This Chinese style air fryer eggplant features tender eggplant with crispy charred edges, tossed in a light garlic sauce to further enhance the flavor. It is super easy to put together and fast to cook, making it a perfect side dish for your weekday dinner. {Gluten-Free Adaptable, Vegan}
Air fryer eggplant is a hands-off and healthier alternative to eggplant cooked on the stovetop. The air fryer allows you to achieve a beautifully charred exterior while maintaining a tender texture inside, all with just a fraction of the oil typically used in deep frying.
In this recipe, I put a Chinese twist on these air fryer eggplants, using a thin coating that mimics the takeout dish Chinese eggplant with garlic sauce. Since I did not want to make a separate sauce on the stove, the sauce in this recipe does not have a glossy texture like the stir fried version. But the flavor is very delicious nonetheless. This is a super fast and easy side dish that we cook all the time during the week.
Ingredients for air fryer eggplant
The ingredients for this Chinese style air fryer eggplant are super simple.
You will need Chinese eggplant, salt, pepper, and peanut oil to roast the eggplant.
I made a sauce using Chinkiang vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic and green onion to create a very simple garlic sauce.
I like to use some Thai chili peppers to spice up the dish and they add a nice pop of color as well. But you can also use chopped basil, cilantro, or chili oil to further enhance the dish.
What type of eggplant to use
Chinese (and Japanese) eggplants are the best option for air fryer eggplant. They are long and skinny eggplants that have a firm texture, thin skin and a texture that is neither too firm nor watery. They take very little time to cook and crispy up nicely with minimal oil.
I’ve also tried using Italian eggplant and the result was good. In this case, you might need to slightly tweak the cooking time since Italian eggplant has a slightly firmer texture.
If you use American eggplant, use the soaking method in the recipe below to draw some moisture out of the eggplant. It will help the eggplant char better and have a less soggy texture once cooked.
How to cut the eggplant
Like making stir fried eggplant, I prefer to slice the eggplant into bite-sized irregular triangular pieces so it has more edges to char. Check out my video below to see how I slice the eggplant.
How to make air fryer eggplant
- Toss the eggplant with oil, salt and pepper in a big bowl
- Spread the eggplant on the air fryer tray and air fry at 400F (200°C) for 5 to 6 minutes
- Add the sauce mixture and aromatics, then toss to mix well
- Air fry at 400F (200°C) for another 2 minutes
The finished eggplant will be soft with a bit of a crunch, nicely charred edges, with a thin layer of sauce to further enhance the flavor.
One word about the type of air fryer you use
I use a Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven currently.
- It has more basket space so I can cook 1 lb of eggplant in one batch. If you use a smaller type of air fryer, you may need to cook it in two batches for the best result.
- My air fryer / toaster oven temperature runs a bit high. Depending on the air fryer you use, you might need to increase the cooking time by a little. When you’re using an air fryer recipe, always check on your food a few times during cooking, and slightly adjust the cooking time as needed to get the best result.
- Place the eggplant in the air fryer tray, if possible, instead of the basket. Because you will need to add the liquid seasonings later and the seasoning will drip through the basket.
Whether you’re simply a fan of eggplant or looking to incorporate more plant-based options into your diet, air fryer eggplant is a fantastic choice. It is so easy to put together, takes little time to cook, and tastes super satisfying!
More delicious air fryer recipes
- Air Fryer Garlic Green Beans
- Air fryer Lamb Skewers (羊肉串儿)
- Air Fryer Chinese Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Garlic Ribs (蒜香排骨)
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Air Fryer Chinese Eggplant
Ingredients
- 2 (about 1 lb / 450 g) Chinese eggplant (or regular eggplant) , cut into irregular bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Chinkiang vinegar (or rice vinegar)
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 green onion , sliced
- 1 Thai chili pepper , sliced, for garnish (Optional)
- Toasted sesame seeds , for garnish (Optional)
Instructions
- If using regular (non-Asian) eggplant, place eggplant pieces in a large bowl and add water to cover. Add 1 teaspoon salt, mix well. Place a pot lid on top to keep the eggplant under the water for 15 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
- Add the eggplant into a big bowl with peanut oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to mix well.
- Combine the vinegar, soy sauce and sugar in a small bowl and stir to mix well.
- Line the air fryer tray with parchment paper for easy cleaning (optional). Spread the eggplant onto the air fryer basket without overlapping. Cook in batches if needed.
- Air fry at 400F (200°C) for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the eggplant just starts to turn tender and char on the edges.
- Take out the air fryer tray and place all the cooked eggplant onto the tray. Pour the sauce mixture over it. Add the garlic, green onion and chili pepper (if using). Toss to mix well.
- Return the tray to air fry again for another 2 minutes, until the eggplant turns soft. Garnish with chili pepper, if using. Serve hot as a side dish.
??Could this be dine also with a convection toaster oven??? I know the timing would change, but (roughly) by how much??
You definitely can. I think it will cook through the eggplant a bit faster, so you can play with cooking at 425 to 450 F if your toaster oven has that setting. The cooking time might be shortened but not too much. The best way is to observe it after 3 to 4 minutes, and keep baking until it’s tender.
I don’t have an air fryer. Can this recipe be made on a stovetop or oven?
You can definitely use an oven. It would be nicer if your oven has convection setting. I would raise the temperature to 425 or 450 for a better char. You might need to shorten the cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes. For stovetop, I would use this recipe instead: http://omnivorescookbook.com/chinese-eggplant-with-garlic-sauce
Does the sugar go in the sauce? I don’t see in the instructions where to add it?
Yes it goes into the sauce. Sorry for the confusion! I just updated the recipe and now you can see where the sugar is added.
This was fantastic! I wasn’t sure it would work in my small air fryer but the eggplant still crisped up nicely in only about 18 minutes. I finished it in the sauce using a wok and it was delicious – so easy too.