Served as a side dish, for a light lunch or even in a sandwich, we have many suggestions for this tasty eggplant recipe.
We also have some tips that make this eggplant super tender, not bitter at all, and can be used to top pasta, rice or just eat it as is.
Plus if you're a huge fan of eggplant like we are you'll want to check out our Eggplant Recipe Roundup dinner ideas.
We even have air fryer instructions for those who don't want to put that oven on!
The eggplant stays nice and crunchy on the outside and soft and moist inside and you can top the eggplant with any sliced vegetables you prefer.
We even have many suggestions for making these into a dressed-up appetizer with marinara sauce and mozzarella pizza eggplant bites!
There are a list of vegetables that roast easily and taste terrific you can choose from below.
Scroll down to get this easy to make these baked eggplant medley instructions.
Serving Suggestions for Baked Eggplant
- in a sandwich with toasted garlic bread
- top the eggplant with melted mozzarella cheese and pizza-style tomato sauce for an appetizer
- layered for eggplant in a ricotta style casserole
- use these as a side dish with any meal (these taste great without any addition)
- serve on top of boiled pasta or cooked rice
- drizzle with Alfredo or homemade marinara sauce or use store-bought
Other Cooking Methods
- Pan Fried: Fry them in a small amount of vegetable oil blended with olive oil on a medium-high heat add the other vegetables off to the side of the pan and stir fry for a few minutes then top eggplant.
- Air Fry: Preheat the fryer to 375 degrees and spray the basket. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs drizzle each slice with extra virgin olive oil top with peppers, tomato, and whatever other vegetables you prefer to fry the slices for 15 minutes or to your preference at 400 degrees preheated air fryer
Ingredients Needed to Make Roasted Eggplant Medley
- eggplant peeled and sliced
- table salt
- dried basil
- Italian flavored breadcrumbs (or use pork rinds for diabetic version, or gluten-free flour for allergies)
- Parmesan cheese and Pecorino Romano cheese grated blended together
- dried oregano
- black pepper ( you can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for heat)
- granulated garlic powder
- cooking spray or extra virgin olive oil you may need a little more for drizzling
- sliced peppers, cherry or grape tomatoes, broccoli florets
Tips and Vegetable Ideas
- for best results slice the eggplant thick
- to remove bitterness salt on paper towels and drain for at least 30 minutes then rinse off the salt
- use flavored breadcrumbs
- for crispier coating, you can broil each side for an additional minute
- for gluten-free refer to a gluten-free brand bread crumb at your local supermarket
- substitute any vegetables you prefer but place eggplant on the bottom first
- asparagus stalks, any kind of peppers. sliced in half brussels sprouts. chopped celery, yellow or green squash, thin sliced sweet potatoes, thin sliced regular potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, fresh spinach or arugula, shredded cabbage, thinly sliced carrots
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Baking Eggplant
If you love eggplant this is the healthiest way is to roast it with cooking oil spray.
Keep in mind everyone prefers their vegetables cooked differently, we like them softer and not crunchy so you will have to adjust your timing to taste just like seasonings!
Using just a small amount of olive oil or cooking spray for that amazing crunchiness, on top of the breadcrumbs and mixing them together with a tad bit of olive oil will make them even crispier.
Our recipe for eggplant is thickly sliced and cooks up perfectly with any cooking method but if you're looking for the healthiest versions, baking eggplant is the way to go or air-fried.
Roasted Eggplant Medley
Yield: 6
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinInactive time: 30 MinTotal time: 55 Min
This is a side dish or light lunch made with roasted eggplant topped with a medley of fresh-cut vegetables
Ingredients
- 1 medium-sized eggplant washed sliced thick with stem removed (skin on or off)
- 1/4 cup of more Italian flavored breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder (more for sprinkling)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 tablespoons Pecorino Romano and Parmesan blended grated cheeses
- cherry or grape tomatoes sliced (enough to top each slice)
- 1 bell pepper chopped or sliced (or another kind you prefer)
- broccoli florets (fresh) enough for each slice
- cooking spray or olive oil
- salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Wash the eggplant and remove the stem.
- The skin can be peeled or left on.
- Slice the eggplant into thick pieces, lay on a paper towel, and sprinkle lightly with salt.
- After 30 minutes rinse off the salt.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the slices on the sheet and top with vegetables of choice.
- In a small bowl add the breadcrumbs, cheese, herbs, seasonings to taste, and garlic powder.
- Top the vegetable sprinkling with the breadcrumbs mixture, (add more cheese if desired) then sprinkle the top evenly with more granulated garlic powder.
- Oil spray the top of the vegetables or drizzle lightly with olive oil.
- Bake in the preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, and check for the desired softness of the vegetables.
- Serve as a side dish, light lunch, or in a sandwich.
Notes
Tips and Vegetable Ideas
- for best results slice the eggplant thick
- to remove bitterness salt on paper towels and drain for at least 30 minutes then rinse off the salt
- use flavored breadcrumbs
- for crispier coating, you can broil each side for an additional minute
- for gluten-free refer to a gluten-free brand bread crumb at your local supermarket
- substitute any vegetables you prefer but place eggplant on the bottom first
- asparagus stalks, any kind of peppers, onions sliced, sliced in half brussels sprouts. chopped celery, yellow or green squash, thin sliced sweet potatoes, thin sliced regular potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, fresh spinach or arugula, shredded cabbage, thinly sliced carrots
Note: cooking times will vary vegetables cook best chopped thinly or diced
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Eggplant Favorite Recipes
Eggplant Ricotta Casserole
Eggplant aka Zucchini Roll-Ups
Eggplant Parmesan
Eggplant Boats
Zucchini Rollatini
Fried Zucchini Fritters
Grilled Eggplant
