This air fryer eggplant recipe gives you soft, saucy eggplant with garlic, oyster sauce, and a little heat. Here you’ll find the exact steps, simple tips, and ideas for what to serve with it.
About Air Fryer Eggplant
Chinese eggplant is long, thin, and purple. It has thin skin and a mild, slightly sweet taste, so it cooks fast and does not need peeling.
Garlic and chilli sauce on eggplant is a popular style in Chinese cooking, and many home cooks now make it in the air fryer.
In this version, you air fry the whole eggplant until soft. Then you cut it in half, spread a garlic and chilli sauce on top, and heat it for a few more minutes.
The sauce is made with oyster sauce, sesame seeds, chilli powder, chilli flakes, and hot oil.
If you love eggplant, you can find more ideas in Famous Eggplant Dishes For Dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients. You need one eggplant and a few things from your pantry.
- Very little oil. The air fryer does most of the work, so you only brush on a little oil.
- Easy sauce. You mix it in one bowl while the eggplant cooks.
- Made for one. The recipe makes one serving, so there is no extra to deal with.
- Spicy and garlicky. You can make it milder or hotter, whichever you like.
Ingredient Notes
- Eggplant – Use one Chinese eggplant. It is long and thin, and it cooks evenly.
- Oyster sauce – Gives the sauce a salty, deep taste. Use a vegetarian oyster sauce if you need one.
- White sesame seeds – Add a light nutty taste.
- Red chilli powder and chilli flakes – Add the heat. Use less if you want it mild.
- Minced garlic – Fresh garlic works best.
- Hot oil – Poured over the sauce mix to soften the garlic and spices. Any plain cooking oil works.
- Oil, for brushing – Any plain cooking oil.
How to Make Air Fryer Eggplant
1. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for 2 minutes. Wash the eggplant and dry it well. Put it in the basket and brush it with a little oil.
2. Air fry at 340°F (170°C) for 22 minutes. Flip the eggplant a few times while it cooks so it cooks evenly.
3. While the eggplant cooks, add the oyster sauce, white sesame seeds, red chilli powder, minced garlic, and chilli flakes to a heat-safe bowl. Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of hot oil to the bowl and mix well.
4. Take the eggplant out of the air fryer. Cut it in half lengthwise. Spread the sauce evenly over the cut sides.
5. Put the eggplant back in the basket. Air fry at 360°F (180°C) for 3 minutes, until the sauce is hot and the flavors soak in.
6. Serve it hot.
Expert Tips
- Use a heat-safe bowl for the sauce. The oil is hot, so pour it slowly.
- Flip the eggplant a few times during the first cook. This helps it cook evenly on all sides.
- Spread the sauce while the eggplant is still warm. The cut side takes in the sauce better.
- If you use a regular round eggplant instead of Chinese eggplant, the cooking time will change. It is thicker, so check it often. It is ready when a knife slides in easily.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Eggplant
This eggplant works as a side dish or a light snack. It pairs well with simple, everyday meals.
- Steamed rice or plain noodles
- A Mushroom Stir Fry or Okra Stir Fry
- A bowl of hot soup on a cold day
- Some Roasted Air Fryer Vegetables on the side
How to Store
This eggplant tastes best fresh and hot. If you have any left, keep it in a sealed box in the fridge for up to 2 days. Warm it back up in the air fryer for a few minutes before you eat.
Variations
- Swap the oyster sauce for plain soy sauce or a mushroom sauce.
- Add a small splash of rice vinegar for a light tang.
- Top it with chopped green onion right before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chinese eggplant is not very bitter, so you can skip the salting. If you use big regular eggplant, a little salt can help pull out some water.
Yes. Pick a smaller one, and you may need to add a few extra minutes of cook time since it is thicker.
The hot oil cooks the raw garlic and chilli a little. This takes away the sharp raw taste and brings out a deeper, nutty smell.
More Recipes
- Eggplant Fritters For Tea Time Snack
- Potato Eggplant Tomato Curry
- Okra And Potato Stir Fry (In One Skillet)
- Paneer Stir Fry (Quick & Easy Recipe)
- Fried Rice With Mushroom
Air Fryer Eggplant Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Chinese eggplant
- 1 tablespoon 15 ml oyster sauce
- ½ tablespoon white sesame seeds
- ½ tablespoon red chilli powder
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1 tablespoon 15 ml hot oil
- Oil (for brushing)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for 2 minutes.
- Wash the eggplant and dry it well. Put it in the basket and brush it with a little oil.
- Air fry at 340°F (170°C) for 22 minutes. Flip the eggplant a few times while it cooks.
- Meanwhile, add the oyster sauce, white sesame seeds, red chilli powder, minced garlic, and chilli flakes to a heat-safe bowl.
- Add the hot oil and mix well.
- Take the eggplant out and cut it in half lengthwise.
- Spread the sauce evenly over the cut sides.
- Return it to the basket and air fry at 360°F (180°C) for 3 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Chinese eggplant works best. If you use a regular round eggplant, check it often because the time will change.
- Use a heat-safe bowl for the sauce.
- Best eaten fresh. Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
