Eggplant Soup Recipe (2024)

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Eggplant Soup Recipe – creamy, flavorful and nutritious, this eggplant soup is quick and easy to make and perfect for lunch or dinner. Naturally Vegan and Gluten free.

Eggplant Soup Recipe (1) As some of you may have noticed, my readers and I love all kinds of soups. From creamy to chunky, light or filling, vegetarian or loaded with meat, you can find a soup recipe for every taste here on the blog. This soup with eggplant recipe was requested by a reader. I did not waste time and tested a few different variations to create this simple, creamy, light and flavorful Eggplant Soup Recipe.

Why make this amazing eggplant soup?

If you like eggplants, this soup is a must try. Very simple ingredients, naturally creamy (no heavy cream or milk necessary) and just 40 minutes to make.

Try a different veggie soup of just use the eggplants you have. I usually use eggplants for dips, Eggplant Moussaka or just grill them for salads or bowls, so using them in soups was something new to me. Definitely liked the final result.

Falvour

The flavor in this soup comes from the combination of eggplant, a good amount of garlic, seasonings like cumin, coriander, thyme and sumac. Eggplants have mild and sweet flavor, which benefits from adding a good amount of seasoning.

Storing

Store this Eggplant Soup in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

Serving size

The serving size is 1 cup.

Pairing

This soup goes well with a slice of crusty bread, like this this No Knead Bread. Serve along salads or sandwiches for a light, but filling healthy meal.

Eggplant Soup Recipe (2)

Ingredients for Roasted Eggplant Soup:

What kind of eggplant to use?

While I prefer Italian or Japanese eggplant for cooking, especially, when grilling or Air frying it for a side dish, this soup can be made with any eggplant variety from the store. Globe (American Eggplant) is pretty popular and will work well in the recipe.

This time I was able to find come good “Graffiti” Eggplant, which is perfect for pureeing, because of its thin skin and small seeds. Keep in mind, that the smaller the seeds the creamier the eggplant soup will be.

How do you cut eggplant for soup?

Peel the eggplants, cut into 1/2-inch slices lengthwise, then chop into 1/2-inch cubes. This way the eggplant pieces cook quickly.

You can roast eggplant for soup in larger pieces, but it may take slightly longer time.

Eggplant Soup Recipe (3)

Do you need to peel eggplants?

The short answer is it depends.

It depends on the size and type of eggplant. I used to never peel eggplants before roasting or grilling, but last summer I had some cases, where even though the eggplants were small in size and appeared “young” the skin was too tough and hard to eat after cooking. This is why I have started to peel my eggplants ever since. You can peel the whole eggplant using a potato peeler or a small sharp knife, or just partially peel it.

If you are not sure about the type of eggplant and its skin, you can easily cook it skin on and then remove it, after the flesh has softened and the skin can easily be separated.

Eggplant cooking method

The cooking method that I chose for this creamy eggplant soup recipe was oven roasting. I peeled the whole eggplants and trimmed the ends, then cut them into small 1/2-inch cubes. This way the eggplant cooked much faster and I was able to enjoy the soup in no time.

Alternatively, you can roast eggplants whole, by just cutting a small incision on the top side, then scooping out the flesh and using it in the soup.

Seasoning

Just a combination of cumin, coriander, garlic, thyme and sumac.

Topping

You can serve this soup without any toppings, but if you’d like to add some, here are a few options:

  • Croutons
  • A drizzle of olive oil
  • Chopped fresh herbs like parsley, coriander, mint or thyme
  • Bacon (for meat lovers)
  • A scoop of sour cream
  • Nuts and seeds of your choice

Eggplant Soup Recipe (4)

Tips:

  • Roasting the eggplants – you have some options here. Roast them whole, cut in half and roast with the skin on, or just like me – peel, chop and roast the eggplant cubes, then add to soups. You can also grill the eggplants whole, then peel and scoop out the flesh to use in the soup.
  • Immersion blender – I personally have one, but rarely use it. Since I have two pretty good, high quality blenders I use one of them for smoothies and the other one for soups. Be careful when you transfer the hot to the blender and then blend the soup, so the hot liquid doesn’t splash. Make sure the blander canister is closed and put a towel on top of its lid, to prevent splashing.
  • Adjust the thickness of the soup – if you like your soup thicker, reserve like 1 to 1.5 cups of the liquid and blend the rest. Then add some of it to thin the soup if necessary. If you are a fan of creamy soups, that are not that thick, you can add extra chicken or vegetable stock to the blender to thin the soup. You also have the option of reserving some eggplant pieces not blended and make the soup “chuncky”.
  • Toppings – while I’ve already mentioned that this soup does not require any toppings/croutons, keep in mind that by adding those, they will enhance the soup flavor and change its texture.

