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    Home » Starters

    Breaded Eggplant

    Published: May 12, 2023 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Breaded eggplant is an easy and tasty recipe you can enjoy as an appetizer, side, or main dish on top of pasta with a few spoonfuls of our delicious marinara sauce.

    The eggplants are baked in the oven or air fryer, they are tender inside and crispy outside, and we show you how to make them with and without eggs.

    Breaded eggplant with parsley
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • More eggplant recipes
    • Recipe

    Check out our Best Eggplant Recipes

    Tender inside, crisp outside, seasoned with herbs, and served with marinara sauce, our crispy eggplant slices are a simple yet delicious recipe you can enjoy on its own or use to make other dishes.

    While traditional breaded eggplant recipes pan fry or deep fry the eggplant cutlets in oil and can be a little heavy, we developed this recipe to be simpler, lighter, and healthier while retaining all its deliciousness.

    We bake the eggplants in the oven or air fryer to do this. The breading is crisp and tasty, and we show you how to make it with an egg or, if you want to keep the recipe vegan, with chickpea flour.

    Breaded eggplants make an excellent appetizer with a side dip of marinara sauce, tzatziki sauce, or chipotle sauce.

    They are also delicious on pasta with marinara sauce and fresh basil. Or you can use them to make eggplant parmesan or a glorious crispy baked eggplant sub.

    breaded eggplant on spaghetti with marinara sauce

    Ingredients

    ingredients for breaded eggplants

    Eggplants

    You can use globe eggplants or Italian eggplants, the dark-purple ones you can find in most supermarkets.

    Alternatively, graffiti, zebra, or Sicilian eggplants are also excellent for this recipe.

    Breadcrumbs

    Use regular breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs. We generally use what we have at hand.

    Olive Oil

    We recommend extra virgin olive oil for a more round and fruity flavor. Alternatively, olive oil will do.

    Dried Herbs

    Anything Italian tasting is good with breaded eggplant. We recommend an Italian herb mix, but you can also use dried thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, or basil.

    Spices

    Use garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.

    Other spices you can try are onion powder and chili powder.

    Salt

    We add a little salt to the breadcrumb mixture. Then, add a tiny pinch on top of the eggplants before serving them.

    Parmesan Cheese

    Grated parmesan cheese adds a pleasant, cheesy, savory flavor to the breaded eggplants.

    It also keeps the breading together as it melts in the oven.

    You can substitute vegan parmesan or vegan cheese for parmesan cheese.

    Egg or Chickpea flour

    You can make the breadcrumbs stick with a large egg or with chickpea flour and water.

    We tested both, and they are equally delicious. We honestly couldn't tell the difference once they were on the platter.

    breaded eggplant with marinara sauce

    Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 400°F or 200°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Combine breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian herb mix, salt, and black pepper in a large dish.

    breadcrumbs with seasoning

    In a bowl, beat 2 large eggs with a pinch of salt.

    Alternatively, whisk the chickpea flour, water, and a pinch of salt together.

    batter with egg and batter with chickpea flour

    Cut the eggplant into ½-inch (1.5 cm) discs.

    Note: there's no need to purge the eggplant with salt. Most eggplants these days are grown not to be bitter. Also, there's no need to peel the eggplant.

    sliced eggplant on a cutting board

    Dip the eggplant slices in the beaten egg or chickpea batter.

    Then let the excess batter drain and dip the eggplant into the breadcrumb mixture till both sides are coated.

    Finally, arrange slices on your prepared baking sheet.

    Tip: You might need to press the panko mixture with your hands and gently shake off excess. Make sure to bread the sides too.

    breading the eggplant with egg and breadcrumbs

    Drizzle with olive oil and bake at 400°F or 200°C for 20 minutes, then turn slices around and bake them for 5 more minutes.

    breaded eggplant on baking sheet before baking

    Eggplants should be tender inside, crisp, and golden brown outside.

    baked breaded eggplants

    Transfer them on a serving platter, optionally sprinkle with chopped parsley and a few lemon wedges.

    Breaded eggplant on a platter

    Serving suggestions

    Serve breaded eggplants as an appetizer, side, or main dish with pasta, rice, or a sandwich.

    Appetizer

    breaded eggplants with marinara sauce

    One way to serve them is on a platter with our homemade marinara sauce and refreshing tzatziki sauce.

    Served this way, they are a great finger food to enjoy as an appetizer or side dish, and they are perfect for get-togethers with friends or family.

    Sprinkle with some freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley to add freshness and color. You can combine this with our breaded zucchini or other roasted vegetables.

    Main dish

    breaded eggplant on spaghetti with marinara sauce

    Serve breaded eggplant slices (also works with leftovers) on a bowl of pasta or rice.

    Top them with a few spoonfuls of tasty marinara sauce, a few basil leaves, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

    This is a wonderful kid-friendly meal, perfect for family dinners.

    Sandwich

    sub with eggplants and marinara sauce

    Nothing beats a warm baguette stuffed with homemade marinara sauce and crispy baked eggplants. I devoured this right after taking this picture, and it was incredible.

    You can make this with leftover breaded eggplants, and it's excellent as a quick lunch or snack.

    As a side dish to:

    • Pasta Pomodoro (canned tomatoes, basil, onion, garlic, spaghetti, olive oil, etc.)
    • Tahini salad (tahini, chickpeas, lettuce, oregano, tomatoes, lemon juice, etc.)
    • Focaccia bread (instant dry yeast, water, sugar, flour, rosemary, etc.)
    • Pasta aglio e olio (spaghetti, garlic, parsley, red pepper flakes, olive oil, etc.)
    • Creamy kale pasta (kale, ricotta, pasta, etc.)
    • garlic and oil pasta aglio olio
      Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
    • tahini salad
      Tahini Salad
    • spaghetti pomodoro or tomato basil pasta
      Spaghetti Pomodoro
    • focaccia with rosemary
      Focaccia

    Variations

    Air-fried breaded eggplant

    We have a dedicated blog post on air fryer eggplant, so check it out to learn more.

    Making this recipe in the air fryer is simple, although you'll have to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer, so it might be faster to cook the eggplants in the oven.

    To start, follow the instructions above until your eggplants are breaded.

    Next, preheat the air fryer to 360°F or 180°C for 3 minutes.

    Arrange breaded eggplants in your air fryer basket on a single layer without overlapping.

    eggplants in air fryer

    Drizzle with olive oil and air fry at 360°F or 180°C for 15 to 20 minutes, turning the eggplant slices halfway through cooking. The eggplant is cooked when a fork slides in easily.

    Serve as described in the "serving suggestions" chapter above; they are an excellent alternative to fried eggplant.

    air fried breaded eggplants

    Storage

    Make ahead: this recipe is best eaten right out of the oven while the eggplants are warm, tender, and crisp.

    Refrigerator: keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days.

    Reheat: reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes, in an air fryer for 5 minutes at 350°F or 180°C, or in a preheated oven at 400°F or 200°C for 10 minutes.

    Freezer: we don't recommend freezing breaded eggplants.

    More eggplant recipes

    If you love cooking with eggplant, here's some more inspiration for tasty recipes:

    • Eggplant salad with roasted eggplant and fresh veggies
    • Stuffed eggplant with tomatoes and melted cheese
    • Roasted eggplants topped with crunchy bread crumbs
    • Eggplant pizza with marinara sauce and mozzarella
    • Grilled eggplant with Italian marinade
    • Pasta alla Norma with a hearty tomato sauce
    • Eggplant dip with fresh lemon and tahini
    • Italian caponata with olives, capers, and roasted eggplant
    • Pasta Norma with fresh basil
      Pasta alla Norma - Eggplant Pasta
    • stuffed eggplants
      Stuffed Eggplant
    • roasted eggplant
      Roasted Eggplant
    • baba ganoush eggplant dip
      Eggplant Dip - Baba Ganoush

    Or any of our best 35 eggplant recipes, including dinners, lunches, and snacks.

