Chef notes
Eggplant makes a fantastic spud swap for french fries. It breads up easily and softens quickly in the oven. The result: The fries become super crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft on the inside. Plus, eggplant is high in fiber and contains beneficial anthocyanins, pigments with antioxidant effects that are responsible for the skin’s vibrant purple hue. A few serving suggestions: I like to sprinkle additional grated Parm over the top of the finished fries. Oh, and they’re extra finger-licking good dipped into warm marinara sauce. I mean, would it be eggplant Parmesan without a little marinara magic? These fries deliver all the crave-worthy feels of the classic dish with an extra dose of finger-food fun.
Swap option: For a lower-carb and gluten-free rendition, swap in almond flour.
Ingredients
- nonstick cooking spray
- 1 medium eggplant or 2 small eggplants
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, preferably whole-grain
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- marinara sauce, store-bought or homemade (optional; for dipping)
Preparation
1.Set an oven rack to the top position and preheat the oven to 420 F. Liberally mist 2 baking sheets with nonstick oil spray. Set aside.
2.Cut off both ends of the eggplant, slice in half lengthwise and cut the entire vegetable into fry-shape sticks that are 1/4 to 1/2-inch-thick and about 3 inches long.
3.Crack the eggs in a shallow bowl and whisk. In a separate wide, shallow bowl, combine the cheese, panko, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and pepper.
4.One at a time, dunk the eggplant slices in the eggs and then submerge them into the bowl with the breadcrumb topping, pressing to make sure it adheres on all sides. I like scooping and piling the breading on top. Note that the breadcrumbs don’t stick well, so loosely piling a mound on top helps ensure you get a nice amount of coating on your fries.
5.As you finish each fry, place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each one.
6.Mist the fry tops with oil spray before placing in oven. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until browned and crispy. Use a wide spatula and scrape the bottom of the pan while removing the fries to ensure the coating stays intact. Sprinkle extra Parmesan over the top and serve with warm marinara sauce for dunking, if desired.