More eggplant recipes:

  • Roasted Eggplant Dip
  • Easy Stuffed Eggplant Recipe
  • Low-Carb Keto Eggplant Moussaka
Eggplant Soup Recipe (5)

5 from 1 vote

Roasted Eggplant Soup

Eggplant Soup Recipe - creamy, flavorful and nutritious, this eggplant soup is quick and easy to make and perfect for lunch or dinner. Naturally Vegan and Gluten free.

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6

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Ingredients

  • 2 large eggplants
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt (or more to taste
  • 1/4 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/4 tsp sumac, optional
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, pressed
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 F (204 C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

  • Peel and chop eggplant into 1/2-inch cubes.

  • Spread on the baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 15-20 minutes, until soft and golden brown.

  • *See alternative eggplant cooking methods in the blog post.

  • Set aside.

  • Heat olive oil in a pot/Dutch oven.

  • Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.

  • Add 2 cups of chicken (or vegetable) stock. Add the tomato paste, ground cumin, ground coriander, black pepper, salt, Sumac and stir to combine. Add in the eggplant and and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

  • Blend the soup with a blender and thin with the remaining stock to the desired consistency.

  • Add more salt and pepper to taste, if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 121kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 846mg, Potassium: 416mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 416IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @cookinglsl or tag #cookinglsl!

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Eggplant Soup Recipe (10)

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Eggplant Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to cooking eggplant? ›

Eggplants are known to absorb a lot of fat while cooking. A useful tip to prevent sogginess and greasiness is to salt sliced or diced eggplant and let it sit for an hour. This helps to draw out moisture. Next, rinse and drain any liquid from the sliced eggplant, then pat dry before cooking.

Should eggplant be soaked 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.

Do you peel eggplant before cooking? ›

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.

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.

Why do you soak eggplant in water and salt? ›

An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients. Many recipes call for salting and rinsing eggplant before cooking it to draw out its bitterness.

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). This method works for eggplant slices, cubes, or planks.

Why do you soak eggplant in vinegar? ›

The secret for keeping the purple in eggplants is soaking it in vinegar for 5 minutes. This step is optional as it doesn't affect the taste, but if you are serving guests, soak the eggplant in 6 cups of water and 3 tbsp of vinegar for 5 minutes, and the eggplant will stay nice and purple even after steaming.

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.

Should eggplant be refrigerated? ›

Eggplants do not store well for long periods of time. Without refrigeration, eggplants can be stored in a cool, dry place for 1 or 2 days. If you don't intend to eat the eggplant within 2 days, it should be refrigerated.

Is it okay to eat eggplant that is brown inside? ›

Answer. Eggplant flesh will have tan to brown colored spots around the seeds. If this is the color you are referring to, it is edible. If the flesh is more brown than white, the eggplant may be spoiling and should be discarded.

Should you soak eggplant in milk or salt water? ›

Soak it in milk.

Soak eggplant slices or cubes in milk for about 30 minutes before cooking. The milk not only tempers the bitterness, but it actually makes for eggplant that is extra creamy, since the vegetable acts like a sponge and soaks up a good amount of milk in its flesh.

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

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. Rinse the salted eggplant under running water to remove the salt. Pat dry with a clean towel before using in your recipe.

Do you have to wash eggplant? ›

First of all it is essential to wash the eggplants well; pass them under cold running water. With a sharp knife, remove the eggplant base and cap. You can decide to remove the peel or to leave it. Of course this depends on both your tastes and the recipe you are about to prepare.

How do you cook eggplant so it's not spongy? ›

“The absorptiveness of eggplant can be reduced by collapsing its spongy structure before frying,” he writes. Which you can do by microwaving it before frying (!) or salting slices that'll draw out the water and close up those air pockets, giving you a firmer flesh to work with.

Do you always have to 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.

References

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