Fried Eggplant Without Egg – How To Fry Eggplant Without Flour

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Have a surplus of summer eggplant? Try this super easy recipe for Fried Eggplant Without Egg (or flour). Truly, neither egg nor flour is necessary for this perfectly fried eggplant.

Sometimes simple is best when it comes to in-season vegetables. With fresh produce, less is often more and this recipe proves that 100 percent. The result is eggplant with a crispy crust and creamy inside.

Fried Eggplant Without Egg

Each week during the summer, my sister and I share a CSA bag from the Purdue University Student Farm. It’s always a surprise on what is going to be inside each week.

It’s fun to get fruits and vegetables you wouldn’t typically buy at the grocery store but are in season. This means the flavors are amazing and the quality is great.

Eggplant is not on my typical grocery list, but I do look forward to using eggplant during the summer months.

Over the years, there’s a few different recipes that I typically make with eggplant including Old Fashioned Eggplant Casserole and Eggplant Goulash.

Grandma’s Fried Eggplant

I found this recipe in a West Virginia Catholic Church Cookbook.

It’s such a down-to-earth recipe. I can truly imagine a Grandma making this all the time. She wrote the recipe so very detailed that you know it is tried and true.

I love recipes like that. One time, I found a recipe in the cookbook of my husband’s grandmother that said to “stir the dish for three Hail Mary’s, which means start stirring, say three Hail Mary prayers, and then you can stop.”

It doesn’t get much more real than that.

Fried Eggplant Without Breadcrumbs

Most fried eggplant recipes call for flour or breadcrumbs, which is why I love this easy fried eggplant recipe.

There are no breadcrumbs and no flour in this fried eggplant recipe. And really, you won’t even miss those ingredients.

The hot oil will give a crispy outside texture to the fried eggplant, while the inside stays perfectly creamy.

Ingredient List for Fried Eggplant (No Eggs or Flour)

Medium to Small Eggplant

Salt

Vegetable Oil

Black Pepper

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How To Fry Eggplant Without Flour

  1. Peel eggplant, and slice into 3/8 inch slices.
  2. Arrange eggplant in a colander and liberally sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 30 minutes.
  3. Dry completely with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
  4. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet (enough oil to have about an inch up the side). Turn heat to high.
  5. When the oil is hot, slide eggplant in a single layer in the oil.
  6. Fry until golden brown; flip and repeat on the second side.
  7. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
  8. Taste, and then season with salt and pepper.

For the full ingredient amounts and recipe steps for how to make fried eggplant without flour, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Notes About How to Fry Eggplant without breadcrumbs

  • I use regular eggplant or Japanese eggplant for this recipe.
  • Peel the eggplant first. Cut the eggplant into the desired width; I prefer around 3/8 inches.
  • The trick to a crispy fried eggplant is to remove moisture from the eggplant. To do this, salt generously and arrange in a single layer in a colander. Let is sit for a minimum of 30 minutes. You’ll be surprised how wet it looks after that. Press out all the excess moisture with paper towels.
  • For the oil, use a vegetable oil that is good for frying. I either use generic vegetable oil, soybean oil or canola oil.
  • Some of the salt remains after the salting step. Taste the fried eggplant before adding more salt and black pepper.
  • Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite pantry essentials and kitchen items.

Try this super easy recipe for Fried Eggplant Without Egg (or flour). Truly, neither egg nor flour is necessary for perfectly fried eggplant.  The result is eggplant with a crispy crust and creamy inside.

Fried Vegetable Dishes

Easy Pan Fried Zucchini 

Follow these easy instructions for how to fry zucchini slices.

Fried Cabbage with Bacon 

Bacon and Cabbage are the perfect combination, and Fried Cabbage with Bacon might be my favorite side dish. This fail-proof recipe tastes just like Mom's. Pair it with steak, chicken or pork, or maybe you'll just eat it all by itself.  It's that good!

Crispy Fried Potatoes 

Crispy Fried Potatoes starts with raw potatoes and ends with a perfectly pan-fried potato. Serve old fashioned fried potatoes with ketchup.

Fried Eggplant Without Egg - How To Fry Eggplant Without Flour

Have a surplus of summer eggplant? Try this super easy recipe for Fried Eggplant Without Egg (or flour). Truly, neither egg nor flour is necessary for perfectly fried eggplant.  The result is eggplant with a crispy crust and creamy inside.
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time40 mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: fried eggplant, fried eggplant without breadcrumbs, fried eggplant without egg, how to fry eggplant without flour
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 2 - 3 medium eggplant (or as many as you want to use up)
  • Salt
  • Vegetable Oil
  • black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Peel eggplant. Slice into 3/8 inch slices.
    Try this super easy recipe for Fried Eggplant Without Egg (or flour). Truly, neither egg nor flour is necessary for perfectly fried eggplant.  The result is eggplant with a crispy crust and creamy inside.
  • Arrange eggplant in single layer in colander. Sprinkle liberally with salt.
    Try this super easy recipe for Fried Eggplant Without Egg (or flour). Truly, neither egg nor flour is necessary for perfectly fried eggplant.  The result is eggplant with a crispy crust and creamy inside.
  • Let rest for 30 minutes.
    Try this super easy recipe for Fried Eggplant Without Egg (or flour). Truly, neither egg nor flour is necessary for perfectly fried eggplant.  The result is eggplant with a crispy crust and creamy inside.
  • Take paper towels and dry excess moisture off eggplant.
    Try this super easy recipe for Fried Eggplant Without Egg (or flour). Truly, neither egg nor flour is necessary for perfectly fried eggplant.  The result is eggplant with a crispy crust and creamy inside.
  • Add enough oil to large skillet to come 1 inch up the side of pan. Turn to high heat.
  • Once hot, slide in eggplant in one layer.
    Try this super easy recipe for Fried Eggplant Without Egg (or flour). Truly, neither egg nor flour is necessary for perfectly fried eggplant.  The result is eggplant with a crispy crust and creamy inside.
  • Once golden brown, flip and fry the second side.
    Try this super easy recipe for Fried Eggplant Without Egg (or flour). Truly, neither egg nor flour is necessary for perfectly fried eggplant.  The result is eggplant with a crispy crust and creamy inside.
  • Remove to paper towels to drain. Taste, season with black pepper and more salt, if desired.
    Try this super easy recipe for Fried Eggplant Without Egg (or flour). Truly, neither egg nor flour is necessary for perfectly fried eggplant.  The result is eggplant with a crispy crust and creamy inside.

Notes

  • I use regular eggplant or Japanese eggplant for this recipe.
  • Peel the eggplant first. Cut the eggplant into the desired width; I prefer around 3/8 inches.
  • The trick to a crispy fried eggplant is to remove moisture from the eggplant. To do this, salt generously and arrange in a single layer in a colander.  Let is sit for a minimum of 30 minutes.  You'll be surprised how wet it looks after that.  Press out all the excess moisture with paper towels.
  • For the oil, use a vegetable oil that is good for frying.  I either use generic vegetable oil, soybean oil or canola oil.
  • Some of the salt remains after the salting step.  Taste the fried eggplant before adding more salt and black pepper.
  • Try our popular recipe for Old Fashioned Eggplant casserole

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