Eggplant Cubes — Baba Ganoush Prep
Vegetables·intermediate

Eggplant Cubes — Baba Ganoush Prep

Yield
Prep
Total
About 1.5 cups baba ganoush
10m
24m
gluten-freedairy-freeveganvegetarianlow-carbwhole30sidedinnerlunchMeal-Prep
Baba GanoushClassicSee all on food page →

This isn't just air-fried eggplant; it's the first step to smoky, flavorful baba ganoush. Roasting the eggplant whole gives it a deep, charred flavor you can't get any other way. Here, you'll learn how to get the eggplant perfectly cooked for the best baba ganoush.

Ingredients

  • 1 large eggplant (whole, not cubed)
  • 2 tablespoons tahini
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • pinch cumin
  • Fresh parsley and a drizzle of olive oil for serving
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Season it upPairs with Simple Salt & Pepper, Garlic Parmesan, Tuscan Sun, or Za'atarSee all seasonings →

Steps

  1. 01Poke the whole eggplant several times with a fork. Do not cut it open.
  2. 02Place the whole eggplant in the air fryer. Cook at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway, until the skin is charred and the eggplant collapses when you press it.
  3. 03Let cool for 5 minutes. Cut in half and scoop the soft flesh into a bowl. Discard the skin.
  4. 04Mash the flesh with a fork (leave it slightly chunky, not pureed).
  5. 05Stir in tahini, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and cumin.
  6. 06Serve with warm pita, drizzled with olive oil and scattered with parsley.
This is a completely different preparation from the cubed eggplant base recipe. You're roasting the whole eggplant until it collapses, then scooping and mashing the smoky interior. The charred skin gives the flesh a subtle smokiness you can't get from cubed eggplant. The air fryer does in 20 minutes what a grill takes 40 to do.
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How to Air Fry It

Temp
Cook
Prep
Flip?
375°F
14m
10m
Yes
  1. 01Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
  2. 02Cut eggplant into 1-inch cubes, leaving the skin on for texture.
  3. 03Toss the cubes with a light coating of oil and seasonings.
  4. 04Arrange in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not stacked too high.
  5. 05Cook for 14 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.
  6. 06Cook until the cubes are deeply golden brown and very tender.
  7. 07Remove and toss into pasta, grain bowls, or flatbread.

Recipe Notes

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Season it up

Pairs well

Meal Prep

Stores 4 days. Reheat at 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes. These release moisture, so they won't re-crisp as well as denser vegetables.

Discussion

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