This Roasted Eggplant Curry with chickpeas is easy to make and perfect for a cozy dinner. This recipe is vegan and gluten-free, can be made ahead of time if needed and is freezer-friendly! Enjoy this eggplant recipe on it’s own, as a side or serve it up with some rice.

A bowl of eggplant curry with rice topped with cilantro

I love a good curry for dinner. From Thai-style curries to Indian-style curries, all are a delicious option when you want a simple and cozy dinner that is easy to make.

And this curry right here is my latest obsession.

Seriously. It’s that good.

What I love so much about this Eggplant Curry recipe is that the roasted eggplant”melts” into the curry sauce giving it an amazingly soft and creamy texture.

This Roasted Eggplant Curry (also known as aubergine curry) is made with Indian spices, tomatoes and coconut milk which gives the curry a rich and creamy texture.

This curry is perfect to serve on busy weeknights and can be prepared ahead of time or meal prepped so you have it ready to go when dinner time comes along. It’s also naturally vegan and gluten-free making it a great option for different diet types. Each bowl of this curry has 8.5 grams of fibre and 6 grams of protein!

Why you’ll love Eggplant Curry

  • Perfect way to use eggplant. If you’re not sure what to do with that eggplant you have sitting around, this is the perfect recipe! It’s an easy to way to cook and use up eggplant.
  • Make ahead. If you like preparing meals ahead of time and having them ready to go for lunches or dinner, then curries are always a great optoin. As the curry sits the flavours will actually intesify. This curry can stay in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Freezer-friendly. Eggplant freezes AMAZINGLY. Double up the recipe and freeze any leftovers to have on hand for another time.

Indian Eggplant Curry Ingredients

  • Eggplant: any stanard eggplant will work for this recipe, but if you prefer to use the smaller Thai eggplants you can use those too.
  • Avocado oil: or any cooking oil
  • Onion: a regular yellow onion or red onion.
  • Garlic: the real stuff, no garlic powder.
  • Ginger: also the real stuff. This gives the curry so much great flavour.
  • Paprika:regular or smoked paprika both work here.
  • Ground coriander: if you don’t have this in your pantry you can leave it out.
  • Curry powder: you could also use Garam Masala instead
  • Crushed tomatoes: diced tomatoes work too.
  • Coconut milk: full-fat coconut milk from a can is best for a creamy curry
  • Chickpeas: if using dried chickpeas, make sure to cook them before adding them to the curry.

Can I use any type of eggplant?

This recipe should work with most types of eggplant. I’d recommend using Globe eggplant, Chinese eggplant, Fairy tale eggplant, Italian eggplant or Japanese eggplant in this recipe.

How to make eggplant curry (step-by-step instructions)

Step 1

Cut the eggplant into cubes then add salt and let the eggplant sit for 15 minutes. This will help draw out any bitterness in the eggplant. Then rinse the eggplant with water and pat dry with a kitchen towel or paper towel.

Tip: use this guide will help you learn more about picking and preparing eggplant.

cubed eggplant in a clear mixing bowl

Step 2

Toss the eggplant in one tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil then spread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast the eggplant in the oven at 400 degrees F for 20-30 minutes until it’s tender.

  • Cubed eggplant on a baking sheet
  • Roasted cubed eggplant on a baking sheet

Step 3

Heat the remaining oil in a pot on medium-high heat then add the onions, garlic and ginger and saute, then add the spices and mix together.

  • A pot of onions and garlic with paprika and curry powder
  • A pot with onions, garlic and spices in it

Step 4

Next add the tomato and coconut milk and mix together to form the curry sauce. Then add in the eggplant and chickpeas and stir everything together.

  • A white pot with coconut milk and tomato sauce in it
  • A white pot with curry sauce and cubes of eggplant in it

Step 5

Let the eggplant simmer in the sauce to absorb the flavour. Give it a taste and adjust any seasoning if needed with salt and pepper.

  • A white pot of eggplant curry
  • two bowls of eggplant curry and rice topped with chopped cilantro

What to serve with this Eggplant Curry recipe

Roasted Eggplant Curry is delicious on its own or served with some rice or naan bread. You can also serve this curry recipe family-style with other Indian dishes like Red Lentil Dal, Tofu Tikka Masala, Vegetable Korma and Turmeric rice.

Tip: if you want to serve the curry over rice put up a pot of rice to cook while the eggplant is roasting in the oven. This way you’ll have rice ready at the same time as the curry.

How to Store and Reheat Indian Roasted Eggplant Curry

Fridge: store leftover curry in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in a pot on the stove or in the microwave.

