Vegan Baked Eggplant Fries Recipe

Name: Vegan Baked Eggplant Fries Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 eggplant; drizzle your favorite oil (, or veggie broth if you don't use oil); 1 teaspoon sea salt; ½ teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 2 teaspoons maple syrup; 1 cup almond flour (, see note)

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This is the best vegan baked eggplant fries recipe for the whole family! All you do is cut, coat and bake for a crispy fun way to mix up the boring dinner routine.

These will turn even an eggplant hater into a lover! Such a great way to get veggies into kids, and mix up the types of veggies you eat.

A cone of parchment paper with eggplant fries inside on a wooden surface

This post was originally published on 7/17/14

These eggplant french fries are a perfect dipper. Try dipping into my vegan ranch dressing, vegan thousand island or vegan remoulade sauce!

Whether they're served as a snack or a side dish, these crunchy and tasty vegan eggplant fries (or aubergine fries if you're not in the U.S.!) are a hit in our household. And because they're baked instead of fried, they're still plenty healthy!

Ingredients

You don't need eggs to get this extra crispy, the sticky maple syrup and crunchy outer coating do the job perfectly!

A whole eggplant next to flour and spices on a wooden surface

How To Make Eggplant Fries

Making your own baked eggplant fries is super simple, here's what you'll do:

Cut the eggplant.
Season the fries.
Coat in almond flour.
Bake and serve!

An eggplant cut in half next to a pile of some cut in sticks.

Glass bowl with fry shaped eggplant pieces covered in spices.

Dipping Sauce for Eggplant Fries

We love pairing this eggplant fries recipe with dipping sauce. Nothing is better for veggies than a vegan dip! Here are some of our favorites:

What to Serve with Them

I eat these all on their own, but these eggplant fries go with just about anything! Here are some of our favorite recipes that the fries will go perfectly with:

Preparation tips

Picking the perfect eggplant is the first step in making these delicious eggplant fries. You want to look for an eggplant that has shiny and smooth skin, with uniform coloring.
Make sure it's ripe by pressing your finger gently against it. If your finger leaves a light indent, you've got a ripe eggplant.
The thinner you cut the eggplant, the crispier they will get.
You can sprinkle some salt on the cut eggplant and put them in a colander for around 20 minutes then pat dry. This will draw out some of the moisture and give you a crispier end result.
When arranging the eggplant fries on the parchment paper, make sure they don't overlap to assure the most crispy result.
You can sub another flour for almond to make this nut free. I like to mix in some cornmeal and breadcrumbs to switch it up and get a different crispy texture.
I removed some of the outer skin to take out some of the bitterness, but peeling is optional. The touch of maple syrup helps with this too.

Make ahead and storage tips

You can prep these eggplant fries ahead of time by cutting the eggplant into strips. Store in a freezer bag or airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.
The eggplant fries will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and in the freezer for 3 months.
If you want to freeze the cooked fries:
- Bake them about ⅔ of the way.
- Then cool and store wrapped in plastic or in an airtight container.
- When ready to eat, defrost on the counter and bake the rest of the way. This is the best way to get the crispy outer coating perfectly crunchy.

Common Questions

What does eggplant taste like?

Eggplant can have a bitter flavor, but most of that has to do with the skin. If you remove the skin, then it has a much more mild, almost sweet flavor. It can also get a little creamy when baked.

What can I do with lots of eggplant?

If you happen to have a lot of eggplant, there are many things you can make, other than these eggplant fries of course. My Eggplant Parmesan or Moussaka are two great ways to use up extra eggplant.

Another option is to puree it and make a dip with it, you can even use it as a sub for the carrots in this carrot hummus recipe.

How do you cut eggplant into strips?

The best way to cut eggplant is to first cut it down the middle, length wise. That way you have a flat surface to lay down when cutting it into smaller strips.

Lay the eggplant cut side down, then cut larger strips. From there, lay each one down and cut into thinner strips so they look like french fries. You can also use a mandoline.

Is the skin of an eggplant healthy?

Yes it is! The skin of an eggplant packs in fiber and healthy antioxidants, so if you don't mind the texture definitely leave it on!

How do you keep fried eggplant from getting soggy?

The best way to get crispy eggplant fries is to sprinkle the cut eggplant with salt, let it sit, then dab off the excess moisture before finishing the recipe.

Should eggplant be soaked before frying?

It is not necessary to soak eggplant before cooking it. Some people like to soak it in milk, but I think the salting method works best to improve the flavor and ensure a crispy texture.

More Vegan Side Dishes

A tasty side dish is the perfect way to complete a meal. These plant based recipes will go with a wide variety of your favorite entrees.