Roasted Eggplant and Chickpeas With Tomato Sauce Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Roasted Eggplant and Chickpeas With Tomato Sauce Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 30 minutes
Rating
4(419)
Notes
Read community notes

Eggplant is always a good, substantial vegetable to use for a vegetarian main dish. The chickpeas and the feta provide plenty of protein. Vegans can leave out the feta and substitute sugar or agave nectar for the honey.

Featured in: For Thanksgiving, Why Not Go Greek?

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings

  • ¼cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2garlic cloves, minced
  • 128-ounce can chopped tomatoes, with juice, pulsed to a coarse purée
  • 1teaspoon mild honey (more to taste)
  • ¼ to ½teaspoon cinnamon, to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • 1large or 2 medium eggplants (about 1¼ pounds), cut into ⅓-inch-thick slices
  • 3cups cooked chickpeas (2 cans, drained and rinsed, or, 1½ cups dried – about ¾ pound
  • 4ounces feta, crumbled (¾ cup
  • 1teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Greek or Turkish

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

310 calories; 16 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 34 grams carbohydrates; 11 grams dietary fiber; 12 grams sugars; 12 grams protein; 789 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Roasted Eggplant and Chickpeas With Tomato Sauce Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Make the tomato sauce. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a heavy skillet or wide saucepan over medium heat, and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until it smells fragrant, about 30 seconds, and add the tomatoes, honey, salt to taste and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat until the tomatoes have cooked down and the sauce is fragrant, about 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.

  2. Step

    2

    Meanwhile, heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and brush the boil with olive oil. Place the eggplant slices on the baking sheet, salt lightly and brush with olive oil. Place in the oven and bake 20 minutes, or until eggplant is lightly browned and soft all the way through. Remove from the heat. Fold the aluminum foil over and crimp the edges together so that the eggplant steams as it cools. Do this in batches if you need more than one baking sheet. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees.

  3. Step

    3

    Oil a 2-quart baking dish or gratin. Place the chickpeas in the baking dish and stir in 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Layer the eggplant over the chickpeas and top with the remaining tomato sauce. Sprinkle the feta over the top and drizzle on any remaining olive oil. Sprinkle with the oregano and cover tightly with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes, until the dish is bubbling.

Tip

  • Advance preparation: The eggplant slices can be cooked up to a day ahead. Hold in the refrigerator, covered. The tomato sauce will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator and freezes well.

Ratings

4

out of 5

419

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Lauren

Definitely let the sauce cook down, as mine turned out runny. Sauce tasted a bit bland, so I added a small amount of cumin. Delicious dish loved by all!

Chandigarhi

Came out substantial but the eggplant skins became tough with roasting. Next time I will peel the eggplant.

amanda burton

I skipped pureeing the tomatoes and cooked it down uncovered to let it cook off more liquid and keep the sauce thick. Also, I instead added two heaping tablespoons of high quality honey instead of the recommended 1 teaspoon and a bit more cinnamon to sweeten up the sauce a bit more. The end result is a nice savoury and ever so slightly sweet combination. Healthy and easy to make. Will definitely be in my regular rotation.

kateoz

I used one can of crushed tomatoes and one can of baby roma tomatoes to give added texture to the sauce, and added cumin and chili flakes when adding the honey and cinnamon. Cooked down for approximately 35 minutes. Then when putting together the dish, I added a bag of baby spinach leaves (above the chickpeas, below the eggplant) to bulk up the veg content. This was really delicious and so easy to prepare. Definitely will go in the regular lunch rotation.

JudyVE

Great recipe! I added cumin as some suggested. I tossed canned chick peas in olive oil and roasted them in the oven while the eggplant was cooking. I made the sauce from fresh chopped tomatoes. I was short on feta cheese so added a little shredded parm. Great result, and I'll definitely be making this again.

Bob

This is a Greek inspired dish.

KateBerman

I really enjoyed this recipe! A yum for sure. The BIG difference for me was the cinnamon. Also as a vegan I saw no need for the oil-- or cheese. I brown my onions -- and the garlic -- in a couple of TBLs broth. Next time I will offer a side of either pasta or rice (cooked to do away with the arsenic). Go for it!

