Learn to love eggplant! My eggplant fries are pillowy soft on the inside and golden brown and crunchy on the outside. Made in the air fryer in just a few minutes. You may never go back to regular fries again!
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Yes, you can serve these veggie fries in place of french fries at any meal. But these always make an appearance when I am doing a vegetarian Super Bowl spread. Alongside sweet potato nachos and cream cheese stuffed peppers.
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📖Why My Recipe Works
- Seasoning- A good amount of seasoning gives these veggies a little zip. But you can also try other variations with my Harrisa seasoning or my Cajun spice seasoning.
- Air Fryer- I recommend using an air fryer or convection bake. These options cook the fries quicker, which gets them crispy on the outside and leaves them still firm but soft on the inside so you don't get a mushy texture.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Eggplant- Any size eggplant will work but I find medium to large eggplants to be easiest to turn into fries.
- Breadcrumbs - Regular or panko breadcrumbs work. You can use gluten-free breadcrumbs or a gluten-free breadcrumb substitute if needed.
- Parmesan Cheese - You can skip the parm to make this recipe dairy-free. Just add an equal amount of bread crumbs.
- Flour - Plain cornstarch or gluten-free flour works as well.
- Italian Seasoning - You can use any seasoning like lemon pepper, or just throw in some dried herbs like thyme.
- Oil- I think the spray oil is easiest when air frying.
⏲️How to Make Eggplant Fries
- Don't slice the eggplant too thin. Chunky sticks are perfect. thoroughly dry before breading.
- The key to crispy eggplant fries is thoroughly coating each piece during each stage of breading.
- Flip the fries at least once during cooking to ensure they don't stick and they get evenly browned.
🥗Dipping Sauces for Eggplant Fries
The best dipping sauces for eggplant include fresh marinara sauce, ranch dressing, horseradish aioli, spicy ketchup, honey mustard, and herby yogurt dip.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Cut the eggplant into evenly sized sticks for consistent cooking.
- If your eggplant is tin or small, cut it into circles to make eggplant chips.
- Pat the eggplant dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture but do not salt. This will make the fries too dry.
- Preheat the air fryer for the best crispiness.
- Don't overcrowd the basket; fry in batches if needed.
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📖 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Eggplant Fries
Crispy air fryer eggplant fries are a flavorful and satisfying snack or side dish. Coated in a savory breadcrumb and Parmesan mixture, these fries offer the perfect balance of crunch and tenderness. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce for a delicious treat.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2 medium eggplant
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour regular or gluten-free
- 2 eggs beaten.
- ½ cup breadcrumbs regular or gluten-free
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Oil for the basket.
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Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees.
- Cut the eggplant into ½ inch rounds. Then cut into matchsticks ¼ inch wide. Pat dry the eggplant, but do not salt.2 medium eggplant
- Set up 3 bowls for your breading station. The first bowl should be the flour by itself. The second bowl should have the eggs. In the final bowl mix together the breadcrumbs, cheese, Italian seasoning, and salt.½ cup breadcrumbs, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 2 eggs
- Toss the eggplant in the flour to coat on all sides. One at a time dip in the egg mixture and then the breading.
- Spray the basket with a non-stick oil. Add the eggplant and cook for 8 minutes. Shake to flip, cook another 6 to 8 minutes. Work in batches if needed.Oil
- Serve immediately with marinara, ranch or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
Store leftover eggplant fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-5 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid using the microwave, as it will make the fries soggy.
Equipment
Nutrition
Calories: 199kcal | Carbs: 31g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 5g | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 9g
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