Zucchini Stacks in the Style of Eggplant Parmesan

This take on eggplant Parmesan uses zucchini in place of the eggplant. Rather than bake the breaded, pan-fried disks as one big layered mass in a baking dish, this version features little individual stacks of alternating layers of pepperoni, a tomato sauce, fresh basil, and a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. The result is something both homey and company-worthy at once.

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.

Macadamia Nut "Ricotta" From 'Nom Nom Paleo'

Nut "cheese" is not the first thing I expected to make from a Paleo cookbook. Most nut cheese recipes call for cashews; as someone with a cashew allergy, I have tended to avoid all dairy-free cheeses for the sake of safety. So I was pleasantly surprised when Michelle Tam's recipe for nut "cheese" in her new cookbook, Nom Nom Paleo, called for macadamia nuts. Mild-tasting, rich, and sweet, these round nuts not only fit into my diet, but they also seem like an ideal substitute for ricotta.

Mastering Pasta: Eggplant and Parmesan Rotolo

Although I've never eaten in his restaurants, I became a fan of Marc Vetri after reviewing his second cookbook, Rustic Italian Food, a couple years ago. I have featured his recipes for Mortadella Tortelli with

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.

French in a Flash: Easy Awesome Eggplant Tian

This eggplant tian is a refreshing, lighter break from Eggplant Parm, full of sweet balsamic-roast eggplant, oozing mozzarella cheese, and summery-fresh basil.

Stuffed Eggplant with Lamb and Pine Nuts from 'Jerusalem'

As any fan of Yotam Ottolenghi's previous book, Plenty, knows, the man is an expert when it comes to eggplant. In his and his partner Sami Tamimi's new book Jerusalem: A Cookbook, there are copious recipes for eggplant—stuffed, puréed, roasted, baked, and everything in between. In their Stuffed Eggplant with Lamb and Pine Nuts, they fill the silky, humble nightshade with a warmly spiced blend of gamey ground lamb, sweet onions, and a smattering of pine nuts.

Caponata from 'River Cottage Veg'

Caponata is one of my favorite dippy things to whip out for summertime entertaining. A tangy sweet-and-sour melange of eggplant, tomatoes, and briny olives, the dish plays well with summer staples like grilled bread, grilled chicken, and grilled...well, anything. This version, from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's version in River Cottage Veg, calls for an ingredient that I'd never thought to include in my caponatas: chocolate.