Melanzana Fritta
(Fried Eggplant)
Ingredients
- 2 Medium Eggplants - Sliced thin long ways
- 2 Eggs
- 2T Water
- 1T dried Parsley
- 1t Garlic Salt
- 2 Cups Panko Breadcrumbs ( if the eggplants are large you may need more)
- 1/2 Cup Pecorino Romano Cheese
- Olive Oil Cooking spray (for Air fryer method)
- Olive Oil ( for grandma's method)
Instructions
Mix Eggs, Water, Parsley and Garlic Salt in a dish or bowl that is long and deep enough to dip the Eggplant slices in.
Mix the Panko Breadcrumbs with the Pecorino Romano Cheese in another dish or bowl that is long and deep enough to dip the Eggplant slices in.
Dip the Eggplant into the egg mixture, then into the breading mixture.
Place on plate, you can stack them.
See video for breading process.
The process above is the same for either cooking method.
Air Fry Cooking Method:
Preheat Air fryer for 3 mins. on 400 F.
Spray basket with Olive Oil Cooking Spray
Put Eggplant into basket in a single layer
Spray the top of the Eggplant
Cook on 400F for 8 Minutes.
Continue cooking in batches until all are fried
Grandma's Pan Fried Cooking Method:
Use a large frying pan on Med/High heat
Cover the bottom of the pan with Olive Oil (about 1/8th inch)
You may need to add more Olive Oil as you go, they sometimes "drink the oil"
Heat the oil before putting in the Eggplant
Once the Oil is at a Med/High heat start placing the Eggplant into the plan in a single layer
Flip them 1/2 way through cooking (About 3 mins per side or until golden brown) If they start to burn, turn down the heat. Add more oil as necessary.
Remove from pan, place on paper towels.
Remove from pan, place on paper towels.
Cook in batches until all are fried
***** For Both Cooking Methods***
To keep warm and crisp between batches move the Eggplant to a baking sheet with a rack on it and put them in the oven on 250 degrees.
