French in a Flash: Campanelle with Eggplant Caviar

For this pasta dish, I purée roasted garlic, basil, and a touch of chili with the eggplant, and toss it over trumpets of campanelle pasta, studded with toasted pine nuts and laced with strings of fresh basil. Since eggplant is in season in the late summer, along with basil, now is the time when this dish is cheapest and best. Don't waste another second!

Provençal Tian (Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, and Tomato Casserole)

At the end of the movie Ratatouille, Remy the rat creates a beautiful reinterpretation of a classic ratatouille. Only problem: It's not a ratatouille at all. It's a tian, and they've been making it in Provence for generations. This version features thinly sliced zucchini, summer squash, and eggplant, along with a simple tomato sauce.

All-American Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant is briefly cooked in a microwave to purge any liquid, resulting in perfectly fried eggplant. It's then layered with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan.

Eggplant Parmigiana

Eggplant Parmigiana (Parmigiana di Melanzane in Italian) has layers of eggplant, tomato sauce, basil and cheese, baked until bubbly.

Pasta with Eggplant, Portobella, and Tomatoes

I spent a good portion of the last month making eggplant parmesan for the Food Lab article on the subject. This left me with a few things: lots of canned tomatoes, plenty of Parmigiano-Reggiano, a slew of eggplants, and a great microwave-then-cook technique for getting the most out of their texture. That's about all there is to say about this recipe, other than the fact that it takes about 20 minutes to throw together, and is really good to boot.

Melanzane alla Parmigiana (Italian-Style Eggplant Parmesan)

Sweet, silky, and absolutely delicious, this breading-free version of eggplant parm made in Italy is well worth trying, especially in late summer when eggplant (and tomatoes!) are at their best.

Spaghetti With Tomato Sauce and Pan-Fried Eggplant

At its base, this is just a simple spaghetti and tomato sauce recipe—a satisfying classic for sure, but not exactly the most exciting dinner of the week. But if you add a handful of crispy slices of pan-fried eggplants on top, along with a shower of parmesan cheese, and you have a meal with a variety of textures and some real heft.

Eggplant and Tomato Pasta

An all-in-one pasta dish with tender eggplant and a bright tomato sauce.

Eggplant Tart With Goat Cheese, Honey, and Nigella

Frozen puff pastry to the rescue! Here, it makes a crisp base for a quick and easy savory eggplant tart.

Grilled Eggplant With Feta and Maras Pepper From 'The Big-Flavor Grill'

Meat can really hog the spotlight when it comes to grilling. But sometimes, a beautifully grilled vegetable comes along and steals the show. This is what happened here for me, with this eggplant from The Big-Flavor Grill by Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby.