Here’s a collection of fun, delicious white eggplant recipes featuring the unique ingredient–soups, dips, pasta–you name it!
Have you ever wondered why eggplants are called such a name when they don’t even resemble eggs?
Well, if you see a white eggplant, then the name will make more sense.
Eggplants were named that way because the first eggplants that landed on U.S. shores resembled eggs as they were also round and egg-like in color and size.
They are a member of the nightshade family, and while commonly mislabeled as vegetables, eggplants are actually a fruit.
Globally, eggplants are also called brinjals, vankayas, and the more commonly known, aubergines.
There is even a type called garden eggs.
White eggplants are generally smaller than purple eggplants and have a cream-colored interior as opposed to the purple ones’ green flesh.
The white eggplant variety not only varies from their more popular purple cousins by their color but sometimes by their taste.
They are known to be a bit more delicate-tasting, denser, creamier, and less bitter.
However, the difference in flavor is subtle enough for it to also serve as an alternative.
You can cook them similarly to how you cook your purple aubergines.
There are also tons of white eggplant recipes, and we have rounded up 21 of the most flavorful ones below!
This spice-rich white baby eggplant dish brings explosions of flavor in every bite.
Pair it with some naan flatbread or basmati rice, and you have a deliciously filling meal.
Ingredients include: White baby eggplants, roasted peanuts, desiccated coconut, coriander seeds, and dry red chilies.
2. Baba Ganoush
Baba Ganoush is a popular Middle Eastern dip or appetizer typically served with crisp raw vegetables like cucumber, celery, carrot sticks, pita bread, and even crispy chips.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, tahini, smoked paprika, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil.
These colorful and flavorful creations are perfect for hors d’oeuvres or as a side dish to accompany any entree.
It can even be a hearty and savory breakfast.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, red onion, capers, balsamic vinegar, and parsley.
Recreate your favorite Disney dish with this White Eggplant Ratatouille recipe.
You can even try to arrange it the way Remy did in the movie to serve to your guests or at a family dinner.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, red onion, zucchini, red bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes.
What To Serve With Ratatouille
Indulge in a warm, stuffed baked eggplant with the best fillings of meaty sausages, succulent tomatoes, fresh herbs, and a bountiful helping of gooey mozzarella and sharp Pecorino Romano.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, sweet Italian chicken sausage, mozzarella cheese, pecorino romano, and tomatoes.
Here’s a meatless “bacon” that features a familiar smoky, meaty, and sweet flavor.
Wrapping it in asparagus makes it look more like the real thing.
White eggplants work best in this recipe since it mimics the colors of real bacon more closely than purple eggplants.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, liquid smoke, brown sugar, asparagus, and vegan parmesan cheese.
Make your tortilla chips, crackers, and homemade bread more enjoyable by dunking them into this creamy eggplant dip.
Eggplants work really well with Mediterranean flavors and beautifully blend with garlic, paprika, pine nuts, toasted seeds, and red chili.
Ingredients include: Red chili, pine nuts, garlic, eggplant, and red onion.
These Thai White Eggplants may seem familiar to you because they look more like tomatoes than the long, purple eggplants you may be more accustomed to.
This may be because tomatoes are also members of the nightshade family, just like eggplants.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, white onion, cilantro, coriander seeds, and green chili.
A ragu is an Italian sauce made typically with ground meat like beef, pork, veal, some crushed, pureed, or minced tomatoes, and flavorful additions of onion, garlic, celery, and the like.
They are usually served with pasta, couscous, or polenta.
This eggplant version is a good option for people who want to try something new.
Ingredients include: Eggplants, yellow onion, tomato puree, sweet bell peppers, and heirloom tomatoes.
This fresh dish is a great accompaniment to meat dishes.
They are fairly easy and quick to whip up and are great to make especially if you have an abundance of eggplants and zucchini.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, zucchini, dill, olive oil, and salt.
Eggplants often go well with pasta dishes.
This baked dish will surprise everyone with the strong flavors of olives, anchovies, various herbs and spices, and a good topping of fresh cheese.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, linguine, fresh mozzarella cheese, anchovy filets, and fresh parsley.
Stuffed eggplants are a staple since they are easy to make and look great when served on a fancy meal.
They are quick and no-fuss to prepare but look stunning, and it seems as though you spent an entire day making them.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, onion, rice, sweet and sour sauce, and red pepper.
Eggplants and potatoes are both great bases for any dish because they perfectly take on and complement different flavors.
Chilis, garlic, mustard, turmeric, and cilantro brightly coat this dish in amazing flavors.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, potatoes, chilis, cilantro, and garlic.
Just the name of this dish spells class; it can easily be on the menu of any high-end restaurant.
Make it in your kitchen with some choice of ingredients and a little time and effort, and you’ve got your classy meal!
Ingredients include: White eggplants, panko breadcrumbs, ricotta cheese, tomato sauce, and spinach.
15. Brinjal Curry
Brinjal or baingan is what they call eggplants in India.
They love incorporating it into their favorite dishes, like in this Brinjal Curry.
Garams masala, coconuts, coriander, cumin, sesame seeds, and peanuts lovingly flavor this dish.
Serve it with your favorite flatbread, rice, or fresh chutney.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, garam masala, peanuts, desiccated coconut, onions, and tomatoes.
The white eggplants are perfect for an Alfredo sauce.
It’s deliciously flavored with some fresh fennel, thyme, basil, and spinach, while white wine and heavy cream help blend it all for a truly smooth and creamy sauce.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, fettucini noodles, spinach, fennel, and vegan heavy cream.
This fruity combination is a fresh take on salsa which perfectly complements the smoky flavor of grilled eggplants.
The white eggplant’s creamy and milder taste makes it the ideal vehicle for the stronger flavors of the fruits, cilantro, and lime.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, mango, strawberries, cilantro, and lime.
This Eggplant Parmigiana is different from the typical casserole-like kind.
Still, it’s served layered with some tomatoes, onions, garlic, and a lot of cheese.
They’re a perfect addition to any menu.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, kasseri cheese or caciocavallo or mozzarella, Basil, olive oil, and tomatoes.
While the round shape of the sliced eggplant may look like pepperoni, this pizza is entirely made of vegetables.
The eggplant margherita pie is a wonderful twist to the beautiful classic margherita.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, tomatoes, mozzarella, all-purpose flour, and extra virgin olive oil.
This white brinjal or vankaya kura is another flavorful dish perfect for serving with a plate of piping hot rice.
It has the tangy note of tamarind, the flavors and colors of different spices like cumin, turmeric, and chili, and the urad dal and chana dal or split chickpea and black lentils.
Ingredients include: White eggplants, tamarind, urad dal, Chana dal, and turmeric.
Yes, it may be another white eggplant parmesan dish but hear us out; this has a mozzarella layer.
This sweet and creamy cheese layer perfectly balances the rich tomato sauce and the subtle nutty taste of the white eggplant.
Plus, you can never have too much cheese!
Ingredients include: White eggplants, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, tomato sauce, and béchamel sauce.
The bottom line
White eggplants are the missing link to the popular purple eggplant of today and the egg-like fruits of their name’s origins.
White brinjals, baingan, vankaya, and white aubergines–whatever you may call them, they are the same delicious fruit that people know and love. (minus the purple hue, that is)
These interesting-looking ingredients give a creamy and mild taste to dishes, making them the perfect bases for stronger flavors and a good complementary texture and bite.
White eggplants can be made into dips, stuffed, layered, made into sauces, or even incorporated in curries; it doesn’t matter.
They also provide an interesting mouthfeel, a sweet and smoky flavor, and even a meaty taste that is uniquely their own.
It is no wonder that different cultures and countries love using it in their cuisine.
Give these scrumptious recipes a try to find out for yourself why white eggplants are favored for so many dishes.
More Eggplant Recipes
21 Fun & Delectable White Eggplant Recipes
Here's a collection of 21 fun, delicious white eggplant recipes featuring the unique ingredient–soups, dips, pasta–you name it!
Ingredients
- Stuffed Baby Eggplants In Peanut And Coconut Gravy
- Baba Ganoush
- Pan-Fried White Eggplant With Onion
- White Eggplant Ratatouille
- Baked Eggplant Parmesan
- Eggplant Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
- Creamy Eggplant Dip
- Thai White Eggplant Stir-fry
- Eggplant Ragu
- Roasted Zucchini And Eggplant
- Baked Linguine With White Eggplant
- Stuffed White Eggplant In Oven
- White Eggplants And Potato With Garlic And Cilantro
- White Eggplant Rollatini With Spinach
- Brinjal Curry
- Vegan Roasted White Eggplant Alfredo Sauce
- Grilled White Eggplant With Mango & Strawberry Salsa Fresca
- Eggplant Parmigiana
- Eggplant Margherita Bar Pie
- White Brinjal Kura
- White Eggplant Parmesan
Instructions
- Skim through our White Eggplant Recipes list.
- Select the recipe that looks good.
- Prep the ingredients as instructed.
- Be sure to share this list of foodie finds!