Easy Fried Eggplant Recipe

The best fried eggplant EVER! This is so easy to make at home and so much better than most restaurant versions. With our magic ingredient, you will easily have perfect results every time!

Let’s face it. There’s often a touch of technique or special ingredients you’d never think of to get everything just right. That doesn’t mean the recipe is difficult to make. There’s often just a secret ingredient or specific technique that you need to have!

For this recipe, it’s a little bit of both. Do you pan-fry or deep-fry? Use flour, batter, or breading? What about the oil? How hot is too hot, and can I manage a vat of frying liquid without needing emergency medical care? Let’s demystify the frying process a bit and tackle one of my favorites: crispy Fried Eggplant.

Eggplant may not be on the “favorite vegetables” list for some people, but I promise, this recipe will change that! Even eggplant haters will be converted to eggplant lovers! No on can resist these yummy crunchy slices!

Is Fried Eggplant Good For You?

Eggplants themselves are a very nutrient-dense fruit (yeah, not a vegetable), touting tons of vitamins and minerals to combat everything from headaches to depression. It’s also fiber-rich, which is great for heart health and digestive health, and keeps you fuller longer (I see you, summer swimsuit!).

It’s the “fried” part we usually equate with not being healthy. You can try oven fried eggplant instead, and it’s efficient if you’re making a baked eggplant parmesan or something where crisp isn’t critical. The oven-fried method just doesn’t create the same crunch, so it’s not gonna satisfy that fried-food craving the same way.

No, I don’t recommend eating fried food every day since no amount of treadmill time can completely counteract the “fried” part.

There’s definitely an increase in fat for this otherwise low-fat food when you fry it, but you can minimize the absorption of excess oil by choosing a good breading and executing the frying method properly.

There are three types of frying: pan-frying where the pan is barely covered with oil – good for delicate things like crab cakes or thin cutlets of chicken or pork; deep frying in several inches of oil – good for items like French fries and doughnuts; and shallow-frying which is a happy medium – good for things like bone-in chicken, hot water cornbread, and this eggplant recipe.

Some home cooks like deep fried eggplant, and I find that does work well if you use a batter and chunks (not slices) of eggplant. Using a coating like a pancake or tempura batter, recipes for fried eggplant that incorporate deep frying yield a crispy but smooth exterior.

Personally, I prefer some additional texture on my eggplant, one only achieved with proper breading and coarse bread crumbs, and that technique works much better with the shallow frying method. One side of the eggplant is always in contact with the hot pan which helps sear the cooking side and creates a covetable crust. The breading can make or break a recipe.

You can choose a light breading, which is how to fry eggplant with flour, but it doesn’t create a thick enough coating to balance the texture of the eggplant.

You could opt for a heavy breading instead, like southern fried eggplant that’s dipped in buttermilk and cornmeal, but unless your slices are pretty thick (and take longer to cook), this method produces a breading-to-eggplant ratio that’s still a little off.

My breading is a three-step process that’s substantial enough to be worth the trouble of frying but without dominating the dish. Using panko breadcrumbs too, rather than making fried eggplant without breadcrumbs, actually complements the texture of the tender eggplant.

FRIED EGGPLANT INGREDIENTS:

• Egg: I use large eggs.
• Salt: Plain table salt.
• Cornstarch: This is the secret ingredient.
• Eggplant: Choose a shiny, smooth surface when buying eggplant.
• Panko Bread Crumbs: I use the plain flavor Panko crumbs.

TIPS

• Cornstarch: The first step is dusting the eggplant with cornstarch to give the rest of the breading something to cling to.
  • I prefer to use cornstarch instead of flour since it’s 100% starch (versus flour which is about 75%), and it gets super crispy (it’s what they use for that crusty General Tsao’s chicken at your favorite Chinese restaurant).
  • Cornstarch also has a finer texture which means it covers the surface area more completely and helps the egg stick practically everywhere.
• Salt The Eggs: Be sure to salt your eggs first, by the way, since the salt helps break down proteins and thin the eggs a bit, making it coat the eggplant a little more easily.
  • The eggs help adhere the panko to our eggplant slices, and I like to use pre-seasoned to add extra herbs and spices. “Italian seasoning” means some mixture of garlic, onion, basil, and oregano, and the earthy quality of these ingredients really enhances the richness of the eggplant.
• Dry After Frying: Now that you’re breaded and ready for frying, let the eggplant dry for a few minutes. Do NOT skip this step.
  • Excess moisture is messy and downright dangerous when you’re dealing with hot oil. It also makes the temperature drop too much when you add the eggplant which means you’re decreasing the potential for the maximum crunch factor.
  • The drying time also helps the coating stick better to the eggplant while it’s cooking.
• Skillet: Make sure your skillet’s deep enough to hold the oil and eggplant, with enough height to keep the oil safely splattering inside. I also suggest using a straight-sided pan since fishing the fried bits out of a rounded-edge pan can be tricky business, especially if you want to avoid oil spillage (and stovetop fires).
• Oil & Temperature: I use a vegetable or other neutral-flavored, high-smoke point oil for this recipe so you can keep it safely at about 375ºF (190ºC).
  • Hot oil forces the moisture (steam) out of the eggplant which helps prevent oil from moving into the eggplant.  If the oil isn’t hot enough, or you overcrowd the pan, oil can actually soak into your breading and make a sad, greasy mess.
  • Don’t gamble with a higher temperature, though, since you don’t want the exterior to brown (or burn) before the insides are finished cooking.
• Bubbles: Expect to see lots of tiny bubbles surrounding the eggplant as soon as you drop the slices into the skillet.
  • It’s flipping time once the bubbles start getting bigger and decrease significantly, then you’ll finish bronzing up these beauties on the other side.
  • Those big bubbles mean you’re about out of steam – literally – on that side and in danger of soggy-ville. Drain on paper towels before serving, both to catch greasy drops and to wick away any excess moisture.

DO YOU HAVE TO PEEL EGGPLANT BEFORE FRYING?

I get asked this question a lot because I think many people assume you do, but I actually prefer to fry my eggplant with the skin on. Most of those vitamins and minerals I mentioned earlier are trapped inside that deep purple coating, and the skins of young eggplant will be perfectly tender after cooking.

It also adds a touch of color and helps keep the eggplant slices intact once the insides soften during cooking.

Frying isn’t a complicated process, but there are some basic rules to follow. I always advocate the whole “practice makes perfect” thing, especially since fried food executed properly is so darn good!

Just get in your kitchen and experiment with different methods of frying and breading and battering.

RECIPE NOTES FOR FRIED EGGPLANT:

• Batch frying – You’ll want to cook the eggplant in batches to avoid overcrowding. Keep the fried eggplant warm in a 200-degree oven, on a paper-towel-lined cookie sheet, while you finish.
• Eggplant perfection – When you’re picking out eggplants, choose the freshest you can find and use them in less than a week. Look for shiny, plump specimens, not dull and wrinkly ones. Smaller is preferable too since the larger ones tend to be more mature and potentially bitter.
• Did you say bitter? – You’ll notice I don’t pre-salt the eggplant for this dish. There are lots of thoughts on whether salting is needed, but the general consensus is if you’re dealing with fresh, young, firm eggplants, salting ahead of time isn’t required.
  • In addition to pulling out some of the bitter juices, which adds extra moisture you’ll have to deal with before breading, salting also changes the texture of the eggplant. It’s best to just opt for eggplants that don’t need the whole “youthening” treatment.

HOW TO MAKE FRIED EGGPLANT

1. In 3 separate bowls: pour cornstarch on the first bowl, add panko breadcrumbs to the second bowl, and the beaten egg with salt to the third.
2. Dredge each slice of eggplant in cornstarch.
3. Then dip it into the egg mixture,
4. Then in the panko crumbs, pressing them to help them stick.
5. Transfer the coated eggplant to a wire rack and allow the coating to set for 20 minutes.
6. Fry the eggplant slices in batches.
7. Fry each side for a minute or until golden brown.
8. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Squeeze lemon or top with marinara sauce and mozzarella. Serve.

