Skinny and Crispy Air Fried Eggplant Slices

Among the best methods to get pleasure from eggplant is air fried! These crispy eggplant slices are tremendous straightforward to assemble and “air fry” up and have approach much less oil and energy than historically cooked deep-fried eggplant. Plus there are such a lot of methods to make use of them! Take pleasure in 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’ll be able to learn our full Ninja Foodi Grill overview.

Earlier than cooking, double-check the advisable temperature for cooking veggies in your air fryer’s handbook.

BUY → Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 4-Qt. Air Fryer, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate Indoor Electrical Grill, 10″ x 10″, Black and Silver

You may as well merely bake these slices on a baking sheet within the oven for those who don’t have an air fryer.

Substances 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 could be nice for serving over salads or pizzas. Lower them into 1/2 inch slices.

Breadcrumbs: Italian seasoned breadcrumbs work nice for this recipe. You may as well use plain for those who’re considering of serving these crispy eggplant slices with a unique type dipping sauce.

Parmesan Cheese – In case you’re dairy-free this one is elective, nevertheless it does add that good tacky umami taste all of us love. You may as well substitute different Italian exhausting cheeses like Pecorino-Romano, Piave, or Grana Padano as an alternative. In case you have a couple of 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 like so as to add finely chopped contemporary parsley as properly (dried is simply fantastic too). In case you’re a garlic lover, add a little bit 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 could 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 crammed with olive oil like this one linked right here and pictured down under is a superb device to have within the kitchen particularly for those who choose cooking with a particular model or sort of oil. It lets you extra simply management the quantity your utilizing.

BUY → Non-Aerosol Evo Oil Sprayer Bottle for Olive Oil

You may as well verify the grocery retailer or on-line retailers for olive oil, avocado oil or grapeseed oil within the non-aerosol spray cans much like the non-stick sprays like Pam are available. I’ve linked to some you will get delivered from Amazon under.

BUY →  Chosen Meals 100% Avocado Oil Spray

BUY → La Tourangelle Artisanal Chilly-Pressed Additional Virgin Olive Oil Spray

BUY → Mantova 100% Grapeseed Oil Spray

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 might cut back any bitterness. It’s very straightforward to do.

Sprinkle salt on each minimize 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’s best to see water droplets on the floor of the eggplant. Rinse the eggplant slices underwater after which pat utterly dry. Your eggplant is now able to dredge!

This step could be skipped in case you are brief 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 whole, turning them over after about 5 in order that they brown evenly on either side. Please observe all air-fryers prepare dinner barely otherwise so you’ll have to regulate the temperature in your machine. Test your handbook for suggestions, or prepare dinner one batch on the temperature advisable 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 an alternative of overwhelmed egg earlier than dipping within the bread crumb. Then prepare dinner as directed.

GET THE RECIPE!

Skinny & Crispy Italian Air Fried Eggplant Slices

Heather LaCorte

This recipe makes some for scrumptious eggplant slices which can be skinny, crispy and style identical 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.