20 Minutes Air Fryer Eggplant Fries – Crispy & Healthy

Wash and dry the eggplant. Trim off the top and bottom, then slice lengthwise into ½-inch thick planks. Cut these planks into sticks about ½-inch wide to resemble french fries.

Place the eggplant fries in a colander and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Let them sit for 15-20 minutes to draw out excess moisture and bitterness.

Rinse the salt off completely and pat the eggplant very dry with paper towels.

In a shallow dish, combine the flour with a pinch of salt and pepper.

In a second shallow dish, beat the eggs with a splash of water.

In a third shallow dish, mix the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.

Working in batches, dredge each eggplant stick in the flour (shaking off excess), then dip in the egg mixture, and finally coat in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.

Place the coated eggplant fries on a tray while you finish coating the remaining pieces.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.

Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Arrange the breaded eggplant fries in a single layer, making sure they don't touch (you'll need to cook in batches).

Spray the tops of the fries lightly with olive oil spray.

Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the fries are golden brown and crispy.

Transfer the eggplant fries to a serving plate, garnish with chopped parsley if desired, and serve immediately with marinara sauce or your favorite dip.