Crispy Eggplant Fries (air fryer recipe)

When you have an abundance of eggplant from the farmer's market or your garden, these eggplant fries made in the air fryer are the super easy, quick snack or burger side dish you didn't know you needed!

You may have (or may know someone who has) a boatload of eggplant growing in their garden. My grandpap Dominic (Josie's husband) grew loads of eggplant each year in his amazing garden and even was in the paper for growing an absolutely enormous one. I wish I had that picture of him grinning holding that 100 lb eggplant! And I know Josie would have made a truck full of these eggplant fries for her always hungry family.

But maybe not in the air fryer. Ok —definitely not in the air fryer.

Here at J+N, we're all about old school cool. And no question —air fryers fall in the "cool category" right now.

Jump to:

• Why This Recipe
• Ingredients
• Step-by-step Instructions
• Equipment
• Variations
• FAQ's
• Serving, Storage & Reheating
• Before you go....
• 📖 Recipe

Why This Recipe

Over here we love breaded eggplant as evidenced by my ricotta-kissed Eggplant Parmesan Stacks. So these Eggplant Fries were a no-brainer to use up my haul from the farmer's market and they're the perfect summer sidekick to these oh-so Juicy Turkey Burgers.

Ingredients

The ingredients needed to make these crispy eggplant fries are fairly straightforward with the exception of a couple little zingy surprises! It's a three step process that is outlined below.

• Dry ingredients. A combo of panko and parmesan makes for a crispy breading. Don't fall over but I don't recommend using freshly grated parmesan here. Surprisingly, the Kraft parmesan cheese in the green can makes for a crunchier breading.
• Binding. The first surprise is a blend of eggs and yellow mustard which adds some zippy flavor.
• Seasonings. The next surprise is an little spot of heat thanks to some cayenne pepper. You can certainly leave it out all together (it's such a small amount), and of course, I wouldn't be one bit mad if you added more.

Step-by-step Instructions

First, make sure to grab three flattish bowls (pie or quiche plates work well) to set up a breading station. In each bowl, place:

• Bowl 1: Stir the seasonings into the flour.
• Bowl 2: Beat the eggs and stir in the yellow mustard.
• Bowl 3: Toss together the parmesan and panko until incorporated.

Next, slice up the eggplant first into about 1" slices (about 5 per eggplant) and then crosswise into fries. You'll get about 8 fries per slice.

Breading process

Now it's time to get breading...

1. A few at a time, lay eggplant fries in the flour and toss to coat.
2. Dip into the egg and mustard mixture using a fork. Allow excess to drain.
3. Coat with cheese and panko crumbs and lay on a rack-lined sheet pan.

Cook in Air Fryer

In a single layer, place eggplant fries in the air fryer basket without crowding. You'll do this in several steps. Keep an oven on low to keep the fries warm while you are cooking the rest.

Cook at 400˚ for 11-15 minutes until the eggplant is cooked through and is browned and crispy.

Make the dipping sauce

In a small bowl, stir up a combo of mayonnaise, honey and sriracha for the best dipping sauce.

Variations

Here are a few ways to help you tailor these crispy eggplant fries to your menu or tastes:

• Italian - sprinkle in some oregano and parsley to the seasoning/flour mixture.
• Southwest - add some cumin and ancho chili powder.
• Extra spicy - zip things up with a little crushed red pepper.

📖 Recipe