Description
Succulent air fryer eggplant parmesan from Italian cuisine delivers crispy, golden perfection without excess oil. Home cooks can easily prepare this classic dish with minimal ingredients and quick preparation techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 medium eggplant (about 1 lb or 450 g)
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly cleanse eggplant under running water, then delicately dry with paper towels.
- Cutting: Slice vegetable into symmetrical half-inch rounds, ensuring uniform thickness for consistent cooking.
- Debittering: Optional salt treatment involves sprinkling kosher salt over eggplant slices, allowing 20 minutes for bitter compound extraction; rinse and pat completely dry.
- Seasoning: Whisk extra virgin olive oil with garlic powder, smoky paprika, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper to create a robust flavor profile.
- Coating: Meticulously massage seasoning blend into eggplant pieces, guaranteeing comprehensive coverage.
- Air Frying: Preheat air fryer to 375F, strategically positioning eggplant in a single, uncrowded layer to maximize crispiness.
- Cooking: Roast for 12-15 minutes, midway rotating basket to ensure even browning; during final two minutes, sprinkle grated Parmesan for additional flavor complexity.
- Serving: Extract golden-brown, crispy eggplant and plate immediately, optionally accompanying with marinara sauce or tzatziki for enhanced culinary experience.
Notes
- Prevent Moisture Buildup: Pat eggplant completely dry before seasoning to ensure crispy exterior and avoid soggy results.
- Optimize Air Circulation: Arrange eggplant pieces in single layer without overlapping to achieve maximum crispiness and even cooking in air fryer.
- Control Salt Intensity: Use salt-drawing technique cautiously to reduce bitterness and prevent over-salting, which can impact overall flavor profile.
- Customize Dietary Preferences: Substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast for vegan version or experiment with different herb combinations to create unique flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg