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    Home » Air Fryer Vegetables

    Air Fryer Eggplant

    Posted: Nov 4, 2020 · Updated: Nov 4, 2020 by Tonje

    17878 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Air fryer eggplant fries are a fantastic eggplant side dish that you can make in a matter of minutes. Quick, simple and tasty - perfect for weeknight meals!

    Air fryer eggplant fries in a bowl.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top tips
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Leftovers
    • Frequently asked questions
    • You might also like these recipes
    • Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    Eggplant is probably one of my favorite vegetables, and I absolutely love preparing it as a side dish.

    Air fryer eggplant fries are so easy to make, and only require a few minutes of preparation. They are also incredibly flavorful, and pair excellently with a variety of meals.

    As the dish has very simple ingredients, it's healthy, vegan, vegetarian, low carb, keto friendly, dairy free, gluten free and nut free - in other words the perfect dish if you're catering for multiple dietary requirements!

    Ingredients

    For this simple recipe, all you need is a regular eggplant, olive oil and your choice of seasoning. In this recipe we use salt, paprika, garlic powder and cumin, but you can find other seasoning suggestions below!

    You will also of course need an air fryer. I use a small air fryer with a basket, which works really well for this recipe.

    The ingredients required laid out on a table.

    Instructions

    Start by preheating your air fryer to 360 °F / 180 °C. Meanwhile, slice your eggplant into sticks as seen below. Try to keep them all at the same thickness to allow them to cook evenly.

    Step by step instructions showing how to cut eggplant fries.

    Add the eggplant sticks to a bowl, and add olive oil and seasoning. Toss to coat evenly. If you want to change up the seasoning, or add any extra flavors, this is the time to do so!

    Uncooked, seasoned eggplant pieces in a bowl.

    Transfer the eggplant to your air fryer, and air fry for about 8-10 minutes depending on the size of your eggplant. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure that it cooks evenly.

    Serve the eggplant fries immediately, optionally with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and parmesan.

    Uncooked eggplant in an air fryer.

    Top tips

    Here's all of my best tips to succeed with this recipe:

    • Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Keep the air flowing to ensure that the eggplant cooks evenly.
    • Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time. This is again a big part of ensuring that the pieces cook evenly.
    • Cut the eggplant into fries of the same thickness.
    Air fried eggplant in an air fryer.

    Serving suggestions

    Serve your air fried eggplant as a side dish with your favorite main courses. Here are some of my recommended pairings:

    • Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast - These simple, but juicy chicken breasts are so good.
    • Pan Seared Pork Loin Steaks - Super easy boneless pork chops cooked in a skillet.
    • Air Fryer Pork Belly - Crispy pork belly with lots of flavor.
    • Olive Salad - A tasty Mediterranean salad with olives and feta.
    • Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake - This hearty pasta bake is perfect for family dinners.
    A white bowl of air fryer eggplant with parsley on the side.

    Variations

    If the seasoning suggested isn't quite your thing, here are some other variations you might want to try:

    Honey and garlic: Garlic powder and honey makes the eggplant sticky and sweet.

    Lemon and thyme: Lemon zest, lemon juice and thyme is a great Mediterranean flavor combination that works really well with eggplant.

    Spicy: Add a little chili powder or harissa paste if you prefer the eggplant to be spicy. This is probably my favorite variation to make the dish!

    A close up of air fried eggplant fries.

    Leftovers

    Leftover air fried eggplant can be stored in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can serve it cold if you like, or reheat the fries in a microwave or air fryer.

    I also like to use any leftovers in other dishes. You can easily add the eggplant pieces to salads, curries, stews and more. This is a great way to make sure that your leftovers are used, and to avoid food waste!

    A bowl of air fryer eggplant.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are you supposed to peel the eggplant before cooking?

    No, you don't have to peel eggplant. It tastes great, and is very nutritious.

    Should eggplants be refrigerated?

    Yes. Both uncooked and cooked eggplant should be stored in a refrigerator.

    You might also like these recipes

    • Air Fryer Baked Potato
    • Air Fryer Carrots
    • Za'atar Roasted Eggplant
    • Air Fryer Cauliflower
    • Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
    • Air Fryer Broccoli

    Recipe

    Close up picture of air fried eggplant fries.

    Air Fryer Eggplant Fries

    Air fryer eggplant fries are a fantastic eggplant side dish that you can make in a matter of minutes. Quick, simple and tasty!
    4.67 from 27 votes
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Mediterranean
    Servings 4
    Calories 61 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 eggplant
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon cumin
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil

    Instructions
     

    • Start by preheating your air fryer to 360 °F / 180 °C. Meanwhile, slice your eggplant into sticks as seen below. Try to keep them all at the same thickness to allow them to cook evenly.
    • Add the eggplant sticks to a bowl, and add olive oil and seasoning. Toss to coat evenly.
    • Transfer the eggplant to your air fryer, and air fry for about 8-10 minutes depending on the size of your eggplant. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure that it cooks evenly.
    • Serve the eggplant fries immediately, optionally with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and parmesan.

    Video

    Notes

    • Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Keep the air flowing to ensure that the eggplant cooks evenly.
    • Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time. This is again a big part of ensuring that the pieces cook evenly.
    • Cut the eggplant into fries of the same thickness.
    • Leftover air fried eggplant can be stored in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 148mgPotassium: 262mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 46IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cumin, eggplant, paprika, vegan
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah

      January 28, 2021 at 4:44 pm

      5 stars
      This came out perfect. Thank you for the recipe.

      Reply
    2. Stella

      March 03, 2021 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect seasoning. They were delicious and gone in no time. My airfryer took 12 minutes.
      Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Tonje

        March 03, 2021 at 5:49 pm

        Thanks for your lovely comment!

        Reply
    3. Herey

      March 14, 2021 at 4:29 am

      Should these be crisp on the outside ?

      Reply
      • Tonje

        March 14, 2021 at 9:32 am

        Hi Herey! No, these are not supposed to be crisp. Hope that helps.

        Reply
    4. Mike

      May 21, 2021 at 8:15 am

      Parmesan isn’t vegan though

      Reply
      • Tonje

        June 08, 2021 at 8:11 am

        Hi Mike. If you want to add the optional Parmesan garnish, and you want the dish to still be vegan, you can find vegan Parmesan alternatives in many large supermarkets. I like the Violife brand!

        Reply
    5. Torch

      July 08, 2021 at 6:00 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious with oil Italian Seasoning and Kosher Salt. If cooked differently will they become crunchy?
      Thanks,
      Torch

      Reply
    6. Eva

      September 09, 2021 at 5:15 pm

      Do we have to put in sieve strainer with salt for half hr to remove liquid first?

      Reply
      • Tonje

        September 10, 2021 at 1:11 pm

        You don't have to, but you certainly can! Let me know how it goes if you decide to try it.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

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