Aubergine / Eggplant Parmigiana : Air Fryer Recipe

Do you use an air fryer? I don't have one at the moment! However, knowing many readers do I thought this recipe one to share!

Get all the cheesy comforting flavour of a classic aubergine/eggplant parmigiana in minutes by using an air fryer. Serve with crusty bread and a salad for a complete dinner. There are some lower carb bread choices here

Ingredients

Serves Four
2 aubergines/eggplants, sliced into 2cm/¾in thick slices
150g/5½oz ball mozzarella, drained
2 tbsp olive oil
pinch dried oregano
150g/5½oz passata
20g/¾oz fresh breadcrumbs
10g/⅓oz fresh basil leaves (optional)
25g/1oz Parmesan or vegetarian hard cheese, finely grated
sea salt
crusty bread and green salad, to serve

Method
1. Lay the aubergine slices on a board and sprinkle over a good pinch of sea salt. Rub into the aubergine and set aside for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, tear up the mozzarella for the topping and place the torn bits on kitchen paper. Set aside while you prepare the rest of the dish.
3. Preheat the air fryer to 200C.
4. Dry the aubergine with a little kitchen paper and brush off the salt. Rub each piece of aubergine with a little olive oil on both sides. Air-fry the aubergine slices in single layers for 10 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking time (two batches should work).
5. Meanwhile, stir the dried oregano into the passata.
6. To layer up the parmigiana, spread the breadcrumbs over the base of a 20cm/8in round ovenproof dish (see Recipe Tip). Spoon over 2 tablespoons of the passata sauce.
7. Spread over half the aubergine slices and tear over half the basil leaves, if using. Spoon over half of the remaining passata sauce, then top with half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan.
8. Add the remaining aubergine, torn basil, then the passata and finally the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
9. Reduce the air fryer to 180C, then cook the layered parmigiana for 12–15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling. Remove and allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving.
10. Serve with crusty bread to mop up the juices and a green salad.

Recipe tips
Air fryers can have small baskets, so if you don’t have an ovenproof dish that works you can use any small cake tin, too – just line it with kitchen foil or baking paper. I used a 20cm/8in lined springform cake tin. You can also use a similar volume dish in a different shape, such as rectangle or oval, that fits into your air fryer.

This recipe was developed using a 5.5 litre/9½ pint air fryer.

Passata is made from ripe tomatoes that have been puréed and sieved to remove the skin and seeds. It is sold in jars and can be smooth or chunky depending on the sieving.

Recipe seen here

If you do not have an air fryer

see oven bake recipe for a tasty low carb Aubergine / Eggplant Parmigiana here

Related Posts

Air Fryer Traybakes, three suggestions - see here

For those who do not have an air fryer

see oven traybake recipes here

Dear reader, you will find a variety of recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. Always take account of your personal circumstances, needs, illnesses and medication you may be taking. Any allergies, or underlying health issues must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan