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Author:
Franco Salzillo
After tomatoes, eggplants are amongst the most typical vegetables in Italian-inspired meals. Eggplants or aubergines are earthy and tender, and they are, in fact, related to tomatoes.
When roasted and served with cheese and marinara sauce, eggplants suddenly become a classic. A healthy dish that tastes as it should be bad for you — it isn’t! There are many ways of making eggplant Parmesan but cutting the veggie into a fan and air-frying it with cheese and tomato sauce is, no doubt, the most creative.
For this recipe, we’ll need eggplants. And since we’re not slicing or chopping them, but cutting them into a fan, ensure they are the right size for your air-fryer. They must fit your air-fryer basket comfortably.
This time, our seasonings will be typically Italian — garlic, basil and oregano, and a jar of store-bought marinara or tomato sauce will do. As for the cheese, Parmesan plays a significant role in the recipe, but it’s mozzarella that will make this dish gooey and bubbly.
This unique eggplant Parmesan version is a stunner — it looks as good as it tastes. Furthermore, this dish has veggies and, to some extent, proteins covered, so you don’t need much to turn this dish into an entire meal.
A carb-rich side dish like pasta can complement your experience for a wholesome meal. After all, air fryer eggplant Parmesan can be both a main course and a starter. What would you serve with eggplant Parmesan?
Wash the eggplants. Cut them in the shape of a fan with perpendicular cuts. Don’t cut all the way through.
Sprinkle the eggplants with salt. Allow them to sit for 5-10 minutes, tapping them dry with a paper towel occasionally. Flip them once and repeat.
Brush as much coarse salt as possible and set the eggplants aside.
In a bowl, combine the oregano, basil and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
In a second bowl, combine the marinara sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan. Incorporate the dried herb mix.
Fill the openings in the eggplant with the sauce and cheese mixture.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and place the eggplants in the basket. Work in batches if necessary. Air fry for 10 minutes. When in doubt, consult your appliance’s user manual.
Serve while still warm. Alternatively, garnish with fresh basil and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