Judy Barlas

Made it for a potluck without having tried it for myself first. Luckily, people loved it! Had about 1-1/2 pounds of eggplant. I did cook the sauce down a lot; during assembly I thought I should have doubled the sauce, but in the end it tasted just right. Followed the advice of adding cumin (1/2 tsp) along with the full 1/2 tsp of cinnammon. Did sprinkle a couple of handfuls of shredded mozzarella before the feta; parmesan would have been good, too.

Tessa

I also added the cumin which did help. Included a bit of grated mozzarella between the layers of eggplant. Not wanting to heat up the house with a hot oven (it's 107 here in southern California) I grilled the eggplant using a cast iron skillet with a cover. It worked. Now I'm using the liquid from the chickpeas to make meringues -- will report on those!

Amy

Cooked at Thanksgiving 2024 with vegan feta. Good but not amazing. Is pretty simple - but I just roasted eggplant halves then cut into bite sized chunks. Simplified the recipe.

Sleefay

I made this all together in a skillet on top of the stove.

BK

I’ve only cooked it once and I usually follow a recipe the first time. That said, I agree with the other comments here about giving the sauce a boost with other spices. The sauce in the recipe is a start, with cinnamon and honey, but it needs more. So, yes, more texture for the sauce, and add some greens to the layers. I’d go for more feta too.

Joan

This was so much better than the few simple ingredients would lead you to believe. I added cumin at the suggestion of others, and instead of oregano I added a handful of fresh herbs: parsley, mint and basil. I did use fresh cherry tomatoes which I'm sure added some brightness, but we loved it so much I'll make it again even without those.

Tatiana

This recipe seemed fine, but the eggplant as always failed. It came out rubbery, then put it back in for longer and it came out burnt and chewy on the skin. Bummed.

Kim

This was really interesting, unusual and darn tasty! After scouring the comments, I made some adjustments. I added 1 t cumin, 1 t za'atar to the sauce, left it chunky and cooked it down quite a bit. I roasted 1 can of chickpeas, added a layer of thinly sliced potatoes and chopped arugula. Would I make it again? Maybe.

Molly

The flavors were v.good (I added cumin and a bit more cinnamon), but I felt like there was a thick layer of chickpeas on the bottom without much sauce and the recipe lacked luciousness. I see the suggestion to add some mozzarella - that sounds good. I think I might instead put more sauce under the eggplant, and a bit on top and then add a layer of bechamel sauce to the top next time. I will also roast the eggplant for longer - probably my slices were not thin enough, but some weren't tender.

Lisa

I used my own sauce recipe (the simple one with an onion and butter ) and also added a little shredded mozarella to the chick peas for some adhesion. I also used goat cheese instead of feta. Delicious !

Use Veggie Broth Instead Of Water

Reduce sauce for twice as long (about 40 mins) to prevent it from being too watery.

Kat

I just tried this — yum. Everyone loved it. I added cumin and fresh oregano. Next time, I’ll up the spices a bit ( red pepper flakes will help) and thoroughly drain the tomatoes. However, crusty bread makes short work of the extra juice.

Leslie

Winged it a bit with good results -- roasted some sliced small potato and shallots tossed with EVO while the eggplant "steamed", as I only had 1 can of chickpeas. Added a bay leaf to the sauce, used a cinnamon stick, fished both out after simmering. Then added a leftover half bag of spinach, chopped, to the sauce, let the moisture cook out. Season the sauce really well with S+P. Layers were: potatoes and shallots, chickpeas+sauce, eggplant, rest of sauce, feta, oregano, EVO. Yum.

KP

Great! Based on others' notes, I made a few adjustments: I grilled the eggplant instead of baking. I actually grilled it in my panini maker, which is a quick and easy grilling hack. I added the oregano to the sauce and sprinkled a little on the feta at the end. I also added an extra clove of garlic to the sauce because of some comments saying that the sauce was bland. I didn't puree the tomatoes, based on comments here. I used a can of whole peeled tomatoes and broke them up with my hands.

Bonnie Crispino

Grilled with your panini maker? OMG! Genius!

jacquesto

Not a favorite for me. The one small teaspoon of honey was surprisingly a strong ingredient and way off from my flavor palate. I am fond of the other ingredients but they did not come together for me.

Leslie

I used one can of chickpeas and 3/4 c. Farro cooked as we have been eating too many chickpeas..Also added fresh oregano to the sauce to add a bit of flavor

myraf

Move to more Turkish - add 2 tsp Za’taar as well as oregano. Forgot the cinnamon, but added a dozen chopped black olives along w chickpea layer. Cooked uncovered to firm up as suggested.

