Air Fryer Aubergine

Air fryer aubergine that is creamy rather than soggy. Why salting for 20 minutes matters, and why you toss it in the oil quickly.

Prep

25 min

Cook

12 min

Total

37 min

Serves

2

Ingredients

• 1 large aubergine (about 300g)
• 1 tsp salt, for drawing out the water
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• Lemon wedge and chopped parsley, to serve

Method

1. Cut the aubergine into even cubes about 2cm across.
2. Put them in a colander, sprinkle with the salt, toss and leave for 20 minutes.
3. Pat the cubes dry with kitchen paper, pressing to take off the moisture the salt has drawn out.
4. Toss quickly with the oil, garlic powder and paprika.
5. Spread them in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
6. Air fry at 200°C (390°F) for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden with caramelised edges.
7. Finish with a squeeze of lemon and chopped parsley.

Notes

• The salting is the whole recipe. Aubergine is full of water, and that water is what makes it steam and go soggy instead of roasting.
• Toss it in the oil quickly and get it straight in. Aubergine soaks up oil like a sponge, so the longer it sits the more it absorbs.
• Even cubes cook evenly. Uneven ones leave you with some burnt and some raw.
• No need to rinse the salt off. Patting dry removes enough, and the rest seasons it.
• Air fryer models vary. Treat the times as a guide, go by colour and crispness, and adjust the seasoning to your taste.

Watch it

More More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Apple Turnovers42 min · serves 4
• Air Fryer Frittata27 min · serves 4
• Air Fryer Lamb Chops17 min · serves 2
• Air Fryer Poached Eggs10 min · serves 2
• Air Fryer Quesadilla13 min · serves 2
• Crispy Air Fryer Gnocchi14 min · serves 2

Air fryer models vary in power and basket size, so treat the times here as a guide — go by colour and crispness rather than the clock, and adjust the seasoning and glaze to your taste.

Recipe source: Method corroborated across published air-fryer aubergine recipes and guides: Just Average Jen's guide to air fryer aubergine, Healthy Living James and Lovefood. Cut aubergine salted and left about 20 minutes to draw out moisture, wiped dry, tossed in oil and seasoning, and air fried at around 200°C (390°F). Cubes take 10-12 minutes, shaken halfway; slices take 6-10 minutes, turned once.