Does eggplant need to be soaked before frying?

Typically eggplant behaves like a sponge, soaking up heroic amounts of oil when fried. The Terzo Piano chefs use this trick to prevent heavy aubergines: Before frying, soak the strips of eggplant in an ice water bath . They will absorb water and drop in temperature.

Can you air fry Quorn bacon?

Cutting out the meat is made even simpler with air frying . Fry all your favourite Quorn Products the easier and healthier way.

What is the secret to cooking eggplant?

Eggplants are known to absorb a lot of fat while cooking. A useful tip to prevent sogginess and greasiness is to salt sliced or diced eggplant and let it sit for an hour . This helps to draw out moisture. Next, rinse and drain any liquid from the sliced eggplant, then pat dry before cooking.

What is the best temperature to air fry bacon?

Bacon grease has a smoke point of 325 to 375 degrees, so air-frying it at 350 degrees can help minimize smoking. You can also reduce the risk of smoke by emptying the grease from your air fryer after each batch of bacon you cook.

Does bacon need to be flipped in air fryer?

You only have to try cooking bacon in the Air Fryer once for it to become your new favorite way to cook bacon. It's perfectly crisp every time and since the air circulates, there's no need to flip the bacon halfway .

Does air frying bacon work?

Tantalizingly crisp Air Fryer Bacon is hands-down the best bacon you'll cook ! Use the air fryer to make crispy, evenly-cooked bacon, in less time and with less mess.

How long do you soak eggplant before frying?

Submerge the pieces in the salted water. Use an upside-down plate or pot lid to weigh down the eggplant so it is fully submerged in the water. Let the eggplant sit in the brine for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour . Drain the eggplant and pat it dry with a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towels.

How do you keep eggplant from absorbing oil when frying?

Cut the eggplant lengthwise instead of crosswise . This reduces the amount of oil that the eggplant absorbs during frying.

When should I soak my eggplant?

Soak eggplant slices or cubes in milk for about 30 minutes before cooking . The milk not only tempers the bitterness, but it actually makes for eggplant that is extra creamy, since the vegetable acts like a sponge and soaks up a good amount of milk in its flesh.

Why do you soak eggplant in cold water?

Next, soak the eggplant in ice-cold water: The chill shocks the surface of the vegetable and fills tiny air pockets between the cells, preventing the oil from entering them.

Crispy Eggplant Bacon Recipe (Air Fry or Oven) (2024)

Home Recipes Breakfasts

4.59 from 17 votes

Recipe Print

By: Sarah BondUpdated: Feb 15, 2023 16 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

This vegan Eggplant Bacon recipe takes all the flavor and crispiness of bacon and packs it into thinly sliced eggplant! Perfect in your vegetarian breakfast spread, on BLTs, and just generally anytime you’re craving bacon.

Crispy Eggplant Bacon Recipe (Air Fry or Oven) (1)

When I went vegetarian, there was one craving that would pop up out of the blue, coming at me with full vengeance. I’m talking the bacon cravings.

But in this day and age anything is possible, including the meatless bacon! Which is, of course, what we’re whipping up today.

This vegan bacon uses eggplant as the base. Eggplant is super absorbent and great with smoky flavors, so it’s an obvious pick. Then just brush it with a flavorful spice combo and pop it in either the air fryer (for maximum crispiness) or oven! Boom, bacon.

Crispy Eggplant Bacon Recipe (Air Fry or Oven) (2)

Ingredients for Eggplant Bacon

Unlike many of the vegan bacon recipes out there, we’re making this Eggplant Bacon without liquid smoke. Instead, we rely on the combined flavors of Worcestershire sauce and smoked paprika!

Eggplant: The base of our vegan bacon! It’s cut into thin into strips and then loaded with flavor. Most types of eggplant work well here, but we’re going with the classic Italian eggplant.
Soy sauce: This adds the salty component (sub tamari for a gluten-free option).
Oil: Olive oil helps to promote that crispy, crunchy texture to simulate bacon.
Maple syrup: Just a drizzle of sweetness transforms the flavor depth of this eggplant bacon!
Worcestershire sauce: This brings major umami into the mix. Be sure to use a plant-based Worcestershire, as the traditional sauce has anchovies (I love this one)
Spices: Finally, a blend of spices like smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin!

Crispy Eggplant Bacon Recipe (Air Fry or Oven) (3)

How to vegan-ize your bacon

Step 1: Slice Bacon
Slice your eggplant pretty thin (about 1/8 of an inch). I use a mandolin slicer to make this easier!

Crispy Eggplant Bacon Recipe (Air Fry or Oven) (4)

MANDOLINE SLICER

This tool makes quick and even slicing a breeze!

get it here

Step 2: Flavor It Up
Stir together your favor makers and brush them onto the eggplant slices.

Crispy Eggplant Bacon Recipe (Air Fry or Oven) (5)

Step 3: Cook
You’ve got two options here. You can airfry (my preferred method because it makes them extra crisp) or oven bake.

Crispy Eggplant Bacon Recipe (Air Fry or Oven) (6)

I think you’re going to love this plant-based bacon! Serve it with these Vegan Breakfast Tacos, or with a big stack of Paleo Banana Pancakes, or even on a Vegetarian Wedge Salad!

Crispy Eggplant Bacon Recipe (Air Fry or Oven)

4.59 from 17 votes

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 25 minutes minutes

Author: Sarah Bond

Calories: 80kcal

Ingredients

▢ ½ eggplant
▢ 1 Tbsp soy sauce 15 mL, or tamari for GF option
▢ 1 Tbsp olive oil 15 mL
▢ 1 Tbsp maple syrup 15 mL
▢ 1 tsp smoked paprika
▢ ½ tsp each salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin
▢ 1 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Prep: Preheat oven or air fryer to 250°F (121°C). Cut eggplant into quarters lengthwise, then thinly slice into long strips resembling bacon (about ⅛ inch thick, a mandolin slicer makes this easier).
Flavor: In a small bowl, stir to combine all remaining ingredients. Liberally brush onto both sides of eggplant slices.
Cook: If air frying, place bacon in a single layer in your air fryer and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until dry and browned. If baking, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until dry and browned (flip each bacon slice halfway through bacon for even cooking).
Cool: Allow eggplant bacon to cool slightly. It will continue to crip up as it cooks!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving Calories: 80kcal (4%) Carbohydrates: 8.9g (3%) Protein: 1.7g (3%) Fat: 5g (8%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 748mg (33%) Potassium: 297mg (8%) Fiber: 4.3g (18%) Sugar: 4.7g (5%) Calcium: 10mg (1%) Iron: 0.5mg (3%)