{"id":110396,"title":"Air Fryer Eggplant","modified":"2025-10-29T17:06:54+01:00","plain":"A delicious air-fried breaded eggplant recipe that will delight your guests\n\n\n\nSlide out the basket of the air fryer and the kitchen fills with a nutty aroma\u2014think hazelnut\u2014from the breaded eggplant. A gentle crackle evokes deep-frying, even though the slices get only a mist or a thin drizzle of oil, nowhere near an oil bath.\n\n\n\nWhat once passed as a \u201csoggy sponge\u201d now emerges with crisp edges and a silky center\u2014first the crunch, then it melts. Because it relies on circulating hot air, this method uses far less oil, converts eggplant skeptics, and easily fits into busy weeknights.\n\n\n\nAlso try my air fryer zucchini recipe\n\n\n\nServe these golden bites as an appetizer with marinara, or layer the rounds into a quick parmigiana: in under twenty minutes, the air fryer delivers a crisp base ready for toppings. For other vegetables, see this cooking chart.\n\n\n\nHow to choose eggplant\n\n\n\nPick eggplants that feel heavy for their size, with smooth, glossy skin and a bright green stem. Dull skin or soft spots signal waterlogged flesh that won\u2019t crisp. \u201cGlobe\u201d varieties offer wide rounds ideal for layering, while slimmer Japanese or Chinese types yield delicate, almost seedless \u201cchips.\u201d\n\n\n\nAir fryer chicken breast is as simple as it is delicious\n\n\n\nUniform pieces ensure even cooking. Slice rounds about 6 mm thick for chip-like crunch, or cut 2.5 cm cubes for tender bites.\n\n\n\nGot a little time? Salt the pieces generously and let them drain for 15 to 30 minutes. Salting draws out excess moisture and concentrates flavor; rinse, then pat dry before cooking. In a hurry? Skip this step to keep a softer center.\n\n\n\nYou only need a handful of ingredients\n\n\n\nWhich breading?\n\n\n\nIf you know my recipes, you won\u2019t be surprised that I reach for traditional panko, but there are great alternatives:\n\n\n\n\nPanko and Parmesan for a cheesy crust that shatters at the slightest touch (add garlic powder for the garlic-obsessed)\n\n\n\nGluten-free panko if you avoid wheat.\n\n\n\nKeto mix of almond flour and crushed pork rinds for airy, low-carb crunch.\n\n\n\nNo breading if you\u2019re after a more roasted, veggie-forward vibe.\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\tAir-Fryer Eggplant\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\tair fryer\t\n\t\n\t\t1 large eggplant (cut into 0.5 cm-thick rounds)salt (for sprinkling)1 egg1 large handful panko breadcrumbs1 large handful all-purpose flour1 large handful grated Parmesan cheese0.5 teaspoon saltblack pepperolive oil (for drizzling)For servingfresh basil leaves and\/or fresh parsley (chopped)red pepper flakes\t\n\t\n\t\tSprinkle both sides of the eggplant slices with salt, then place in a large colander to drain for 30 minutes.Preheat the air fryer to 190\u00b0C.In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg.In a medium bowl or shallow dish, combine the panko, flour, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.Pat the eggplant slices dry with paper towels.Dip each slice in the egg, then coat in the breadcrumb mixture.Set on a plate as you go.Drizzle the slices with olive oil.Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer.Cook for 17 to 20 minutes, or until crisp and golden, turning halfway through.Cook in batches if needed.\t\n\t\n\t\tUniform slices cook evenly. Cut rounds about\u00a06\u00a0mm thick for a chip-like crunch, or cut 2.5\u00a0cm cubes for tender bites.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tAccompagnement, Entr\u00e9eFran\u00e7aise, Italienne","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110396"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110591,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110396\/revisions\/110591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marcwiner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}