Are you ready to transform your meals with a delightful twist? My Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Eggplant is here to make your taste buds dance! This simple recipe takes eggplant to new heights using easy steps and tasty ingredients. Whether you love snacking or need a side dish, this crispy delight has something for everyone. Let’s dive into how you can create this eggplant sensation in your own kitchen!

$- 1 medium eggplant, sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds - 1 cup panko bread crumbs - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese - 1 teaspoon garlic powder - 1 teaspoon onion powder - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning - Salt and pepper to taste - 2 large eggs, beaten - Cooking spray or olive oil for misting Gather these items for a simple and tasty dish. The eggplant is the star of this recipe. It brings a unique flavor and texture. The panko bread crumbs add crunch. Parmesan cheese gives a rich taste. Garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning boost the flavor profile. Salt and pepper round out the seasoning. Beaten eggs help the breading stick well. Finally, cooking spray or olive oil ensures the eggplant crisps up nicely in the air fryer. This combination makes a delightful dish. You can easily find all these ingredients. They work together to create a crispy, savory treat. Start by slicing the eggplant into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Place these slices in a colander. Sprinkle salt evenly over them. This step helps draw out moisture and bitterness. Let the eggplant sit for about 30 minutes. After that, rinse the slices under cold water. This removes excess salt and bitterness. Finally, pat them dry with paper towels. This step gets rid of extra moisture, making your eggplant crispier. Next, let’s prepare the breading station. In one shallow dish, mix panko bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well to ensure even seasoning. In another bowl, place the beaten eggs. Now, dip each eggplant slice into the eggs, coating it fully. Then, press the slice into the breading mix. Make sure to coat both sides evenly. This helps create a golden crust when air frying. Before cooking, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes. This ensures even cooking. Arrange the breaded eggplant slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the basket; this may need to be done in batches. Lightly mist the tops with cooking spray or olive oil. This adds to the crispiness. Cook the eggplant for about 12-15 minutes. Flip them halfway through cooking. The eggplant should turn golden brown and crispy. Check if the inside is tender. Enjoy your crispy air fryer Parmesan crusted eggplant! To get that perfect crunch, use cooking spray or olive oil. A light mist helps the breading brown well. This step is key for a crispy finish. Overcrowding the air fryer is a big no-no. Arrange the eggplant slices in a single layer. If you stack them, they won't cook evenly. You can change up the flavor with different seasonings. Try paprika for a smoky touch or cayenne for heat. Mix in some fresh herbs too! Serve the crispy eggplant with marinara sauce or a creamy dip. A sprinkle of extra Parmesan on top always elevates the dish. You can pair it with a fresh salad to balance the flavors. {{image_2}} For a fun twist, try different kinds of cheese. You can use mozzarella or cheddar for a creamier taste. Each cheese brings its own flavor, making the dish unique. Mixing cheeses can also give a richer crust. If you need a gluten-free option, swap panko with crushed gluten-free crackers. Almond flour can work too, providing a nice crunch. It’s great for those with gluten sensitivities while keeping the dish delicious. Mixing eggplant with other vegetables can create a colorful dish. Try adding zucchini or bell peppers for extra flavor and nutrients. Cut them into similar sizes for even cooking. Seasonal vegetables can also make this dish shine. In summer, use fresh tomatoes or squash. In fall, try adding roasted pumpkin or butternut squash. These fresh produce options enhance the taste and make it more vibrant. To store cooked eggplant, let it cool first. Place the slices in an airtight container. You can also use a resealable bag. Make sure to remove as much air as possible. This helps keep it fresh. Store it in the fridge. It lasts about 3 to 5 days. If you want to keep it longer, consider freezing it. Just remember that freezing may change the texture. To reheat the eggplant while keeping it crispy, use an oven. Set it to 350°F (175°C). Place the slices on a baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes. Check to see if it’s warm and crispy. If you use a microwave, it may get soggy. So, avoid it if you can. Enjoy your crispy air fryer Parmesan crusted eggplant again and again! Yes, you can use fresh eggplant. Fresh eggplant has a better texture and taste. It stays firmer when cooked. Frozen eggplant can become mushy and watery. If you use fresh, make sure to slice it thick enough. This keeps it from falling apart in the air fryer. To prevent bitterness, salt the eggplant slices. Sprinkle salt on them and let them sit for 30 minutes. This draws out moisture and bitterness. After that, rinse the slices well. Pat them dry with paper towels. This step makes a big difference in flavor. I love serving this eggplant with marinara sauce for dipping. It adds a nice tangy flavor. You can also pair it with a fresh salad or garlic bread. For a fun twist, try a yogurt dip or pesto. These options complement the eggplant well. This blog post covered how to make tasty air fryer Parmesan crusted eggplant. We discussed the key ingredients, step-by-step preparation, and helpful tips for extra crispiness. You learned about variations like different coatings and adding veggies. Lastly, we touched on storage and reheating methods for your leftovers. Enjoy this dish as a snack or side! Try new flavors and pairings for fun ways to serve it. Happy cooking!$

