The most effective methods to take pleasure in eggplant is air fried! These crispy eggplant slices are tremendous simple to assemble and “air fry” up and have method much less oil and energy than historically cooked deep-fried eggplant. Plus there are such a lot of methods to make use of them! Get pleasure from them alone as a scrumptious appetizer with a sauce, serve them over salads and pasta dishes, or add them to sandwiches, pizzas, and even use them as the bottom for an eggplant parmigiana.
We used the air crisper (air fry) operate in our Ninja Foodi Grill, however this recipe will work with any air fryer. You may learn our full Ninja Foodi Grill review.
Earlier than cooking, double-check the really helpful temperature for cooking veggies in your air fryer’s guide.
You may as well merely bake these slices on a baking sheet within the oven if you happen to don’t have an air fryer.
Elements for the Air-Fried Eggplant
Eggplant: We used medium-sized eggplants for this recipe however on this case, dimension doesn’t matter an excessive amount of. Mini eggplants can be nice for serving over salads or pizzas. Minimize them into 1/2 inch slices.
Breadcrumbs: Italian seasoned breadcrumbs work nice for this recipe. You may as well use plain if you happen to’re considering of serving these crispy eggplant slices with a distinct fashion dipping sauce.
Parmesan Cheese – When you’re dairy-free this one is non-obligatory, however it does add that good tacky umami taste all of us love. You may as well substitute different Italian laborious cheeses like Pecorino-Romano, Piave, or Grana Padano as a substitute. In case you have multiple readily available, strive making a mix.
Flour & Eggs – That is for dredging and dipping so the breadcrumb sticks to the eggplant.
Herbs & Spices – Salt and pepper is clearly a should, however I really like so as to add finely chopped contemporary parsley as properly (dried is simply high quality too). When you’re a garlic lover, add somewhat garlic powder to the breading combine.
Olive Oil – Drizzling the eggplant slices with olive oil earlier than air frying helps preserve the breadcrumb crispy but moist whereas cooking. You may as well use one other impartial wholesome oil good for prime warmth cooking. Avocado oil can be one other nice alternative. Whereas assembling these eggplant slices I initially drizzled the oil. However for a extra evenly distributed coating of oil with out a lot waste utilizing a twig bottle is finest.
A glass spray bottle stuffed with olive oil like this one linked here and pictured down under is a good instrument to have within the kitchen particularly if you happen to want cooking with a particular model or sort of oil. It permits you to extra simply management the quantity your utilizing.
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You may as well test the grocery retailer or on-line retailers for olive oil, avocado oil or grapeseed oil within the non-aerosol spray cans just like the non-stick sprays like Pam are available in. I’ve linked to a couple you may get delivered from Amazon under.
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For Greatest Taste Salt the Eggplant Earlier than Breading
Many cooks swear that you just get a creamier and richer tasting eggplant once you “salt” the eggplant earlier than cooking. This step attracts water out of the eggplant and may scale back any bitterness. It’s very simple to do.
Sprinkle salt on each lower sides of the sliced eggplant after which lay on a rack over a baking sheet to gather the water. You may as well set them sideways in a big sufficient colander over the sink. After half-hour it is best to see water droplets on the floor of the eggplant. Rinse the eggplant slices underwater after which pat fully dry. Your eggplant is now able to dredge!
This step could be skipped in case you are quick on time. I’ve had nice eggplant with and with out salting beforehand.
Breading and Cooking The Eggplant Slices
In a flat bowl or massive dish, combine collectively your Italian seasoned breadcrumb, panko, Parmesan cheese, pepper, garlic powder, and dried parsley. Then arrange a dredging station to bread the eggplant. The order ought to be flour, then egg, after which breadcrumbs. As soon as the slices are breaded lay them on a baking sheet or rack and drizzle or spray them with oil earlier than air frying.
Cooking the eggplant in batches, we air-fried them at 375 levels F for about 10 minutes complete, turning them over after about 5 so that they brown evenly on each side. Please word all air-fryers cook dinner barely in a different way so you will have to regulate the temperature in your machine. Test your guide for suggestions, or cook dinner one batch on the temperature really helpful right here and alter if wanted.
Dairy-Free and Vegan-Pleasant Tip!
To make these eggplant slices vegan pleasant, substitute the Parmesan cheese with dietary yeast and coat the eggplant slices in olive oil (or one other oil of your alternative) or vegan mayo as a substitute of overwhelmed egg earlier than dipping within the bread crumb. Then cook dinner as directed.
GET THE RECIPE!
Skinny & Crispy Italian Air Fried Eggplant Slices
This recipe makes some for scrumptious eggplant slices which might be skinny, crispy and style similar to they’re deep fried, however with out all the additional oil and energy. Tremendous versatile you may serve these eggplant slices as a tasty appetizer, over salad and even used as a base for eggplant parmigiana.
Elements
- eggplant, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
- salt
- olive oil
- 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumb
- 1/2 cup panko
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (Romano could also be substituted or mixed for a mix)
- 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (non-obligatory)
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 eggs, overwhelmed
DIRECTIONS
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Preheat air fryer to 375 levels F.
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Minimize eggplant into 1/4-1/2 inch slices. 1/4 inch for tremendous skinny eggplant slices or 1/2 for barely thicker slices excellent for eggplant parmigiana.
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OPTIONAL STEP: Some report a creamy richer tasting eggplant when salting eggplant earlier than cooking. Lay the eggplant on a rack over a baking sheet. Sprinkle salt on the lower sides. It will draw water out of the eggplant and scale back bitterness. After half-hour rinse the eggplant slices after which pat fully dry.
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In a flat bowl or massive dish, combine collectively the Italian seasoned breadcrumb, panko, Parmesan cheese, parsley, pepper and garlic powder (non-obligatory). Set subsequent to your flour and overwhelmed egg bowls. The dredging station order ought to be flour, then egg then breadcrumb.
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Dip eggplant slices into flour, shaking off extra. Then dip into egg, coating each side permitting extra to drip off. Then press the eggplant slices into the breadcrumb combination, coating each side. Set on a plate or rack and repeat till all of the slices are coated.
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Cooking in batches, spray or drizzle olive oil on each side of the eggplant slices earlier than including to the air-fryer basket.
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Cook dinner for 10 minutes complete, 5 minutes on both sides, till golden brown. Set on a baking sheet or rack and proceed cooking the remaining. Chances are you’ll preserve them in a heat oven if you happen to like.NOTE: All Air-Fryers cook dinner in a different way. Chances are you’ll need to alter your cooking time or temperature after the primary batch.
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SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Season with somewhat salt if desired. Serve alongside your favourite dipping sauce like marinara, harissa, tzatziki or serve over salad or pasta. These eggplant slices can be used to for eggplant parmigiana. Get pleasure from!
