Video:Fried Eggplant Fingers

SHARE ON                

Transcript:Fried Eggplant Fingers

Hi, I'm Rachel Edelman for About.com Food.

Eggplant is a popular fruit that can be served in a variety of ways. Today I'm going to show you how to prepare and fry eggplant sticks.

To get started, you'll need:

• A large knife
• A vegetable peeler
• A medium sized eggplant
• Some salt

Choosing your Eggplant

The eggplant should spring back when you apply pressure to it. There should be a green stem.

Eggplant Prep

First rinse the eggplant and cut off the stem and the base. Now you need to peel it. You can use a vegetable peeler or take a knife and just cut it down the sides. I use a peeler to get off the last little bits.

Eggplant Slicing

To make sticks, cut long slices. Then cut each slice in thirds and then in half, we want them the size of a finger.

Reducing Eggplant Moisture

Throw them in a colander and salt them. Let the eggplant sit for 30 minutes, this helps reduce the moisture inside the eggplant. Then wash the sticks and pat them dry.

Eggplant Breading

Next we bread the eggplant. I'm going to use pancake mix with some salt and pepper. First dip the stick into the egg with one hand. Then use your other hand to coat the wet stick with the breading. So you'll have one wet hand and one dry hand. Make as many sticks as you'd like and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Eggplant Frying

Pour 1 inch of oil into a pan over high heat. When the oil is hot, place the eggplant pieces in the oil, and fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the bottom side is golden brown. Flip them over to do both sides. When both sides are brown, carefully remove the sticks and place them on paper towels to drain.

There they are, ready to be eaten plain, or dipped in your favorite sauce!

Your friends and family will enjoy this crispy snack.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the web at Food.About.com.