***See the full instructions below.

HOW TO STORE AND MAKE AHEAD

• How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? Leftovers, if there are any, can be kept in the fridge for 3-5 days.
• Can You Freeze This? No, this is best to consume immediately.
• Make-Ahead Tips: This is so easy and quick to make, no make-ahead steps are required.
• Food Safety: If you’d like more info on food safety check out this link.

HOW TO SERVE FRIED EGGPLANT

This is delicious served as a side dish with a simple squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It’s wonderful served alongside chicken scarpariello, chicken Vesuvio, creamy lemon chicken, chicken Francaise, or chicken Milanese. The list really goes on and on!

If you’d like to serve this as a main dish, I like to stack it up, with layers of fresh Mozzarella or Burrata cheese, fresh basil or parsley, adorned with marinara sauce. S0 delicious ♥

Try serving this with our antipasto salad, tortellini salad, Italian pasta salad (mama mia deliciouso!), marinated tomato salad, Mediterranean salad, or our 1905 salad.

MORE VEGGIES YOU’LL LOVE!

• Tennessee Onions
• Southern Style Green Beans
• Scalloped Corn
• Sauteed Asparagus (with lotsa delicious garlic!)
• Roasted Garlic Asparagus with Feta
• Texas Roadhouse Green Beans
• Baked Tomatoes
• Zucchini Corn Fritters
• Arkansas Green Beans
• Mashed Potatoes

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Fried Eggplant

Our Fried Eggplant recipe creates an easy, crispy dish that’s all about texture. This Italian delight only needs a few ingredients.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time2 minutes mins

Total Time22 minutes mins

Servings: 4 people

Author: Kathleen

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/3 cup cornstarch
• ▢ 1 small eggplant Cut Into 1/4 Inch Thick Slices
• ▢ 1 cup Italian seasoned panko breadcrumbs

Serve With:

• ▢ lemon Wedges optional
• ▢ jarred marinara sauce optional
• ▢ sliced mozzarella optional

Instructions

• In a small shallow bowl, beat the egg with 1/4 teaspoon salt. In 2 more separate shallow dishes, pour the cornstarch (1/3 cup) and panko breadcrumbs (1 cup). Dredge each slice of eggplant in cornstarch, coating it thoroughly then gently tapping off excess, then in egg mixture, then in the panko crumbs, pressing them to help them stick. Transfer the coated eggplant to a wire rack and allow the coating to set for 20 minutes.
• Heat 1/2-inch oil in a heavy bottom, skillet with straight sides 2 inches tall, to 375ºC (190ºC). Fry the eggplant slices in batches, for 1 minute on each side, or until golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Season with additional salt and pepper. Over hot eggplant, squeeze lemon wedges, or top with marinara sauce or mozzarella if using, and serve.

Fans Also Made:

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  Honey Glazed Carrots
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  Pizza Fries

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Notes

1. Batch frying – You’ll want to cook the eggplant in batches to avoid overcrowding. Keep the fried eggplant warm in a 200-degree oven, on a paper-towel-lined cookie sheet, while you finish.
2. Eggplant perfection – When you’re picking out eggplants, choose the freshest you can find and use them in less than a week. Look for shiny, plump specimens, not dull and wrinkly ones. Smaller is preferable too since the larger ones tend to be more mature and potentially bitter.
3. Did you say bitter? – You’ll notice I don’t pre-salt the eggplant for this dish. There are lots of thoughts on whether salting is needed, but the general consensus is if you’re dealing with fresh, young, firm eggplants, salting ahead of time isn’t required.
   • In addition to pulling out some of the bitter juices, which adds extra moisture you’ll have to deal with before breading, salting also changes the texture of the eggplant. It’s best to just opt for eggplants that don’t need the whole “youthening” treatment.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 712mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 94IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 45mg

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