakia
Photo: Prue Ruscoe
46 / 0
Danielle Alvarez's summer vegetable tian
Photo: Ben Dearnley
47 / 0
Eggplant parmigiana
Photo: William Meppem
48 / 0
Miznon's eggplant lines
Photo: Ben Dearnley
49 / 0
Burnt honey and teriyaki Japanese eggplant
Photo: Ben Dearnley
Read More
Recipe CollectionsEaster desserts that aren't hot cross buns
Mar 11, 2024
Recipe CollectionsRabbit recipes for Easter
Mar 11, 2024
Recipe CollectionsAll the Easter recipes you need
Mar 11, 2024
Vivid Sydney’s food program is back for 2024
Mar 10, 2024
DestinationsBeyond laneways: A peek into some of Melbourne's most luxe Airbnb stays
Mar 10, 2024
Travel NewsVirgin Australia is offering 30% off flights to 36 destinations in flash sale
Mar 10, 2024
EntertainingGozney's new Arc pizza oven here to heat up the alfresco entertaining game?
Mar 07, 2024
This is how women do it: Leading women in restaurants
Mar 07, 2024
Drinks NewsTop drops: An expert's best tannic wines for March
Mar 07, 2024
Travel NewsTurkish Airlines announces direct flights between Melbourne and Istanbul from March 2024
Mar 06, 2024
EntertainingYour seasonal guide to luxury Easter eggs, bunnies and hampers
Mar 05, 2024
Food NewsNoma returns to Japan for 10-week Noma Kyoto residency in 2024
Mar 05, 2024
Restaurant NewsNoma, the 'world's best restaurant', is closing in 2025
Mar 05, 2024
Restaurant ReviewsPipis Kiosk: Restaurant review
Mar 05, 2024
Recipe CollectionsOur most popular recipes for autumn
Mar 05, 2024
Travel NewsSeven crossbody bags that make slick travel companions
Mar 03, 2024
Entertaining5 wine fridges to store your vinos for entertaining and longevity
Feb 27, 2024
EntertainingSix quality steak knives that even vegetarians will find use for
Feb 27, 2024
Recipe Collections5 simple co*cktails for every occasion
Feb 27, 2024