Slender strips of eggplant are coated in a spicy mix and baked until deliciously golden and creamy on the inside and served with a tangy goat cheese dip.
Like beets, people have strong opinions about eggplant.
I think of eggplants as the gluttons of the vegetable world, greedily soaking up every drop of oil or fat they come in contact with and demanding more. If you’ve ever tried to fry it I’m sure you know the game; you start with a generous amount of fat, but the pan is mysteriously dry within seconds, leaving you with little option other than dousing the whole thing in an oil slick or having dry, burnt eggplant.
It’s this insatiable appetite that makes so many traditional eggplant recipes heavy. Well cooked eggplant, on the other hand, can be wonderful and worth the effort.
Although a member of the nightshade family along with tomatoes and potatoes, it’s quite unlike any other vegetable with its taunt, shiny skin hiding a spongy and often seedy interior. While the large dark purple globe is the most familiar variety (and plagued with a reputation for bitterness and seediness), it comes in a range of colors and shapes from small round ones, to long slender Japanese varieties and even white and green ones.
Regardless of which you choose, eggplant fries are my answer to the oil dilemma. I’m not talking deep-fried fries, with inches of scalding hot oil, but an oven-baked version served with a tangy goat cheese dip on the side.
Making eggplant “fries” is really mainly an assembly job. Cut into thin lengths they get a double coating of almond flour with brief dip in a spicy egg mixture. The heat of the oven transforms the eggplant and the fries emerge lightly golden with deliciously creamy insides.
Cumin, coriander and cayenne pepper gives the fries a bit of heat which is tempered by the cool, slightly tart goat cheese dip on the side. Serve them hot, straight from the oven as a starter or with drinks.
Gluten-Free Baked Eggplant Fries with Goat Cheese Dip Recipe
Slender strips of eggplant are coated in a spicy mix and baked until deliciously golden and creamy on the inside and served with a tangy goat cheese dip.
Ingredients
For the Eggplant Fries:
- 1 medium or 2 small eggplants (preferably the less bitter Japanese variety)
- 2 Tablespoons/16g arrowroot flour
- 1 cup/112g almond flour
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander seed
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin seed
- ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (depending on how spicy you want it)
- 1 Tablespoon of organic coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large egg
For the Goat Cheese Dipping Sauce:
- 4 ounces/113g goat cheese
- ¼ cup/ 60ml goat milk or goat milk kefir
- the juice of half a lemon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Make the Goat Cheese Dip:
- Blend goat cheese, milk, lemon juice, salt, and a pinch of pepper in a food processor until smooth and creamy.
- Transfer dip to fridge and chill until needed.
- (Dip can be made ahead and refrigerated, bring to room temperature before serving.)
Make the Eggplant Fries:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with lightly greased parchment paper .
- Cut the eggplant in half then into thin slices lengthwise and cut those into batons about the size of French fries.
- Stir together the arrowroot flour almond flour and salt and divide evenly onto two shallow plates.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the coriander, cumin and cayenne pepper with the coconut oil and egg.
- Roll the eggplant fries into the into the almond flour mixture on the first plate, then quickly dip into the egg mixture and then into the second plate of almond flour.
- Place the eggplant fries evenly onto the baking sheet and sprinkle with an extra pinch of sea salt.
- Bake for 15 to-20 minutes(depending on how thick your fries are) or until crispy and browned. Serve with goat cheese dipping sauce.
Notes
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 331Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 473mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 7gSugar: 13gProtein: 12g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Allie says
These were delicious! However, my breading came out kind of powdery and down brown some places but not others. I could have left them in longer but I was concerned the browned places might burn. Is there a good strategy to breading them so the that beating sticks together better and Browns more evenly? They were still amazing!
Sylvie says
You could try decreasing the arrowroot a little since that's what makes the breading powdery. You could also try throwing the fries together in a sealed bag with the first half of the breading so that they are evenly covered before dipping them in the batter. Also try to keep the eggplant pieces as similar in size as possible to ensure that they all cook at the same rate and some places don't over brown before they are all done. Hope that helps!
Cathy says
I made these today!! SO surprising how really nice they taste. The batter is absolutely lovely - I'm thinking of even using it for chicken or fish etc
DEFINITELY try!! 😀
Sylvie says
Glad to hear you enjoyed them!
kim says
I've made these three times in 10 days! I'm pregnant and have been craving them like you wouldn't believe. I watch my dairy intake and haven't made the dip yet, but they are also really good dipped into spicy mustard.
Sylvie says
I'm so glad to hear that you like them!
[email protected] n Dishes says
The eggplant looks so crispy just perfect for dipping, I can see myself being very selfish with these yummies!