My Air Fryer Eggplant Fries recipe is super easy to cook. I start by cutting the eggplant into french fries before dousing them with a panko breadcrumb coating flavored with Parmesan cheese, garlic and oregano. These deliciously crispy fries can be cooked in minutes and as the air fryer uses very little oil they are a healthy option too.
AIR FRYER EGGPLANT FRIES RECIPE
These easy eggplant fries are crispy on the outside, tender and creamy on the inside.
I love to pair these with sriracha ketchup or a Tahini Yogurt Dressing.
These are very easy to make in the air fryer with little clean-up which I love.
I like to use my air fryer to make eggplant fries but you can also easily bake these in the oven or fry them in oil.
The air fryer uses very little oil, which keeps the eggplant from absorbing too much oil, resulting in deliciously crispy eggplant fries and they are healthier than frying them.
These make a great appetizer or side dish to accompany any main meal. I especially love pairing these eggplant fries with this Moroccan Red Lentil Soup, Lemon Lentil Soup, Mediterranean Baked Turkey Meatballs, Moroccan Chicken Thighs or this Greek Marinated Chicken.
We love using eggplant, try it in this Mediterranean Eggplant Salad, Baba Ghanoush, Air Fryer Eggplant, Ratatouille, or my Mediterranean Grilled Vegetable Couscous.
Recipe Ingredients
- Eggplant: I use 1 medium sized eggplant.
- Breadcrumbs: I use panko breadcrumbs as they have a great crispy texture. You can substitute with regular dried breadcrumbs or seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Cheese: The breading mixture uses1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese adds great flavor, as well as just a touch of salt to the breadcrumb mixture.
- Seasoning: The spices I used are cayenne pepper, garlic powder and dried oregano flavor the crumb coating. Then another dash or sea salt and ground black pepper is added to taste, once the fries have been cooked.
- Eggs: I use 2 medium sized eggs, whisked up, to coat the eggplant fries before adding the crumb coating. The eggs help the breadcrumbs to stick to the eggplant.
- Sauce: I like to serve the eggplant fries with a tahini dip, but you can use any flavor of dip that you and your family enjoy eating.
How to Make Eggplant Fries in the Air Fryer
1. Preheat the Air Fryer: Start by preheating the Air Fryer to 350 F and grease the basket with some cooking spray.
2. Prepare the Eggplant: Cut eggplant into french fries making sure to cut them the same size so they cook evenly.
3. Make the Crumb Coating: Now make the crumb coating by combining the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, cayenne pepper, oregano and garlic powder in a shallow bowl.
4. Beat the Eggs: Crack the eggs into another shallow bowl and beat well.
5. Coat the Eggplant Fries: Coat the eggplant fries in the crumb mixture. Start by dredging the eggplant one by one in the egg, shaking off any excess egg. Then dredge in the panko breadcrumbs mixture.
6. Cook the Fries: Place the eggplant into a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray the eggplant fries with cooking spray.
Air fry the eggplant fries for 10 minutes or until the outside is turning golden brown. Depending on your air fryer size, you may have to work in batches.
7. Serve the Fries: Once cooked, remove from the basket, season with salt and pepper and serve with your favorite dip.
Should Eggplant be Peeled Before Frying?
No, if you are using a fresh eggplant there is no need to peel the eggplant before cutting it into fries.
Are Eggplant Fries Healthy?
Eggplant is healthy and full of fiber, it’s great to addition to your diet. Cooking the fries in the air fryer reduces the amount of oil they are cooked it, which not only makes them taste great, but is a healthier option too.
How to Serve Eggplant Fries
These make a great tasting appetizer served with a favorite dip, I love a tahini dip. Or try my Lemon Spinach Artichoke Dip or my Lebanese Hummus.
They make a great tasting side for my Moroccan Chicken Thighs, Mediterranean Chicken, Mediterranean Beef Kabobs, Grilled Beef Kofta Kebabs, Air Fryer Cod, or Black Sea Bass.
These would be great alongside a burger. Try serving them with this Easy Mediterranean Burger, Feta Burger with Tzatziki, Sweet and Spicy Turkey Burgers or these Pork Burgers.
Recipe Tips and Modifications
- For Easy Coating: When coating the eggplant fries I find it easiest to use one hand to dredge in the wet egg, then the other hand to dredge in the dry crumb mixture. This stops the coating from sticking to your hands and also means you don’t waste so much coating.
- Work in Batches: Don’t be tempted to overload the air fryer basket. Place the fries in the basket, in a single layer with space between each fry. This will ensure they fry to crisp and not steam and become soggy.
- Peeling: If you’re using an eggplant that is more tender and smaller you don’t have to peel it. If you use a larger eggplant the skin can be touch and you might want to peel all or some of the peel.
- Add Extra Spices: Add some ground sumac, za’atar cumin, paprika or chili powder to the breadcrumb coating.
- Gluten-free: For gluten free eggplant fries, replace the panko breadcrumbs with a gluten free breadcrumb.
- Feed a Crowd: Feeding a crowd, no problem, this recipe can be easily doubled or trebled to cater for larger numbers.
- Baking: You can bake these instead of air fryer. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until tender.
- Storage: Once cooked and cooled, store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
- Make Ahead and Freezing: You can prepare the eggplant fries, then place them on a baking sheet and transfer to the freezer for 1 hour to freeze solid. Then remove them from the tray and place into an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. When ready to enjoy, defrost in the refrigerator before cooking in the air fryer.
Dips to Serve With These Eggplant Fries:
Here are some idea for dips you can serve with the eggplant fries.
- Ketchup
- Honey mustard
- Tahini Sauce
- Creamy Dill Sauce
- Hummus
- Baba Ghanoush
Try These Eggplant Recipes:
EASY EGGPLANT CURRY
AIR FRYER EGGPLANT
RATATOUILLE PAPPERDELLE
MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT CHICKPEA SALAD
MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT SALAD
BABA GHANOUSH
Air Fryer Eggplant Fries Recipe
Air Fryer Eggplant Fries recipe easy to cook, cut the eggplant into french fries and coat with a panko breadcrumb flavored with Parmesan.
Ingredients
- 1 medium eggplant
- 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs {or regular breadcrumbs}
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon za'atar or sumac {optional}
- 2 medium eggs, whisked
- Sea salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- Tahini dipping sauce for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 350 F. Grease the basket with cooking spray.
- Cut eggplant into french fries making sure to cut them the same size so they cook evenly.
- Combine the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, cayenne pepper, oregano and garlic powder in a shallow bowl.
- Add the eggs to another shallow bowl.
- Dredge eggplant one by one in the egg then in the panko breadcrumbs mixture.
- Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray the eggplant fries with cooking spray.
- Air fry the eggplant fries for 10 minutes or until the outside is turning golden brown.. Depending on your air fryer size, you will have to do it in batches.
- Season with salt and pepper. Serve with your favorite dip like a tahini sauce.
Notes
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
