Air Fryer Eggplant Recipe

This air fryer eggplant recipe is one of the best eggplant recipes I have ever made. It only requires 6 ingredients. This is a completely plant-based meal for all my vegan/vegetarian friends. Have it with a nice bowl of steamed white rice, and you have a delicious meal ready in 20 minutes. Give this eggplant in air fryer and try and let me know what you think.

If you’re a fan of eggplant and looking for a healthier way to cook it, you might want to consider air frying. Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they allow you to cook food with little to no oil, resulting in healthier and crispier dishes. In this blog post, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about cooking eggplant in an air fryer.

My other simple vegetables inspired this dish, such as my Sesame Braised Cabbage and Peanut Sauce Roasted Cabbage.

First of all, why choose eggplant? Well, this vegetable is a great source of fiber and antioxidants, and it’s also low in calories, making it a healthy addition to any meal. Plus, eggplant is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from Italian classics like eggplant parmesan to Middle Eastern dips like baba ganoush.

Don’t have an air fryer? You can bake this in the oven as well. It will take significantly longer to cook.

OVEN:

You can roast it in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer. Preheat to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and roast for 30 minutes until the eggplant is crispy on the outside and soft and tender inside.

Ingredients and Substitutions

check the recipe below for the exact measurements

Eggplant – you can use any eggplant for this recipe. Japanese eggplant would be delicious as well.

Avocado oil – any neutral oil should work, such as, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil or canola oil.

White sugar – white sugar is crucial to building a nice crust on the outside. However, up to you. Use maple syrup or honey, or any sweetener you wish.

Low sodium soy sauce – Tamari is a great alternative for my gluten free friends.

Garlic – garlic powder would work, but I highly recommend fresh garlic for a more garlic taste. Great addition if you don’t have fresh garlic is a mixture of garlic powder and onion powder.

Black pepper

Chili oil (optional) – This is optional. Highly recommend. I used Momofuku Chili oil. A little bit goes a long way.

Garnish ideas – green onions, a sprinkle of fresh parsley

See recipe card for quantities.

Equipment

• Knife
• Bowl
• Cutting board
• Air Fryer (with air fryer basket or tray)
• Paper towel
• Parchment paper

Instructions

This simple recipe is super easy to follow. Here are the steps. Let’s get cooking!

• Preheat your air fryer your 350 degrees.
• Slice your eggplant into thick slices. About half inch slices. Do not do thin slices.
• Cut slits in the middle to create opening for the sauce.
• In a shallow bowl, mix together oil, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, and chili oil(optional).
• Line your air fryer with parchment paper for easy clean up.
• Place your eggplant rounds on the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer. Place the sauce on top of the eggplant.
• Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees f.
• Serve and enjoy!

Variations

Here are some variations to make this great recipe better.

• Spicy – add as much chili or as little as you want.
• Deluxe – make your favorite noodles to pair with this eggplant dish
• Kid friendly – omit the chili oil, and your kids will devour these. This is a great way to introduce your children to vegetables.
• Meal Prep Friendly – These simple ingredients can turn this humble eggplant into something utterly delicious. This marinade can also be used as a marinade for other proteins such as chicken breast, chicken thighs, tofu, and other vegetables. Go try it!

Usually, what you see on the internet is breaded eggplant parmesan with mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and marinara sauce. What I love about this recipe is it can be gluten-free, dairy free, and plant-based. It is great to have different variations of eggplant when it is not slathered with cheese and bread crumbs.

Storage

Air frying this at first, then store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat using an air fryer. 350 degrees for 5 minutes.

Top Tips

For best results, here are some top tips for you.

• For crispy eggplant slices – pat the eggplant dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture before adding the Asian marinade on top.
• To prevent the eggplant from turning brown, drizzle lemon juice.

Air fryer eggplant is a healthy and delicious dish that can be easily prepared in an air fryer. You can elevate this humble vegetable into a satisfying meal by seasoning the eggplant and cooking it until it’s crispy. Give it a try.

FAQ

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Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with:

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