Fried Eggplant Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best oil to use for frying eggplant? ›

Heat 1/4 inch of grapeseed oil in a nonstick skillet over medium until hot enough for frying. The ideal temperature for frying eggplant is about 365-375 degrees F. The best way to monitor the temperature is to use a deep fry or candy thermometer; or, you can drop a small piece of bread into the oil.

Should you? No. Eggplant has a high water content, so it's crucial to draw out some of that moisture before you fry it.

Sweat the eggplant.

With the air pockets full of moisture, there's not as much room for the oil to soak in. Sprinkle salt over the sliced eggplant, let it sweat for 30 to 60 minutes, then rinse and pat dry before cooking.

Eggplants are known to absorb a lot of fat while cooking. A useful tip to prevent sogginess and greasiness is to salt sliced or diced eggplant and let it sit for an hour. This helps to draw out moisture. Next, rinse and drain any liquid from the sliced eggplant, then pat dry before cooking.

Salting versus brining

It will, however, help the spongy flesh absorb less oil and crisp up like a dream. To salt, just slice the eggplant into rounds, scatter 1 teaspoon of salt on top, leave for 30 minutes, then pat dry. Brining (soaking in salted water) will do the same job but also make the flesh super creamy.

Eggplant's meaty texture makes it a natural for cooking on the grill, whether you're cooking it outdoors or on an indoor grill pan—and grilling gives eggplant a great smoky flavor.

Overcooking is a common mistake that can lead to mushy eggplant. Keep a close eye on your eggplant while it's cooking and avoid leaving it on the heat for too long. The cooking time may vary depending on the chosen method and the thickness of the slices.

Fried eggplant is crispier and more savory when it's been pre-salted. When preparing eggplant for frying, the salting process ensures the vegetable absorbs less oil. As a result, taking the time to salt eggplant prior to frying yields perfectly seasoned fried eggplant with a silkier texture.

Brining adds flavor and texture to eggplants. "Mix spices and salt with water, then soak sliced eggplant in the brine for 30 minutes before cooking.

Cut the eggplant into 2cm / 0.8” rounds. Spray each side generously with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brown – Heat a large non-stick pan with a lid over medium high heat, no oil. (Note 3) Add the eggplant slices and pan fry for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on each side or until you get some nice browning on it.

Is fried eggplant healthy? ›

The good news is that the eggplant is pan-fried — not deep-fried — and vegetarian, so it's still reasonably healthy. Heck, if you built a bigger version, you could even turn it into a vegetarian entree. Buying fresh eggplants is key.

Soak it in milk.

Soak eggplant slices or cubes in milk for about 30 minutes before cooking. The milk not only tempers the bitterness, but it actually makes for eggplant that is extra creamy, since the vegetable acts like a sponge and soaks up a good amount of milk in its flesh.

While the skin of a small young eggplant is edible, the skin becomes bitter on larger or older eggplants and should be peeled. When in doubt, the answer to, "Do you peel eggplant before cooking?" is yes, peel it. Use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to remove the skin.

Canola Oil: The Best Oil for Deep-Frying

And because it is neutral in flavor, it won't impart any additional flavors to your food. This means that by any measure, whether it's smoke point, health, or cost, canola oil is the best oil for deep-frying.

So here's how I cook them on the stove using very little oil – less than 1/2 teaspoon of oil for a WHOLE eggplant! Basically, I cook them the same way I do Asian dumplings – seared then pan-steamed. So you just need to spray the eggplant with oil before cooking in a dry pan.