Ingredients

List of Ingredients

– 1 medium eggplant, sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds

– 1 cup panko bread crumbs

– 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

– 1 teaspoon garlic powder

– 1 teaspoon onion powder

– 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

– Salt and pepper to taste

– 2 large eggs, beaten

– Cooking spray or olive oil for misting

Gather these items for a simple and tasty dish. The eggplant is the star of this recipe. It brings a unique flavor and texture. The panko bread crumbs add crunch. Parmesan cheese gives a rich taste. Garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning boost the flavor profile. Salt and pepper round out the seasoning. Beaten eggs help the breading stick well. Finally, cooking spray or olive oil ensures the eggplant crisps up nicely in the air fryer.

This combination makes a delightful dish. You can easily find all these ingredients. They work together to create a crispy, savory treat.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparation of the Eggplant

Start by slicing the eggplant into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Place these slices in a colander. Sprinkle salt evenly over them. This step helps draw out moisture and bitterness. Let the eggplant sit for about 30 minutes. After that, rinse the slices under cold water. This removes excess salt and bitterness. Finally, pat them dry with paper towels. This step gets rid of extra moisture, making your eggplant crispier.

Breading the Eggplant

Next, let’s prepare the breading station. In one shallow dish, mix panko bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well to ensure even seasoning. In another bowl, place the beaten eggs. Now, dip each eggplant slice into the eggs, coating it fully. Then, press the slice into the breading mix. Make sure to coat both sides evenly. This helps create a golden crust when air frying.

Air Frying Process

Before cooking, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes. This ensures even cooking. Arrange the breaded eggplant slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the basket; this may need to be done in batches. Lightly mist the tops with cooking spray or olive oil. This adds to the crispiness. Cook the eggplant for about 12-15 minutes. Flip them halfway through cooking. The eggplant should turn golden brown and crispy. Check if the inside is tender. Enjoy your crispy air fryer Parmesan crusted eggplant!

Tips & Tricks

Achieving Extra Crispiness

To get that perfect crunch, use cooking spray or olive oil. A light mist helps the breading brown well. This step is key for a crispy finish. Overcrowding the air fryer is a big no-no. Arrange the eggplant slices in a single layer. If you stack them, they won’t cook evenly.

Flavor Enhancements

You can change up the flavor with different seasonings. Try paprika for a smoky touch or cayenne for heat. Mix in some fresh herbs too! Serve the crispy eggplant with marinara sauce or a creamy dip. A sprinkle of extra Parmesan on top always elevates the dish. You can pair it with a fresh salad to balance the flavors.

Variations

Alternative Coatings

For a fun twist, try different kinds of cheese. You can use mozzarella or cheddar for a creamier taste. Each cheese brings its own flavor, making the dish unique. Mixing cheeses can also give a richer crust.

If you need a gluten-free option, swap panko with crushed gluten-free crackers. Almond flour can work too, providing a nice crunch. It’s great for those with gluten sensitivities while keeping the dish delicious.