    Recipe

    breaded eggplants with marinara sauce

    Breaded Eggplant

    Author: Nico
    Breaded eggplant is an easy and tasty recipe you can enjoy as an appetizer, side, or main dish on top of pasta with a ladleful of our delicious marinara sauce.
    The eggplants are baked in the oven or air fryer, they are tender inside and crispy outside, and we show you how to make them with and without eggs.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 3 votes
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side dish
    Cuisine American Italian
    Servings 4 - 6 people
    Calories 285 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 medium eggplants about 2 pounds or 1 kilogram
    • 2 large eggs sub with ⅔ cup (100g) chickpea flour mixed with ⅔ cup (160g) water
    • ⅔ cup breadcrumbs
    • 2 teaspoons Italian herb mix
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ cup parmesan cheese sub vegan cheese
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

    Serving Suggestions

    • marinara sauce
    • tzatziki sauce
    Keep screen on

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F or 200°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
      Combine ⅔ cup breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoons Italian herb mix, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper in a large plate.
      breadcrumbs with seasoning
    • In a bowl, beat 2 large eggs with a pinch of salt.
      Alternatively, whisk chickpea flour, water, and a pinch of salt together.
      beaten egg in a bowl
    • Cut 2 medium eggplants into ½-inch (1.5 cm) discs.
      sliced eggplant on a cutting board
    • Dip the eggplant slices in the beaten egg or chickpea batter.
      Then let the excess batter drain and dip the eggplant into the breadcrumb mixture till both sides are coated.
      Finally, arrange slices on your prepared baking sheet.
      breading the eggplant with egg and breadcrumbs
    • Drizzle with 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and bake at 400°F or 200°C for 20 minutes, then turn slices around and bake them for 5 more minutes.
      breaded eggplant on baking sheet before baking
    • Eggplants should be tender inside, crisp, and golden brown outside.
      baked breaded eggplants

    SERVING SUGGESTIONS

    • Appetizer or side dish: transfer them on a serving platter, optionally sprinkle with chopped parsley and a few lemon wedges.
      breaded eggplants with marinara sauce
    • Main dish: serve them on top of a bowl of pasta or rice, topped with a few spoonfuls of marinara sauce, basil leaves, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
      breaded eggplant on spaghetti with marinara sauce
    • Snack or quick lunch: nothing beats a warm baguette stuffed with homemade marinara sauce, crispy baked eggplants, and fresh basil.
      sub with eggplants and marinara sauce

    Notes

    Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 portion of breaded eggplants out of 4, without sauce.
    STORAGE
    Make ahead: this recipe is best eaten right out of the oven while the eggplants are warm, tender, and crisp.
    Refrigerator: keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days.
    Reheat: reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes, in an air fryer for 5 minutes at 350°F or 180°C, or in a preheated oven at 400°F or 200°C for 10 minutes.
    Freezer: we don't recommend freezing breaded eggplants.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Breaded Eggplant
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    285
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    13
    g
    20
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    7
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    98
    mg
    33
    %
    Potassium
     
    643
    mg
    18
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    34
    g
    11
    %
    Dietary Fiber
     
    9
    g
    38
    %
    Sugar
     
    10
    g
    11
    %
    Protein
     
    11
    g
    22
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    259
    IU
    5
    %
    Vitamin B6
     
    0.3
    mg
    15
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    5
    mg
    6
    %
    Vitamin E
     
    2
    mg
    13
    %
    Vitamin K
     
    20
    µg
    19
    %
    Calcium
     
    153
    mg
    15
    %
    Folate
     
    92
    µg
    23
    %
    Iron
     
    3
    mg
    17
    %
    Manganese
     
    1
    mg
    50
    %
    Magnesium
     
    52
    mg
    13
    %
    Zinc
     
    1
    mg
    7
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?Leave us a comment below or find us on Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook.

    If you liked our breaded eggplants, you might also like:

    • meatless meals with dinner and lunch
      40 Easy Meatless Meals
    • best eggplant recipes including mains and side dishes
      24 Best Eggplant Recipes
    • Easy Italian recipes with pasta and focaccia
      30 Easy Italian Recipes
    • Easy vegetable recipes with eggplant and zucchini
      25 Easy Vegetable Recipes
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