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Eggplant Fries with Marinara Sauce

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Eggplant Fries with Marinara Sauce is a delicious twist on a classic recipe. Cut fresh eggplant into strips, then fry until tender and serve with marinara on the side.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds Italian eggplant (about 2 medium)
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

For the Breading

  • 1 1/2 cups rice flour
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt, divided (we used a Sicilian sea salt)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dry oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dry basil
  • Vegetable or canola oil for frying

For Serving

Instructions

  1. About an hour before frying, trim ends of each eggplant then slice the long way into four or five thick slices. Leave skins on. Turn and slice again into strips. I got about 30 fries per eggplant. Lay them out flat on your cutting board or counter and sprinkle both sides with the tablespoon of kosher salt. Then let sit for an hour. This will draw out any bitterness. After the hour, place in a bowl and cover with cold ice water.
  2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, 1 teaspoon of the sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and basil.
  3. Place a large pot on the stove and fill half way with the oil. Heat to 345 degrees F using a candy thermometer. This seems like an odd temperature but you actually drop down to 325 degrees F as you fry which is what you want.
  4. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. This will be used to keep the fries hot as you cook each batch.
  5. Drain the ice water from the eggplant but do not pat dry. While still wet dredge them all in the rice flour mixture and then place on a tray.
  6. Cooking in batches, fry for about 4-5 minutes or until they just start to brown. They will not get dark amber like a French fry would but more of a light golden color. Using a spider or strainer, remove to a tray with paper towels and generously sprinkle with the remaining sea salt. Let the oil get back to 345 degrees before starting the next batch.
  7. As each batch is cooked, place on a pan and hold in the oven until all the fries have been cooked.
  8. Enjoy with marinara dipping sauce.

Find it online: https://www.afamilyfeast.com/eggplant-fries-with-marinara-sauce/