Roasting eggplant brings out a whole new dimension to this versatile kitchen staple. In this post I will walk through the best methods for roasting a whole eggplant on a gas range, grill, or in the oven. The techniques each results in smoky, tender eggplant pulp that is full of flavor.
The eggplant, also known as aubergine, has been cultivated in India for over 4,000 years. Eggplant is a fruit– in fact it is technically a large berry, although most cooks generally consider it a vegetable. The oldest surviving mention of the fruit dates back to the 5th century in a Chinese agricultural work called Ts’i Min Yao Shu. It later made its way to Persia in the 4th century CE, where it eventually became firmly rooted as a major part of the Middle Eastern diet.
Eggplant is an affordable, healthy dietary staple that can be prepared in numerous ways. During a second Jewish expulsion from Spain and Portugal in 1580 (when the two countries united under one crown), eggplant became known as the “Jew’s apple” because of its frequent usage in Sephardic Jewish cuisine.
Once you know how to roast an eggplant, there are a number of dishes you can make with it. In this post I will share my favorite methods for roasting eggplant, along with some tips for ensuring a tasty result every time you roast.
Recipe Ideas for Roasted and Charred Eggplant
Eggplant Tahini Basil Crostini
I prefer roasting eggplants on the gas stove or grill. Roasting on an open flame imparts a delicate smoky flavor into the eggplant flesh. If you do not have a gas stove, you can also roast it in the oven. Both methods are described below.
Other Ways to Cook Eggplant
How to Cook Eggplant with Less Oil
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How to Roast Eggplant
Ingredients
- 1 whole eggplant
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, as needed
NOTES
Instructions
Roasting Eggplant on a Range (Recommended)
- Wash and dry eggplant. Pierce it a few times with a fork to vent. Important - for any of the cooking methods outlined below, make sure you pierce with a fork-- otherwise you could end up with an exploded eggplant!
- If you have a gas range, you can roast it directly on top of the range. You might wish to protect your gas range burner with a layer of foil, which makes for easier cleanup. The eggplant will weep a bit as it roasts, leaving charred bits and goop on the range.
- Place eggplant directly on top of the gas range grate. On my gas stove, I usually turn the flame to medium.
- Allow eggplant to roast over the flame for 20-30 minutes, giving it a quarter every 5 minutes as it cooks. The larger the eggplant, the longer it will take to roast. Smaller eggplants (like Japanese eggplants) will roast faster. When finished cooking, remove from oven and proceed to "Peeling Your Eggplant."
- If you have an electric range, or if you want to protect your gas range from the mess, you can use a grill pan to roast the eggplant. A grill pan will protect your stove from the drips of roasted eggplant juice. Here is the one I use - Grill Pan.
- Prepare grill pan according to instructions. My pan requires a bit of water to be placed in the circular chamber. Preheat grill pan over medium heat; brush lightly with oil if it is recommended for your pan. Pierce the eggplant a few times to vent, then place on the preheated grill pan.
- Roast the eggplant for 40-50 minutes, giving a quarter turn with a pair of tongs every 5 minutes or so, until the eggplant is charred and collapsing. Check water level about halfway through cooking if your grill pan requires it. When eggplant is tender, charred and collapsing, remove from grill pan and proceed to "Peeling Your Roasted Eggplant."
Roasting on a Grill (Recommended)
- If using a grill, light gas or coals and preheat the grill to medium heat before you begin to roast.
- Allow eggplant to roast over the flame for 20-30 minutes, giving it a quarter every 5 minutes as it cooks. The larger the eggplant, the longer it will take to roast.
- When eggplant is tender and collapsing, remove from grill and proceed to "Peeling Your Roasted Eggplant."
Oven Roasting Method
- Place a rack 8-9 inches beneath your oven's broiler and preheat the broiler. Lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking oil. Wash and dry eggplant, then pierce a few times with a fork to vent. Place on a baking sheet under the broiler and let the eggplant roast for 20-30 minutes, giving a quarter turn every 5-7 minutes.
- Eggplant is finished roasting when it is soft, tender and collapsing. Remove from oven and proceed to "Peeling Your Roasted Eggplant."
Roasting Salted Eggplant Halves
- If you encounter a bitter eggplant, you will want to halve it and salt it prior to cooking. The method for salting is described below. Once salting is complete, this is the way you roast it. Place eggplant halves flesh-side down on a lightly greased baking sheet (so the flat cut side is directly against the baking sheet).
- Roast 8-9 inches underneath the broiler for 20-30 minutes until the eggplant halves are charred and the halves are beginning to collapse. The larger the eggplant, the longer it will take to roast. Smaller eggplants (like Japanese eggplants) will roast faster. Remove from oven. Check the eggplant flesh to make sure it is soft, roasted, and caramelized throughout. If any parts looked light-colored or undercooked, return to the oven to roast for a few minutes longer.
- Scoop out the roasted pulpy flesh from each half and place it in a bowl. Discard the charred skin. There will be some residual smoky juice that collects in the bowl; you can drain it off or blend it into the eggplant, depending on the flavor you want to achieve (see Eggplant Roasting Tips, below).
Peeling Your Roasted Eggplant
- Once the eggplant is very tender and collapsing, remove from heat with tongs and place it on a cutting board. There will be some residual smoky juice that collects on the board; you can drain it off or blend it into the eggplant, depending on the flavor you want to achieve.
- Slice the eggplant open. Scoop out the roasted pulpy flesh and place it in a bowl. Discard the charred skin. The eggplant will be quite soft, and you may need to peel off a few small bits of skin by hand. I'm not super careful about it; I find that a few charred bits actually enhance the smoky flavor, which we find desirable.
- Once the eggplant is separated from the charred skin, you are left with perfectly tender, roasted and smoky eggplant flesh, which can be used to make baba ghanoush or a variety of purees and dips.
Nutrition
tried this recipe?
Let us know in the comments!
Tory, thanks for the recipe! I loved it, very flavour e well balanced.
Great detail in instructions.Really helpful for my first time roasted eggplant in oven.
Am going come back to this method often.
Just got a large eggplant from Misfits market delivery and decided to roast the whole eggplant rather than slice it up. It was large enough to require cutting it in half (last one I roasted was smaller). Did the salt trick prior to the roasting to eliminate any bitter aftertaste. After it roasts I will add more seasoning to mashed cooked insides after I spoon it out of the skin. The instructions were great.
Hi. Just wanted to compliment you on your very clear instructions about roasting an eggplant. No reply requested or necessary. Thank you!
Oh, finally I can roast an eggplant! It was my food-nemesis because every time I would make it, it would turn out dry and horrible! I roasted eggplant according to this plan and it worked!
This recipe is an excellent starting point and I am so happy I found it! Next time I’ll cut the lemon juice in half and start with a bit more salt and red pepper. I used one small fruit and one large so maybe two small would have been more savory but the lemon was very obvious. Also had to make my own tahini which could have been a factor (maybe pre-made has salt added?)