🍆Eggplant Fries🍟
October 11, 2022
Hi everyone! Here you will find step-by-step instructions on how to make these delicious eggplant fries! The best part is that they are made in the air-fryer! Enjoy!~
Ingredients -
🍆 2 small to medium sized eggplants
🍆 1/2 cup vegan milk + 1/2 cup (I use almond)
🍆 1 sleeve and a half of saltine crackers
🍆 2/3 cup flour (plus more if needed)
🍆 1.5 Tbsp onion powder
🍆 1.5 tsp garlic powder
🍆 1.5 tsp smoked paprika
🍆 1.25-1.50 tsp salt
🍆 OPTIONAL 1 tsp green onion powder
Materials -
🍟 Air-fryer
🍟 Sharp knife
🍟 3 large bowls
🍟 2 cookie sheets
🍟 Food processor, sturdy cup or potato masher (to crush crackers)
🍟 Spoons
🍟 OPTIONAL whisk
Wash the eggplants and cut off the top part with the stem. You can cut off the bit at the bottom too, but I normally don’t.
2. Slice the eggplant in long slices (from top to bottom). Try to cut them about half an inch thick, depending on how thick you want your fries.
3. Next, cut the slices vertically once again, about half an inch thick, or depending how thick you want your fries. I was able to cut around 6 slices per large slice.
4. You can keep your fries long, or cut them in half so you can get several smaller ones. I prefer to do it this way.
5. Pour half of the milk (1/4 cup) into the bowl. Then, put the fries into the bowl and then cover with the remaining 1/4 cup of milk. With a spoon or with your hand, milk the fries with the milk until they are all covered with it. Set aside.
6. Pour the 2/3 cup of flour into a separate large bowl. I added a couple of shakes of salt into it and mixed it in. Then, grab handfuls of the wet fries and put them into the flour (keep the bowl you used for the milk, as well as any left over milk there is left in the bowl). If your bowl has a lid, cover it and shake the bowl until all the fries are covered with the flour. Otherwise, you can use a spoon or your hand to do the same. Set aside.
7. Grab another large bowl and pour the saltine crackers in. Add in your spices (1.5 Tbsp onion powder, 1.5 tsp garlic powder, 1.5 tsp smoked paprika, 1.25-1.50 tsp salt, OPTIONAL 1 tsp green onion powder). If you have a food processor, you could grind the crackers in there until they are as fine as you’d like for them to be. I prefer to crush them with a potato masher because I like for there to be large pieces of crackers. You can then use a spoon or whisk to make sure all the spices are mixed well with the crackers. Set aside.
8. Grab the bowl you had originally poured the milk into. Whether you had any milk left over or not, make sure you have half a cup of milk in the bowl (you’ll have to add milk if there isn’t 1/2 cup of milk left from before). Then, grab your floured fries, one handful at a time and put them into the milk. Make sure they are all covered. Then, get those fries and put them into the cracker mixture. Make sure they are all coated in the mixture. Grab your cookie sheet and place the coated fries on there. You may need to use two cookie sheets. Repeat this process until all the fries are coated. Then, use cooking spray to generously coat (oil) the fries. Flip the fries over and do the same on the other side. This step is critical because if you do not coat the fries well, there will be parts that are powdery or “raw.”
9. Grease your air-fryer or you can use parchment paper. Place the fries in the air-fryer. Put the temperature to 350 F and “fry” for 12 minutes at a time. Every 12 minutes flip over onto the opposite side. Repeat until golden. Once they are golden, place into preheated oven at 355 F for 7-10 minutes or until they are crunchy on the outside. The inside should be mostly “hollow.” I don’t wait for all the fries to be golden before putting them into the oven. As they come out of the air-fryer I place them into the oven, so I will get batches at a time.
NOTE: Our air-fryer only “fries” until 350 F. If you are brave enough, you can try a higher temperature on your air-fryer to see if it will speed up the process.
10. Enjoy! I LOVE to eat these fries with some vegan ranch dressing and siracha! A perfect side dish for vegetarian burgers or hotdogs! I hope you all enjoy these as much as I do!
