5 Dishes to Remind You That Eggplant Is Delicious

You’ll go to these recipes again and again for as long as it’s eggplant season

Mark Bittman
Heated

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A wide dinner bowl of eggplant dip with toasted pita chips on it.
Eggplant dip. Photo: Aya Brackett

Grilled eggplant is a summer favorite for good reason: It’s one of the most satisfying of summer vegetables to cook and eat. And while eggplant shines when it’s prepared on a grill, you won’t want to miss out on these eggplant meatballs, either. Read on for more.

Grilled or Roasted Eggplant Dip

Makes: 6 to 8 servings
Time: About 1 hour, largely unattended

There is nothing like grilled eggplant, and its smoky flavor makes a sensational dip; if you grill or roast a red pepper at the same time, so much the better. Serve with bread or crackers, or use as a sandwich spread.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium or 4 small eggplant, about 1 pound
  • 1 red bell pepper (optional)
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, or more as needed
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon chopped garlic, or to taste
  • Salt and pepper
  • Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
  1. Turn the broiler on and position the rack about 4 inches below the heat…

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Mark Bittman
Heated

Has published 30 books, including How to Cook Everything and VB6: The Case for Part-Time Veganism. Newsletter at markbittman.com.