I love incorporating eggplants into my diet because of their healthy nutrients. But let’s be real, you can only do so much with an eggplant and not everyone (especially kids) do not like seeing them in their meals.
But what if I tell you that you can easily make crispy eggplant slices that even your kids will love because it tastes and looks like a chips snack? And you will only need a few minutes with the use of your handy air fryer.
With that in mind, here is how you can make a crispy eggplant parmesan cheese roast in an air fryer that can be served as a snack, side dish, or in any main course meal!
Contents
How to cook eggplant in the air fryer
There are not that many ways on how to cook and prepare your eggplant. More often than not, it usually requires to be a part of a meal which can take some cooking time.
In this recipe, I will teach you how to cook an eggplant in an air fryer in just a couple of minutes! Cooking your eggplant in an air fryer ensures that the health benefits and nutrients of the eggplant are retained as an air fryer barely uses any oil at all.
This eggplant is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside and your kids can easily do this with you as well!
Ingredients:
- one large eggplant or 2 smaller eggplants
- Olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- Panko bread crumbs
- Egg
- Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon of your preferred seasonings and spices (italian seasoning, garlic powder, rosemary, thyme, paprika, etc.)
Instructions:
Cut your eggplant into similar slices. Pat the eggplant slices dry to get that perfectly crisp result.
Then dip each slice in egg followed by the panko bread crumbs. Make sure you coat it nicely on both sides.
Combine the olive oil and your seasoning in a shallow bowl and mix well. Using a silicone brush, brush or coat the eggplant slices on both sides with your mixture and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Place the seasoned eggplant slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer and set the air fry temperature to 370º F. Cook until golden brown from 8 to 10 minutes or until the eggplant becomes soft.
Do the same process for the next batch or the remaining eggplant slices.
These eggplant slices are best served hot.
Note: If you want your eggplant slices to be crispy, you will have to remove the moisture of the eggplant. Prepare eggplant and pat dry with a paper towel, salt with Kosher salt, and let it rest for around 30 minutes.
More tips for the best crispy Air Fryer Eggplant
- Make sure you place the eggplant slices in a single layer so that the slices will be cooked evenly.
- You can add grated parmesan cheese for more flavor or grated mozzarella on top of the eggplant slices.
- To keep your eggplants fresh longer, keep them in a cool, dry spot in your kitchen that is away from direct sunlight and with plenty of air circulation.
- Cooking time may vary depending on the sizes of your eggplant slices or your air fryer. Make sure you check the slices in the basket and remove them once the eggplant slices are golden brown.
- After cooking, you can put your favorite sauce on top such as marinara sauce or tomato sauce for more flavor.
What to serve with Air Fried Eggplant
You can easily eat these air-fried eggplant slices on their own but if you want to add more flavors to it and let it become a more filling meal, then you can also pair these with almost any main course or meal.
If you need some ideas, here are some ways how you can serve your air-fryer eggplant slices:
- Your favorite marinara sauce
- Pork skillet
- Salads
- Buddha bowl
- Pasta
- Veggie burgers
- and more!
How to store your roasted eggplant
If you have some leftover roasted eggplants, here are several ways on how you can store and reheat them:
- Place the eggplant slices in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and put them in a fridge for up to five days. Make sure to separate the slices with wax paper to prevent sticking.
- To reheat, you can simply toss the eggplant in the air fryer or toaster oven. These methods will help the roasted eggplant retain its texture and flavor than when reheating using a microwave.
Are roasted eggplants healthy?
Generally, an eggplant is a high-fiber, low-calorie food that is rich in nutrients and vitamins. This vegetable comes with many potential health benefits. Eggplants can help reduce the risk of heart disease and help control blood sugar levels and weight loss.
Eggplants are a simple yet very delicious addition to any healthy diet plan.
Now, you may ask yourself: do fried or roasted eggplants lose their nutrients? The answer to that is no – but only if you are using healthy cooking methods such as using an air fryer!
When using an air fryer, you can easily make crispy and roasted vegetables without needing to soak them in so much oil. An air fryer will require you to use very little (or none at all) oil.
The heat circulating in the air fryer will then do its magic to roast and cook your food!
Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant
This roasted eggplant air fryer recipe is something you'll love because of its flavor and nutritional benefits. And you just need a few ingredients to make this recipe!
Ingredients
- one large eggplant or 2 smaller eggplants
- Olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- Panko bread crumbs
- Egg
- Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon of your preferred seasonings and spices
Instructions
- Cut your eggplant into similar slices. Pat the eggplant slices dry to get that perfectly crisp result.
- Then dip each slice in egg followed by the panko bread crumbs. Make sure you coat it nicely on both sides.
- Combine the olive oil and your seasoning in a shallow bowl and mix well.
- Using a silicone brush, brush or coat the eggplant slices on both sides with your mixture and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place the seasoned eggplant slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer and set the air fry temperature to 370º F.
- Cook until golden brown from 8 to 10 minutes or until the eggplant becomes soft.
- Do the same process for the next batch or the remaining eggplant slices.
- These eggplant slices are best served hot.
I’m Anastasia and I’m a full-time blogger, online entrepreneur, and Pinterest marketing strategist. I help digital entrepreneurs and bloggers drive targeted traffic from Pinterest either through my online courses or through Pinterest consultancy.
