Savory Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Pizzas: A Bite-Sized Delight

Ingredients

• 1. An eggplant of medium size, cut into rounds about half an inch thick,
• seasoned with a pinch of salt
• 2. A beaten egg with a tablespoon of water added
• 3. A cup of breadcrumbs with an Italian twist
• 4. A quarter cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 5. A spritz of cooking spray
• 6. Four ounces of pizza sauce
• 7. A can of ripe olives, drained and sliced, weighing 2.25 ounces
• 8. Eight ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 9. A tablespoon of freshly chopped basil for a delightful garnish.

Step 1

Arrange slices of eggplant neatly on a large cutting board and sprinkle a pinch of salt on both sides. Allow them to rest for about 10 minutes before gently patting them dry with paper towels. As the eggplants are resting, preheat your oven to a low temperature of 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).

Step 2

While the oven is warming up, crack an egg into a mixing bowl and whisk it with a bit of water to create an egg wash. In a separate flat plate, combine bread crumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a cooling rack on top for later use.

Step 3

Dip each eggplant slice into the beaten egg mixture and then coat it generously with the breadcrumb and cheese mixture.

Step 4

Now, get your air fryer ready by preheating it to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and spraying the basket with a nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the coated eggplant slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Give them a light spray of cooking oil on top. Air fry for about 10 minutes until they are crispy. Once done, transfer the slices to the prepared cooling rack and keep them warm in the preheated oven while you repeat the process with the remaining eggplant slices.

Step 5

After all the slices are crispy and warm, it's time to assemble the mini eggplant pizzas. Spread a spoonful of pizza sauce on each slice, top with sliced olives, and generously cover with mozzarella cheese.

Step 6

Adjust the oven rack to be about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the broiler on high. Place the assembled eggplant pizzas under the broiler for about 4 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and melted. Finish off by garnishing with fresh basil before serving.