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Roasted Eggplant and Chickpeas With Tomato Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should I soak eggplant before roasting? ›

Salting versus brining

To salt, just slice the eggplant into rounds, scatter 1 teaspoon of salt on top, leave for 30 minutes, then pat dry. Brining (soaking in salted water) will do the same job but also make the flesh super creamy.

What is the secret to cooking eggplant? ›

One of the secrets to cooking tender-but-never-mushy eggplant is salt. First, Stilo cuts her eggplant into the desired shape (rounds, cubes, planks, etc.), and then sprinkles the eggplant evenly with a generous amount of salt.

How do you get the most flavor out of eggplant? ›

Salting: One common method is salting the eggplant slices or cubes before cooking. This process helps draw out the bitter compounds and excess moisture. Here's how to do it:Slice or cube the eggplant as desired. Sprinkle salt over the eggplant pieces and let them sit for about 30 minutes.

Does roasted eggplant need to be peeled? ›

While the skin of a small young eggplant is edible, the skin becomes bitter on larger or older eggplants and should be peeled. When in doubt, the answer to, "Do you peel eggplant before cooking?" is yes, peel it. Use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to remove the skin.

Do I need to salt eggplant before roasting? ›

You don't have to salt eggplant though, it depends on the texture your looking for. Salting gives it a more creamy texture when cooked and not salting helps the eggplant hold up and be a little firmer after cooked.

What happens if you don't salt eggplant before cooking? ›

Salting: Salting removes excess liquid and some of the bitterness. Today's eggplants are bred for mildness, though, so it's not as important as it used to be (if you are frying eggplant, salting will ensure a creamy texture and rich flavor).

How do you roast eggplant so it's not bitter? ›

If you are worried that the eggplant might be bitter, slice or cube it, then salt it liberally and allow it to drain for an hour or so before cooking. Putting salt on the eggplant triggers osmosis, which draws out excess moisture and the bitterness along with it.

Why is my roasted eggplant mushy? ›

Vegetables are not like meat, which turn rubbery when overcooked. They turn soft rather. Watch out for the opposite as well: Eggplants when cooked for a long time may turn mushy. Cut them and keep them immersed in cool water prior to cooking to avoid discoloring.

What is the most popular way to eat eggplant? ›

Top 10 Ways to Enjoy Eggplants
  1. Yes, You Can Curry It! Cut eggplant into cubes and add to your favorite curry sauce and simmer until tender. ...
  2. Stir-Fry. ...
  3. Baba Ganoush.
  4. Roast, Peel and Serve over Pasta. ...
  5. Eggplant Pizza! ...
  6. Bread, Bake and Serve. ...
  7. A New Kind of Kebob. ...
  8. Eggplant Lasagna.

Why do you soak eggplant in water before cooking? ›

I tend to soak the slices in a bowl of water with a couple of tablespoon of salt for about 30-45 minutes. It doesn't have to do with bitterness, but I find that in doing this, the fried eggplant turns out less greasy," Jenkins says.

What is the most flavorful eggplant? ›

One of the most popular was the long, thin, purple eggplant from Taiwan known as Ping Tung. This is an exceptional eggplant with sweet, pleasant tasting flesh. The plants are incredibly prolific and produce throughout the entire season.

When should you not eat eggplant? ›

When looking at the exterior of the eggplant, check the stem and cap. Both should be green and fresh-looking. If they are starting to fade in color, that's an indicator that the vegetable may be spoiling. You'll also want to toss the eggplant if there is any mold on the stem or cap.

How do you know when eggplant is roasted? ›

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.

How long should eggplant be soaked for? ›

Submerge the pieces in the salted water. Use an upside-down plate or pot lid to weigh down the eggplant so it is fully submerged in the water. Let the eggplant sit in the brine for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour. Drain the eggplant and pat it dry with a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towels.

How to prepare eggplant before baking? ›

"Add a pinch of salt to both sides of eggplant slices and let them sit on the counter for up to an hour. You'll soon notice droplets of water appearing on the eggplant's surface," she says. Pat the surface of the eggplant dry just before cooking.

Why do you soak eggplant in cold water? ›

Next, soak the eggplant in ice-cold water: The chill shocks the surface of the vegetable and fills tiny air pockets between the cells, preventing the oil from entering them.

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