Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Stephanie McKercher, RDN · This post may contain affiliate links · 20 Comments

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Eggplant Curry is one of my favorite vegan dinners to make at home. Spicy coconut curry with eggplant, chickpeas, and lots of flavorful spices make this meal a year-round staple.

This simple recipe for homemade coconut curry has convinced me to say goodbye (for now)to take-out andjarred curry sauce.

Why notmake curry from scratch when it's this simple and delicious toDIY?

Curry dishes have definitely become more of a staple on my table, soI decided it wasabout time I learn to make it from scratch.

Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (1)

For some reason,I always perceived that homemade curry would be complicated, time-consuming, and difficult to execute.

Thankfully,I was wrong.

This curry is readyin 45 minutes and doesn't requiretoo many ingredients. (Many listed are just spices, so don't be intimidated by the recipe length!) This meal is also freezer-friendly and can be batch cooked ahead of time for added convenience.

Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (2)

Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (3)

I've started to really get to know what I like best in my curry dishes.

For starters, curry needs to be packed with veggies. One of my favorite additions isEggplant- I love the way it's spongy nature sops up all theflavors in the sauce. (Another favorite ispotatoes.)

Most recently, I tried roastingthe eggplant before cooking the curryand I'm in love with the results. The roasting process (with whole crushed garlic cloves) creates the eggplant that is extra sweet and flavorful.

My favorite curry sauces are also almost always coconut-based.

I just love the creaminess that coconut providesandlook for coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk to really get the creamiest texture. (If you use a light coconut milk, you'll probably need to add less water.)

Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (4)

Aflavorful sauce is also essential - I used a combination of coriander, turmeric, garam masala, cardamom, cinnamon, and cayenne.

But, if convenience is your top priority, you could also just stir in a curry powder and be done with it.

I could definitely see this curry recipe becoming a favoritestaple disharound here. What's not to love about homemade curry that tastes better than take-out?

Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (5)

📖 Recipe

Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (6)

Roasted Eggplant Coconut Curry

Roasted eggplant and chickpeas are simmered in a spicy, Indian-inspired coconut curry sauce and served with rice.

4.20 from 42 votes

Print Pin Save Rate

Course: entree

Cuisine: Asian, Curry, gluten-free, Indian, vegan

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 450kcal

Author: Stephanie McKercher, RDN

Equipment

  • rimmed baking sheet

  • large skillet

Ingredients

  • 1 eggplant chopped
  • 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil or cooking oil of choice
  • 3 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil or cooking oil of choice
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 teaspoon loose grated ginger
  • 1-15 oz can chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 1 heaping cup tomatoes chopped (I used mixed grape heirloom tomatoes)
  • 1 cup full fat coconut milk
  • ½ cup filtered water
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon ground turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • Cayenne pepper to taste
  • Black pepper to taste

For serving:

  • 2 cups cooked brown basmati rice
  • Fresh herbs (such as mint, cilantro, basil, and green onions)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400ºF.

  • Toss eggplant with grapeseed oil, crushed garlic, and salt and spread on baking sheet. Bake until browned, 20-25 minutes.

  • Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and ginger and cook until tender, 5-6 minutes.

  • Remove eggplant from oven and add to skillet. Stir in chickpeas, coconut cream, water. tomato, and spices. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes.

  • Serve with cooked brown basmati rice topped with fresh herbs as desired.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 87.8g | Calories: 450kcal | Carbohydrates: 55.6g | Protein: 10.5g | Fat: 21.7g | Saturated Fat: 14.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.9g | Sodium: 297.9mg | Potassium: 822.2mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 10.2g | Vitamin A: 79.3IU | Vitamin C: 15.2mg | Calcium: 92.5mg | Iron: 5.1mg

Tried this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention @GratefulGrazer or tag #gratefulgrazer.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. auntie riv says

    love this recipe. don't much like eggplant, but LOVE this recipe. thanx for posting it!

    Reply

    • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

      So glad you found an eggplant recipe that works for you! 🙂 Thanks for commenting!

      Reply

  2. Prahlad Strickland says

    Nice recipe. Although is ur tablespoon of Garam masala and coriander meant to be a teaspoon? It’s extremely pungeant.

    Reply

    • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

      Hi Prahlad, thanks for your feedback. I'll have to make this again to see if there could've been a mistake. In general, I like a lot of spices but encourage you to adjust the recipe to fit your tastes. Thank you for trying the recipe!

      Reply

  3. Emily says

    The recipe looks amazing! Could I replace tomatoes with red pepper??

    Reply

    • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

      Hi Emily, I haven't tested this recipe with peppers but it should work. Let me know what you think if you try it.

      Reply

  4. Kelly says

    Never says where to put the filtered water in?
    I'm assuming its with the coconut cream and spices? Hope so!

    Reply

    • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

      Hi Kelly, thanks for catching this mistake! I do add the water along with the coconut cream and spices. The recipe is fixed now! 🙂

      Reply

  5. NyJimmy says

    Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (11)
    Loved this recipe. Thanks very much. I will make it once a week. I just have one question. If it’s called eggplant curry shouldn’t it have curry? It was simmering and it dawned on me - dude, where’s the curry? You didn’t put the curry in.

