Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant

You deserve a crispy, guilt-free indulgence, you deserve this Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant. It's a simple, savory dish that's bound to become your new favorite.

Prep Time 35

Cook Time 20

Servings

Calories 196kcal

Author FoodFaithFitness

Ingredients

1 large globe eggplant
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
pinch of sea salt and ground black pepper
extra virgin olive oil
fresh basil leaves

Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch thick slices and sprinkle both sides with salt. Place in a colander to drain for 30 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk the egg.
In another bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, flour, Parmesan, salt, and black pepper.
Dry the eggplant slices on a towel. Dip them into the egg and then into the panko mixture. Place the breaded eggplant slices on a plate and drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil. Place the eggplants in the air fryer and cook for 20 minutes until crisp and golden brown.
Transfer the air-fried eggplant to a plate and garnish with fresh basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil.

Notes

Let the eggplant slices rest after salting them. By "sweating" them, you draw out moisture. The eggplant will be less likely to soak up oil during cooking and turn out crispier.

Use a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for an enriched taste and health benefits. What little oil you do use for this recipe should be a good one.

For extra crispy eggplant, toast your panko breadcrumbs lightly before breading with them.

Use freshly grated Parmesan as opposed to the pre-grated variety. Fresher means better taste and texture.

Cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding and ensure each slice gets evenly golden brown all over.

Nutrition