Adding Vegetables

Mixing eggplant with other vegetables can create a colorful dish. Try adding zucchini or bell peppers for extra flavor and nutrients. Cut them into similar sizes for even cooking.

Seasonal vegetables can also make this dish shine. In summer, use fresh tomatoes or squash. In fall, try adding roasted pumpkin or butternut squash. These fresh produce options enhance the taste and make it more vibrant.

Storage Info

Storing Leftovers

To store cooked eggplant, let it cool first. Place the slices in an airtight container. You can also use a resealable bag. Make sure to remove as much air as possible. This helps keep it fresh. Store it in the fridge. It lasts about 3 to 5 days. If you want to keep it longer, consider freezing it. Just remember that freezing may change the texture.

Reheating Techniques

To reheat the eggplant while keeping it crispy, use an oven. Set it to 350°F (175°C). Place the slices on a baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes. Check to see if it’s warm and crispy. If you use a microwave, it may get soggy. So, avoid it if you can. Enjoy your crispy air fryer Parmesan crusted eggplant again and again!

FAQs

Can I use fresh eggplant instead of frozen?

Yes, you can use fresh eggplant. Fresh eggplant has a better texture and taste. It stays firmer when cooked. Frozen eggplant can become mushy and watery. If you use fresh, make sure to slice it thick enough. This keeps it from falling apart in the air fryer.

How can I prevent the eggplant from being bitter?

To prevent bitterness, salt the eggplant slices. Sprinkle salt on them and let them sit for 30 minutes. This draws out moisture and bitterness. After that, rinse the slices well. Pat them dry with paper towels. This step makes a big difference in flavor.

What should I serve with air fryer Parmesan crusted eggplant?

I love serving this eggplant with marinara sauce for dipping. It adds a nice tangy flavor. You can also pair it with a fresh salad or garlic bread. For a fun twist, try a yogurt dip or pesto. These options complement the eggplant well.

This blog post covered how to make tasty air fryer Parmesan crusted eggplant. We discussed the key ingredients, step-by-step preparation, and helpful tips for extra crispiness. You learned about variations like different coatings and adding veggies. Lastly, we touched on storage and reheating methods for your leftovers. Enjoy this dish as a snack or side! Try new flavors and pairings for fun ways to serve it. Happy cooking!

Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Eggplant

Indulge in a healthier twist on a classic dish with our Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Eggplant! This delightful recipe is not only simple but also packed with flavor, featuring golden-brown eggplant slices coated in a cheesy, crunchy crust. Perfect as an appetizer or a side dish, it's sure to impress. Click through for the full recipe and bring this tasty option to your table tonight! #AirFryerRecipes #HealthyEating #EggplantRecipes #CrispyVegetables

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Ingredients

1 medium eggplant, sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds

1 cup panko bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

2 large eggs, beaten

Cooking spray or olive oil for misting

Instructions

Prepare the Eggplant: Place the eggplant slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Allow them to sit for about 30 minutes to draw out some moisture and bitterness. Rinse and pat them dry with paper towels.

Make the Breading Mixture: In a shallow dish, combine the panko bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well to ensure even distribution of the seasonings.

Dredge the Eggplant Slices: Set up a dredging station. In one bowl, place the beaten eggs, and in another, the breading mixture. Dip each eggplant slice into the egg to coat, then press it into the breading mixture, ensuring an even coating on both sides.

Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes.

Air Fry the Eggplant: Arrange the breaded eggplant slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure not to overcrowd—it may need to be done in batches. Lightly mist the tops with cooking spray or olive oil for extra crispiness.

Cook: Air fry the eggplant for about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. Check for doneness; the inside should be tender.

Serve: Once cooked, carefully remove the eggplant slices from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving.

Prep Time, Total Time, Servings: 10 minutes | 30 minutes | Serves 4

- Presentation Tips: Serve the crispy eggplant on a vibrant platter, garnished with fresh basil or parsley. Pair it with marinara sauce for dipping and a sprinkle of extra Parmesan on top for a beautiful finish!