    Reply

    • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

      Great question! Curry really just means a dish made when you simmer spices in sauce with vegetables or meat. Instead of using a single premade curry powder, you can also make your own curry mix with individual spices like I did here. The garam masala is sort of a premade mix, too, and you can use this in lieu of curry powder if needed. So glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂

      Reply

  6. Sofia says

    Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (12)
    I made this tonight and it came out great. Threw some wilting broccoli in at the end and eye balled some measurements but besides that followed the recipe exactly. will definitely make again

    Reply

    • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

      So glad you enjoyed it, Sofia! Thanks for commenting and rating. 🙂

      Reply

  7. Jose Luis Espinosa León says

    Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (13)
    Felicidades!!! Gracias por tu generosidad de compartir .

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      ¡de nada, Jose! Me alegro de que haya disfrutado de la receta!

      Reply

  8. Erin says

    I LOVE all those flavors! This curry looks outstanding! xx

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thank you so much, Erin! I love coconut + turmeric with pretty much everything! 🙂

      Reply

  9. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

    Curries are such an easy go-to for me! Any time I can bring out ALL my spices, I do and curry requires such 😉

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Gimme all the spices! 😉 Totally agree, thanks Rebecca!

      Reply

  10. Deanna Segrave-Daly says

    I roast eggplant all summer when my CSA share is bursting with these beauties - pinning this recipe to make for sure!

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thanks, Deanna! I can't wait for this year's CSA bounty. Let me know how you like the curry! 🙂

      Reply

Eggplant Curry | Easy Delicious Vegetarian Coconut Curry Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good curry? ›

Tips for the Perfect Curry
  • Use fresh spices. For the best results, always try to use fresh spices. ...
  • Give the spices a toast. ...
  • Wrap up your whole spices. ...
  • Blitz your tomatoes. ...
  • Onions are the key. ...
  • Don't overcook your chicken. ...
  • Keep your garlic and ginger fresh. ...
  • Add exciting toppings.

What makes a delicious curry? ›

Build a deep flavour

The three core ingredients of almost any Indian curry are garlic, onion and ginger. There are a few styles of curries that don't use garlic to ensure subtle flavour isn't overwhelmed, but it's a good rule of thumb that those three ingredients are likely to be included.

How to make my curry tasty? ›

A curry can be sweetened by adding honey, syrup, or sugar. These ingredients add flavour and balance to a sour or bitter curry. Add around one tablespoon of either ingredient to your curry while cooking and taste. Continue to slowly add syrup, honey, or sugar to the dish until a sweet flavour is achieved.

What is a substitute for eggplant in Thai curry? ›

You can substitute other veggies for the Thai eggplant, such as zucchini, broccoli, red peppers or green beans. 1. In a wok or large saucepan, simmer thick coconut cream over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until cream separates and a layer of oil forms on the surface. Stir cream if it starts to brown around edges.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

What is the most important spice in curry? ›

Fenugreek (Methi)

This Indian spice is what people say "smells like curry." Of all Indian spices, this spice may be the most essential. You may use up to a few tablespoons in a family size dish near the end of the cooking process, but start with a teaspoon. Fenugreek seeds also have many health benefits.

What is the most important ingredient in curry? ›

Turmeric is arguably the most important ingredient in British curry. Likewise, curry is one of the most popular dishes in Britain. Popular United Kingdom Curry: Chicken Tikka Masala.

What gives curry more flavor? ›

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric. Just make a quick tempering and pour over the curry to give it a nice punch of spices and herbs.

What is the secret ingredient in curry? ›

Whether you may be familiar with the differences between curries from various countries, such as Indian versus Japanese curry, and perhaps even know how to make them at home, there's a special flavor enhancer that you may not have thought to add: honey.

How do you intensify a curry flavor? ›

Add umami taste with garlic and ginger as well as onion fried in vegetable oil. You can also add to this dimension by using black salt (kala namak), as well as hing or asafoetida. Vegetable or Chicken stock will also add umami, as well as the cooking juices of chicken, beef or lamb.

What vegetables to put in curry? ›

The curry base is made with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, red chilli powder and garam masala. I prefer to go with potatoes, carrots, peas, green beans, cauliflower, corn and bell peppers. Though you can use other veggies like baby corn, sweet potato and broccoli, the curry will have different flavors.

Why do you not salt eggplant before cooking? ›

Older recipes call for salting eggplant to draw out the bitter juices, but today's eggplants are less bitter (unless very large), so salting is largely unnecessary. It will, however, help the spongy flesh absorb less oil and crisp up like a dream.

What is the secret to tender eggplant? ›

Cooking it at a high temperature (425 F / 218 C) for enough time (25-30 minutes) to give it a browned exterior and tender interior. Just look at those cubed purple beauties! & Super snack-able!

What are the elements of a good curry? ›

Usually the most important elements of basic curry are: onions (fried till translucent or browned in oil) spices/herbs– some for heat(chilli/masala/pepper) and some for depth of flavour (garam masala, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, curry leaves and fresh coriander) & others (turmeric, saffron)

What are the most important ingredients in curry? ›

The most common ingredient in curry dishes is garlic. Onion, cilantro, tomatoes, vegetable oil, fresh ginger root, white sugar, coconut milk and chicken stock are also common ingredients in curry recipes. For herbs and spices, curry powder, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper are popular.

What makes Indian curry so good? ›

One of the primary reasons Indian food stands out is its use of a wide variety of spices. But it's not just the number of spices that matters; it's how they are used. Indian cooking often involves layering flavors through the careful addition of spices at different stages of the cooking process.

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