Freezer: let the curry cool completely then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let defrost on the counter or in the microwave on the defrost setting.

Tips for making Vegan Eggplant Curry perfectly

  • Pick a good eggplant. Starting off with a good eggplant will give you the tastiest curry. Use this guide to help you choose the best eggplant.
  • Salt the eggplant to remove bitterness. Sometimes eggplant can have a bitter taste. The first step of the recipe where we salt the eggplant is important to make sure you don’t end up with bitter eggplant, so don’t skip this step!
  • Use full-fat coconut milk. This is different than a carton of coconut milk from drinking. Canned coconut milk is much creamier and will give you a rich and creamy curry.

Eggplant Curry FAQ

What’s the best type of eggplant to use in a curry?

Eggplants come in many different shapes and sizes. You can use most types of eggplant in this recipe. Regular eggplant and Chinese eggplant work best. If using regular eggplant, smaller eggplants will tend to be less bitter.

How do you prepare eggplant before cooking?

Eggplant can sometimes have a bitter taste, so the best way to prepare eggplant before cooking it is to soak it in a bowl of salt water or sprinkle the cut open eggplant with salt. Let the eggplant sit for 15 minutes to allow the salt to draw out the bitterness. Then rinse the eggplant and use in the recipe.

Should roasted eggplant be peeled?

Nope! No need to peel the eggplant before cooking it.

How do you cut eggplant for a curry?

I like to cut the eggplant into small cubes for this curry recipe, but if you prefer strips or large cubes you can cut it like that too!

Can I freeze eggplant curry?

Absolutely! Eggplant freezes very well and can be frozen for up to 3 months in a sealed air-tight container.

Do you need to soak Aubergine before roasting?

I highly recommend either soaking the eggplant/aubergine in salt water before roasting or doing a salt coating before roasting. (This is where you sprinkle the cut-up eggplant with salt, let it sit for 10 minutes and then rinse it under water.) Each of these methods works to draw out any bitterness from the eggplant and will make it taste better.

How many calories are in eggplant curry?

This eggplant curry has approximately 265 calories, 8.5 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein per serving.

Can you eat eggplant skin?

Yes! Eggplant has very thin skin on it that is completely edible. When roasted and added to a curry, the skin becomes soft and is not very noticeable.

More curry recipes to try

Eggplant curry and rice in a white bowl with a wood spoon

If you tried this Roasted Eggplant Curry or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

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Eggplant curry and rice in a white bowl with a wood spoon

Vegan Eggplant Curry

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 60 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Cook
  • Cuisine: Indian
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Roasted Eggplant Curry with chickpeas is the perfect cozy dinner. Enjoy it on its own or served with rice!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 cups cubed eggplant
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1-inch cube of ginger, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 cup cooked chickpeas
  • Rice for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cut the eggplant into cubes then toss in a large mixing bowl with salt. Set the eggplant aside to sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with water and pat dry with a kitchen towel or paper towel. (Salting the eggplant will help remove any bitterness.) 
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a banking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the eggplant with 1 tbsp avocado oil, spread onto the baking sheet and roast for 20-30 minutes until tender. 
  3. Heat the remaining avocado oil in a large pan on medium-high heat, then add the onion, garlic and ginger and saute for 1-2 minutes. 
  4. Next add the paprika, coriander, curry powder, salt and pepper and mix everything together for 1 minute. 
  5. Add the crushed tomatoes and coconut milk and mix. 
  6. Add the eggplant and chickpeas letting the eggplant cook in the sauce for 2 minutes to absorb the flavour. Taste and adjust any seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. 
  7. Serve as is or with rice. 

Notes

Store in the fridge for 5 days or in the freezer for 3 months. 

It’s normal for the eggplant to slightly fall about in the curry and cook into the sauce. If you prefer your eggplant pieces firmer you can roast them slightly less in the oven. 

Salt the eggplant to remove bitterness. Sometimes eggplant can have a bitter taste. The first step of the recipe where we salt the eggplant is important to make sure you don’t end up with bitter eggplant, so don’t skip this step!

Use full-fat coconut milk. This is different than a carton of coconut milk from drinking. Canned coconut milk is much creamier and will give you a rich and creamy curry.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
  • Calories: 267
  • Sugar: 6.9
  • Sodium: 400mg
  • Fat: 16.5g
  • Saturated Fat: 12g
  • Carbohydrates: 27.6g
  • Fiber: 8.5g
  • Protein: 6.2g