Air Fried Chinese Eggplants

Air Fried Chinese Eggplant is an easy and tasty veggie side dish. We marinate the eggplants with a soy sauce mix, and then pop it in the air fryer, sprinkle with green onions and serve!

Jump to:

• Type of Eggplants
• How Air Fry Chinese Eggplants (Step by Step)
• Storage & Reheating
• FAQ
• Air Fried Chinese Eggplants Recipe
• Pin for later!
• More Delicious Chinese Eggplant Recipes

Type of Eggplants

There are several types of eggplant varieties - American, Italian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, etc. For this recipe, we will be using Chinese Eggplants.

Chinese Eggplants

Of the asian variety of eggplants, Chinese eggplants are a lot thinner than American and Italian eggplants. They have a thinner skin and are less bitter as it has less seeds (the seeds are what makes an eggplant slightly bitter).  

Since Chinse eggplants have a sweeter flesh with tender skin, which makes them perfect for stir fry and sauté recipes.

They are actually very similar to Japanese eggplants, but Chinese eggplants are a lot lighter in color. It's good to know though, that you can easily substitute these two types of eggplants interchangeably in recipes as they cook similarly.

For this recipe, if you can't find Chinese eggplants, but find some Japanese eggplants, you can substitute with Japanese eggplants.

Thick Soy Sauce

We do not use regular soy sauce for this recipe. I use Thick Soy Sauce, aka Soy Paste. There's actually many different types of soy sauce! Thick soy sauce is a lot thicker than your normal soy sauce. It has a richer, sweeter flavor, which is perfect for this dish.

If you can't find any thick soy sauce, you can actually use regular soy sauce. However, since Thick soy sauce is more sweet, you are now missing a flavor, so I would recommend adding a bit of sugar or sweetener of your choice.

Or even more simple - Oyster sauce can often be used as a substitute because it is similar in texture and it is also salty and sweet at the same time.

By the way you can find these sauces, in your local Asian grocery store or even on amazon here:

Kimlan Soy Paste / Thick Soy Sauce

Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce

How Air Fry Chinese Eggplants (Step by Step)

First gather your ingredients:

• 2 medium Chinese eggplants, cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Thick Soy Sauce (aka Soy Paste)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, julienned
• 1 stalk scallions, chopped

This first step is optional - basically we are salting our eggplant. This process will make it less bitter and less sponge-y. So cut the eggplant into 1-inch cubes, and sprinkle salt generously, and mix well. Let it sit for about 30-40 minutes. After 30-40 minutes, rinse off all the salt and pat dry. Depending on how lazy I am I skip this step sometimes.

In a mixing bowl, add eggplant, vegetable oil, salt, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic and ginger, and mix well.

Place eggplant in the air fryer basket. Air fry the eggplant at 370 F for 15 minutes, tossing halfway.

Remove from basket, sprinkle with chopped green onions, and serve!

Storage & Reheating

• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• Reheat: Air fry for 3-4 minutes at 350°F to restore crispness, or microwave briefly (eggplant may soften more).
• Freeze: Not recommended, as eggplant becomes mushy once thawed.

FAQ

Do I need to salt the eggplant first?
It's optional - Chinese eggplants are naturally less bitter than regular ones, but salting improves texture and prevents sogginess.

Can I use regular soy sauce instead of thick soy sauce?
Yes, but the flavor will be lighter. Add a splash of oyster sauce or dark soy sauce for richness.

What if I don't have an air fryer?
You can roast the eggplant in the oven at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, tossing halfway.

Can I make this recipe oil-free?
Yes - omit the oil in the marinade and lightly spray the eggplant with cooking spray before air frying.

Pin for later!

More Delicious Chinese Eggplant Recipes

If you love Chinese Eggplants, you will also love these recipes:

• Thai Basil Eggplant Stir Fry - tender Chinese eggplants stir-fried with garlic, chili, and fresh Thai basil for a fragrant and flavorful dish.
• Chinese Steamed Eggplant - soft, silky eggplant drizzled with a savory soy-garlic sauce.
• Chinese Eggplant in Garlic Sauce (魚香茄子) - a classic Sichuan-inspired stir fry with garlic, soy sauce, and doubanjiang chili bean paste.