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    Home » Recipes » Vegetables

    Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers

    Published: May 26, 2022 · Modified: Jan 3, 2023 by Felice Kaufman · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Roasted baby eggplant and garlic and lemon on a white plate.

    Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers are a delicious, colorful addition to any dinner plate and can also be an attractive appetizer. Mini eggplants are simple to prepare, and delicious to eat, and I promise you won't be able to stop at one! This dish is simple to make and full of flavor. Plus, it's high in fiber and low in calories, making it the perfect choice.

    roasted baby eggplant

    Table of contents

    • How to Select and Store Baby Eggplant
    • How Big is a Baby Eggplant?
    • Where Do I Get Little Eggplants?
    • What You Need to Roast Baby Eggplant
    • Roasting Small Eggplants
    • How to Prepare Garlic For Roasting
    • Serving Suggestions
    • FAQ

    How to Select and Store Baby Eggplant

    Baby eggplant, also called Indian eggplant, range in size from about 2 to 4 inches long. They are sweeter than large Italian eggplants and average 8 pieces per pound.

    Select unblemished eggplants that are even in size, so they cook at the same rate.

    If you are roasting a batch of baby eggplants of various sizes, you can remove them from the pan as they are finished. Just keep an eye on the pan, so the little ones don't burn.

    Store eggplant at room temperature for one or two days. You can also store them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, loosely wrapped in a plastic bag.

    Tiny eggplants from Florida

    How Big is a Baby Eggplant?

    The little eggplants are about the size of a large egg.

    comparing the size of a little eggplant with an egg

    Where Do I Get Little Eggplants?

    If you have a big fruit store where you live, they might have them in summer and fall. I've never seen them in Publix, my grocery store, I got these at the Farmer's Market at MM 100 on Overseas Highway in Key Largo.

    You can check your local specialty food or gourmet shop. Sometimes Indian grocery stores have them in stock.

    What You Need to Roast Baby Eggplant

    baby eggplant, garlic, lemon, parsley, oil, salt and pepper
    • Baby eggplants
    • Olive oil
    • Garlic
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • Lemon
    • Parsley

    Roasting Small Eggplants

    Make sure to wash each eggplant, paying careful attention to the area around the stem which might have debris around it.

    • Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper.
    • Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise and place on the sheet pan with the cut side up. Scatter garlic around the eggplant.
    cutting eggplant on cutting board
    • Brush the flesh of each eggplant and the garlic with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Turn over each eggplant (face down) on the pan.
    brushing oil on baby eggplant before roasting
    • Roast for 25-35 minutes or until tender throughout.
    roasting tiny eggplant on a sheet pan
    • Scatter fresh herbs over the top. Serve hot or room temperature with lemon wedges and fresh herbs.

    How to Prepare Garlic For Roasting

    I like to add cloves of fresh garlic to my vegetables for roasting. When roasted, garlic is very sweet and brightens any dish.

    You can take a head of garlic and separate it into cloves, discarding the excess papery skin.

    The garlic can be prepared two ways:

    • One, you can separate the cloves and scatter them around the eggplant unpeeled. When they are roasted, the cloves will slip right out of their skins.
    • The second option is to peel each clove by placing them on a flat surface and pressing down on each one with the side of a large chef's knife. The skins will come right off.

    Be sure to slice the woody stem off of each clove with a paring knife.

    roasted baby eggplant

    TOP TIP: Make sure you roast the eggplants with the cut side down so the flesh gets golden brown.

    Serving Suggestions

    Don't know what to serve with these? Little Eggplants can be served with steak, chicken, fish, and salads. Try these recipes:

    • Pan Fried Yellowtail Snapper
    • Lemon Basil Roasted Chicken
    • Florida Keys Blackened Swordfish
    • Pan Seared Chicken Breasts
    • Sauteed Skirt Steak

    Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers are a very easy dish to make. Using the same technique, you can roast all your vegetables. Check out our Vegetables Recipes archives for more Roasted Vegetable Recipes.

    FAQ

    Do I have to salt little eggplants?

    Salting in not needed for baby eggplant. They are naturally sweet and tender because they are so young.

    Can I eat the skin of baby eggplant?

    Yes, you can eat the skin of tiny eggplants. The eggplant is small and when roasted, the entire plant is tender and golden brown.

    Roasted baby eggplant and garlic on sheet pan.
    Print Recipe
    57

    Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers

    Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers are a delicious, colorful addition to any dinner plate and can also be served as an attractive appetizer. They are simple to prepare and delicious to eat and I promise you won't be able to stop at one!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 81.4kcal
    Author: Felice Kaufman

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ pounds baby eggplant about 12 pieces, rinsed and dried
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 head of garlic* separated into cloves, peeled
    • 1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
    • freshly ground black pepper
    • 2 lemons quartered
    • 2 tablespoon fresh parsley or basil roughly chopped

    Instructions

    • Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper.
    • Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise and place on the sheet pan with the cut side up. Scatter garlic around the eggplant.
    • Brush the flesh of each eggplant and the garlic with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Turn over each eggplant (face down) on the pan.
    • Roast for 25-35 minutes or until tender throughout.
    • Scatter fresh herbs over the top. Serve hot or room temperature with lemon wedges and fresh herbs.

    Notes

    How to Prepare Garlic For Roasting Alongside the Eggplant
    • One, you can separate the cloves and scatter them around the eggplant unpeeled. When they are roasted, the cloves will slip right out of their skins.
    • The second option is to peel each clove by placing them on a flat surface and pressing down on each one with the side of a large chef's knife. The skins will come right off. Slice the woody end off of each clove after peeling.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 81.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 10.3g | Protein: 1.6g | Total Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 0.7g | Sodium: 391.5mg | Potassium: 316.4mg | Fiber: 4.4g | Sugar: 4.9g

    More Vegetable Recipes

    • 17 Best Healthy Cauliflower Rice Recipes
    • Roasted Broccoli and Carrots
    • Roasted Asparagus (Paleo, Keto)
    • Oven Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots

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    felice kaufman

    Hi! I'm Felice. Join me on my culinary adventure in Key Largo, Florida, where I eat, cook, shop, and travel for fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, and more!

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