Recipe: Baked Eggplant Fries

Anyone that knows me knows I am a massive AFL fan, to a rather ridiculous point. I will happily watch pretty much any match, even if my beloved Sydney Swans aren’t playing – case in point, I went along to the MCG last Friday night despite the Swans having a week off! Now that the finals series is well and truly upon us I thought I would share a recipe for something perfect to snack on while watching the footy – Baked Eggplant Fries (scarf and theme song singing totally optional).

If you’re not a sports fan then these would work equally as well as light dinner served with a side salad. I went with a mixture of mayo and sweet chilli sauce as my dipping sauce, but a tomato based sauce would also be excellent, and also turn these into almost like an eggplant parmigiana!

Baked eggplant fries

Ingredients List

  • Medium eggplant
  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (or parmesan)
  • 2tsp paprika
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 2 eggs

Steps

  1. Preheat oven to 220C
  2. Slice the eggplant into batons, roughly the same size and shape
  3. In a bowl combine the panko, nutritional yeast, paprika and salt & pepper, stir to combine
  4. Put the flour in a separate bowl
  5. In a third bowl, crack the eggs and lightly whisk them. Line all three bowls up
  6. Line a tray with baking paper and then put a rack on top
  7. Dip the eggplant batons into the flour, then the egg and then the panko mixture then place them on the wire rack and repeat with the remaining eggplant batons
  8. Bake for 10 minutes then turn the batons and bake for another 5-10 minutes, until golden brown
  9. Enjoy!

Baked eggplant friesBaked eggplant fries

These are soft on the inside and deliciously crunchy on the outside, and I’d probably recommend making a double batch because otherwise they might not last long! The nutritional yeast gives them a great savoury bite which I found went nicely with the mayo in particular (but then I’m a chips and mayo fan from my days living in Amsterdam!)

Baked eggplant fries

Pity I have to wait until Friday to see more football (go Swans!)

Are you a footy fan too? Fancy some baked eggplant fries for the next game?

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15 Comments on Recipe: Baked Eggplant Fries

  1. Caitlin
    September 15, 2014 at 12:39 pm (10 years ago)

    This recipe looks delicious! How far ahead can you make them?

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      September 16, 2014 at 4:25 pm (10 years ago)

      You definitely want to eat them straight from the oven, but I reckon you could crumb them and refrigerate them for an hour or so before cooking them. I will try next time I make them and let you know how it goes!

      Reply
      • Caitlin
        September 27, 2014 at 5:54 pm (10 years ago)

        Thanks! 😀

        Reply
  2. Erin
    September 16, 2014 at 3:19 pm (10 years ago)

    These look divine! Looking forward to eggplants being in season so i can whip up this dish 🙂

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      September 16, 2014 at 4:27 pm (10 years ago)

      Thanks Erin!

      Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      September 19, 2014 at 4:48 pm (10 years ago)

      You definitely can’t!

      Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      September 19, 2014 at 4:49 pm (10 years ago)

      Panko is so good for crumbing isn’t it! So much better than regular breadcrumbs!

      Reply
  3. Anne
    September 19, 2014 at 4:26 pm (10 years ago)

    Brilliant idea Liz. All the yumminess of chips but more healthy (maybe!!) – will have to give them a try. Panko breadcrumbs are a blessing aren’t they.

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      September 19, 2014 at 4:51 pm (10 years ago)

      I’m going to claim them as healthy because they are baked, not fried!

      Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      September 21, 2014 at 9:57 am (10 years ago)

      Thanks lovely!

      Reply
  4. Bec
    October 28, 2014 at 6:46 pm (9 years ago)

    I made these last weekand HOMAGOSH – YES, you’re the best! x
    Bec recently posted…Avocado Pancake Stack

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      October 29, 2014 at 10:28 am (9 years ago)

      Thanks lovely! Glad you liked them! xx

      Reply

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