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    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant [Oil Free]

    Published: Sep 23, 2020 by Rosa · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

    1.2K shares
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    Air fryer eggplant PIN with text overlay.
    Air fryer eggplant PIN with text overlay.
    Air fryer eggplant PIN with text overlay.
    Air fryer eggplant PIN with text overlay.
    Air fryer eggplant PIN with text overlay.

    No breading and no oil required for this tasty air fryer eggplant. Immensely flavourful bites that make a wonderfully delicious, low calorie and low carb alternative to roasted potatoes.

    Plate of air fried eggplant with fork inside and platter in the background.

    Unlike most eggplant recipes, this version is not fried, and not breaded, but I promise, it’s still delicious!

    Using an air fryer makes them beautifully golden, and all without oil required.

    If you’re a big eggplant fan, you’ll definitely want to add these to your rotation.

    Small plate with cubed air fried eggplant and dipping sauce above.

    How to cut eggplant

    For this air fryer eggplant recipe, we will be dicing the eggplant. Diced in about half inch pieces works best, so that they are able to crisp up around the edges and cook all the way through, relatively quickly.

    Begin by slicing off the stem and taking a thin slice off the bottom. (photo 1)

    Then, depending on the size of your eggplant, slice lengthwise in half, thirds, or more. (photo 2)

    Now, working with one half (or third) at a time, slice into half inch strips. (photo 3)

    Collage of images showing how to slice eggplant.

    Rotate the strips and start slicing into half inch pieces, the opposite way. Now you’ll have cubes that are about half an inch thick. (photos 4-5)

    NOTE: Repeat steps 3-5 with the remaining half or thirds.

    Collage of images showing eggplant in strips and then diced into cubes.

    How to make eggplant in your air fryer

    (This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)

    Gather your ingredients, you won’t need too many!

    Then cut up your eggplant as per the instructions above.

    Ingredients needed to make air fryer eggplant.

    Take your cubed eggplant and add them to a colander, sitting in a large bowl. Sprinkle generously with salt, toss with your hands, and set aside for 30 minutes. (photos 6-7)

    Now transfer the cubes to a clean, dry dishtowel and use another towel, or paper towels, to press and pat the pieces dry. (photo 8-9)

    Chopped up eggplant sitting in colander and then being patted dry on dish towel.

    Wipe out the bowl that was sitting under your colander and place the dry eggplant inside. Add the broth and all the seasoning and mix well to evenly coat the pieces. (photos 10-11)

    Large mixing bowl filled with diced eggplant and seasoning.

    Now transfer to your basket and cook for 15-20 minutes, until golden and edges are crispy. (photos 12-13)

    Eggplant pieces in air fryer basket, before and after cooking.

    Serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or chives, and some sriracha mayo for dipping, if desired.

    Why salt the eggplant?

    Sometimes eggplant may have a bitter taste (although not always) and salting them helps to mask and eliminate that bitterness.

    Another reason to salt them is to remove any excess moisture that may be trapped inside. Salting it prior to cooking (but after cutting) helps to eliminate that extra liquid.

    One last bonus, is that it helps to season your eggplant all the way through. That means more flavourful air fryer eggplant results!

    White plate with cooked eggplant pieces inside, sprinkled with parsley.

    What kind of Air Fryer do I need?

    I use a Ninja Foodi 8qt model and my eggplant is perfectly done at the 18-20 minute mark.

    Smaller models may cook faster, so start checking around 12-15 minutes to make sure they don’t burn.

    What to serve it with?

    Serve your eggplant in any way you’d serve roasted potatoes. This super light side dish works particularly well with something hearty.

    I like them on the side of these mushroom risotto burgers or this chickpea meatloaf.

    Don’t forget to make a side of sriracha mayo for dipping your air fryer eggplant! Such a great combo!

    Fork with eggplant piece on it, being dipped into spicy mayo.

    Storage

    If you have any leftovers, you may store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in a sealed container.

    To reheat, you may do so in your air fryer, or your toaster oven until heated through.

    Expert Tips

    • Try and cut your eggplant into as similar sized pieces as possible, for even cooking. If you leave some pieces too big, they will be underdone, and too small, they’ll burn.
    • Don’t skip the salting! This extra step does require you to start a little ahead of time, but it really does improve the flavour!
    • Feel free to play with the seasoning, to your taste. Some great additions include cumin or chili flakes, or sub the sweet paprika for smoked.

    More delicious air fried recipes

    • Air Fried Carrots [Two Ways!]
    • Cauliflower Buffalo Wings w/ Air Fried Option
    • Air Fried Hash Browns From Scratch
    • Air Fried Spaghetti Squash

    If you tried this recipe, please let me know about it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don’t forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter to see more delicious food and get all the latest updates.

    Buon appetito

    Rosa

    Plate of diced air fried eggplant with fork on the side.

    Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant [Oil Free]

    No breading or oil required for this tasty air fryer eggplant. Immensely flavourful bites that make a wonderfully delicious, low calorie and low carb side dish.
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    Prep Time: 35 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Canadian
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 48kcal
    Author: Rosa

    Equipment

    Ninja Foodi appliance on white background.
    Ninja Foodi Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 lb eggplant cut into half inch pieces (approx 1 medium sized)
    • 2 tablespoon low sodium vegetable broth
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper optional

    Optional

    • Sriracha mayo for dipping
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Wash and dice your eggplant into half inch pieces. (See step by step photos above if needed.)
    • Now place your cut up eggplant in a large colander and place the colander inside a bowl. Generously sprinkle with salt and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then transfer to a clean, dry dish towel and using another dish towel, or paper towels, press and pat them dry.
    • Now, wipe out the bowl that was sitting under your colander and place the dry eggplant inside. Add the broth and all the seasoning to the bowl and mix well to evenly coat the pieces.
    • Place in your air fryer basket, set to 380 degrees and cook for 15-20 minutes, tossing once at the halfway point. Cook until nicely golden, and fork tender, then serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or chives and sriracha mayo for dipping.

    Notes

    Try and cut your eggplant into as similar sized pieces as possible, for even cooking. If you leave some pieces too big, they will be underdone, and too small, they’ll burn.
    Don’t skip the salting! This extra step does require you to start a little ahead of time, but it really does improve the flavour!
    Feel free to play with the seasoning, to your taste. Some great additions include cumin or chili flakes, or sub the sweet paprika for smoked.
    Leftovers keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 48kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 161mg | Potassium: 413mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 322IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
    DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?Mention @this.healthy.kitchen on IG and tag #thishealthykitchen!
    *Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools and does not include optional ingredients unless otherwise indicated.
    1.2K shares

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    1. Andrea

      November 20, 2022 at 9:44 am

      5 stars
      What a nice surprise to get such delicious eggplant with no oil. Thank you. The salt threw me off because I never use it, but I was pleasantly surprised how it did play a crucial role in the success of the eggplant. This recipe is a keeper (Saving half for vegan pizza topping!) Yum

      Reply
      • Rosa

        November 21, 2022 at 9:50 am

        Thrilled you enjoyed it Andrea! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Braswell DeEtta

      March 15, 2022 at 8:31 pm

      You do not say what temp to cook them at

      Reply
      • Rosa

        March 16, 2022 at 9:20 am

        I do. Step 4 reads 380 degrees F. Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Maryann

      June 03, 2021 at 6:58 am

      5 stars
      I am a new user of the Ninja Foodi air fryer so I was delighted to find this recipe using the same equipment. I cooked the eggplant for 15 minutes and probably could have reduced it by a minute or two. Other than that I was very pleased with the dish and will make it again.

      Reply
      • Rosa

        June 03, 2021 at 11:51 am

        Glad you enjoyed Maryann. Thanks for sharing, glad you found us!

        Reply
    4. Sandi

      May 31, 2021 at 1:50 pm

      Question: do you eat the skin? I’d like to try but I think I will peel first. I made eggplant whole in air fryer, split in half to eat. Skin is very tough.

      Reply
      • Rosa

        June 01, 2021 at 9:42 am

        Hi Sandi, it depends on the eggplant. A small (young) eggplant will have softer, edible skin. However, it can become tough and bitter on larger, older eggplants. You can definitely peel the eggplant first, if preferred. Hope you enjoy. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Mary

      February 21, 2021 at 5:27 pm

      Are you using 2 Tablespoons of vegetable broth powder or vegetable broth after you make it into a liquid?

      Reply
      • Rosa

        February 22, 2021 at 8:03 am

        Hi Mary, use 2 tablespoons of liquid broth.

        Reply
    6. Emie

      February 01, 2021 at 8:05 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! Simple and delicious. Served with rice. Yum!

      Reply
      • Rosa

        February 02, 2021 at 8:02 am

        Thanks for sharing Emie!

        Reply
    7. Kriston

      January 05, 2021 at 7:45 am

      5 stars
      I love this recipe! So simple and delicious. Even hubby who isn’t a big eggplant fan enjoyed.

      Reply
      • Rosa

        January 05, 2021 at 9:47 am

        Thrilled to hear that Kriston, thanks so much for sharing! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Marie

      December 05, 2020 at 2:43 pm

      5 stars
      Finally an eggplant recipe without breading! So delicious, thank you!

      Reply
      • Rosa

        December 06, 2020 at 9:47 am

        Yay! Glad you enjoyed Marie!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Rosa! Welcome to This Healthy Kitchen where you'll find tasty and nutritious, plant-based recipes. I'm an avid home cook who believes food is medicine. Each recipe is made using wholesome ingredients, and under 400 calories per serving with several gluten-free and oil-free options! Occasional cheat days included. 😉

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