Skip to main content

Crispy Eggplant Fritters With Smoked Mozzarella

Image may contain Plant Food Meal and Dish
Photo by Yunhee Kim

Ingredients

Makes about 20 fritters

2 large eggplants (2 pounds total)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
Olive oil (for brushing and frying)
2 large eggs
3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/4 cups plain dry breadcrumbs, divided
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
4 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese,* cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 20 cubes)
*Also called mozzarella affumicata; available at some specialty foods stores and at cheese shops.
  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut eggplants crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place on layers of paper towels. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt; let stand 30 minutes. Brush 2 large baking sheets with oil. Pat eggplant dry; arrange in single layer on prepared sheets. Brush lightly with oil. Bake until eggplant is tender and dry, about 1 hour. Cool slightly; chop coarsely.

    Step 2

    Whisk 1 egg, grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, parsley, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Stir in chopped eggplant (mixture will be soft). Spread 1 cup breadcrumbs on plate. Whisk 1 egg and flour in another bowl. Press and shape eggplant mixture into 1 1/4 -inch-diameter balls. Press 1 piece smoked mozzarella into center of each ball, making sure eggplant mixture covers cheese. Dip balls, 1 at a time, into egg batter; roll in breadcrumbs to coat.

    Step 3

    足够的油倒入锅达到深度of 1/4 inch; heat over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add balls to skillet; sauté until browned, turning often, about 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with salt and serve.

Sign InorSubscribe
to leave a Rating or Review

How would you rate Crispy Eggplant Fritters With Smoked Mozzarella?

Leave a Review

Reviews (17)

Back to Top Triangle
  • I can honestly say I have made 1000 eggplant fritters. We used them in regular repertoire of amuse’s when I was in Garde Manger at the old Aureole on 52nd in Manhattan. Mainly when we were needing something less laborious. I always loved em. We usually cut in half, scored seasoned and pressed overnight if time permitted. But they will be fine if this step is skipped I found. Roast em till pulp is soft not dry. Scooped puréed with tahini eggs, fines herbs, cumin, coriander, maybe some sumac s & we, pulverized sifted panko then shaped into a cylindrical shape dropped again the pulverized sifted panko. Deep fried and either a tzatziki sauce, and micro greens or cumin oil, reduced red verjus, as a componet and goat cheese mousse quenelled on top and micro arugula or what ever . I make em ar home this way and family loves em.

    • Brantley

    • Dallas, Tx

    • 8/30/2022

  • Fair warning... I changed the recipe quite a bit because I only had 1 small eggplant. I added some garlic, I sautéed some onions and spinach and threw that in too. I also put sharp cheddar because I didn't have smoked mozzarella. It was SO GOOD. So much flavor and amazing texture.

    • gg1988

    • New York, NY

    • 4/24/2018

  • I tried this recipe after reading the reviews and I too cannot figure out what the one fork reviewers did differently. I sliced and cooked the eggplant per instruction. I substituted herbed breadcrumbs but found the recipe a bit salty in doing that so I will go back to plain next time and add my own seasoning. I made the balls the size of a golf ball, deep fried them in our small fryer. Color was beautiful and they held together nicely. I took them to a family get together and reheated them in the oven. They were extremely flavorful and not the bit greasy. Everyone devoured them.

    • visum4us

    • San Diego, CA

    • 12/1/2013

  • I have made these several times and they are always a hit! I did a little changing, cut out alot of the breadcrumbs, used panko and parm instead and mixed everything together, I still left them a little wet. I made them the size of golfballs then stuffed.I used a little panko for the outside and then fried. I also serve with red sauce. Yhey are even a hit with my 10 yr old!

    • kms71272

    • Portland, Or

    • 10/18/2011

  • 我不知道那些不在乎fo的评论家r the flavor or texture did differently, but my family and I found these very flavorful, and the texture was just fine. I cooked the eggplant for the full hour. It cooled while we went to the movies, and I guess it absorbed some moisture in that time. But a quick 10-15 minutes in the oven took care of that. I ended up with more cheese than I had eggplant mixture, but that's probably because my eggplants were medium-sized instead of large. This one goes in the "make again" file as far as we're concerned.

    • TerranceDC

    • Chevy Chase, MD

    • 7/3/2011

  • Icky....my family loves just about everything. Nobody cared for this recipe.

    • organicmommas

    • Virginia

    • 11/18/2010

  • I made this today for the first time and they were great. My only change for nex time: will add the zest from one lemon. A little messy but worth the effort. I only baked the eggplants for 40 minutes. That was enough for me. Definitely I will use some dipping sauce next time, maybe a greek yogurt sauce with finely chopped fresh parsley and lemon juice...

    • AdiLucas

    • Spain

    • 4/12/2009

  • For such a time consuming recipe the end result was not worth it at all. My mix lacked a binding quality (very difficult to mold into balls with a cheese cube center). The most pronounced flavor was the Smoked Mozzarella (of course, I had nothing to do with making that) and of watery eggplant. I think I definitely did something very wrong because the other reviews seem to be so positive!! I will try this again only for my own peace of mind.

    • umster23

    • Winston-Salem, NC

    • 12/22/2008

  • They came out pretty good, I didn't bake the eggplants for an hour - I didn't want them to be too dry, but b/c of that the center came out a little too mushy. Next time I'll bake them for about 30-45 min,but not a full hour. Oh and I used seasoned breadcrumbds which gave them more flavor, and in have the batch I added pancetta.

    • mp126

    • new york, ny

    • 12/9/2008

  • We expected to go crazy over these....but they were just ok to us...too dense and not enough flavor.

    • Anonymous

    • 9/28/2008

  • These were simpy outstanding.

    • Anonymous

    • Boston, MA

    • 4/10/2008

  • I also had a problem with the eggplant coming out too dry. Watch it carefully in the oven. Or maybe I had sliced it too thin. Definitely needs something to dip it in.

    • blbooth

    • Reading, MA

    • 12/30/2007

  • Delicious and satisfying--with some marinara sauce and a salad, it would make a delightful meal.

    • Anonymous

    • seattle, wa

    • 9/8/2007

  • Very good appetizer. When I made it, the eggplant came out too dry. I added an extra egg and blended in a food processor. Came out wonderfully in the end. A great recipe for people who do not usually like eggplant.

    • ElegantBlackCat

    • San Francisco

    • 9/8/2007

  • This is a delicious use of my fresh garden eggplant. I've made this twice; the second time I added some sauteed mushrooms and will continue with that addition. I also tried fresh basil which was great, but the thyme was delicious too.The smoked mozz is a must. This recipe is definitely worth the time.

    • rameye

    • NY

    • 8/17/2007

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Eggplant Parmesan
Gourmet’sbest eggplant Parmesan recipe starts with a quick homemade marinara and uses panko breadcrumbs for a satisfying crunch.
Easy Fish Cakes With Caper-Parsley Sauce
Try these halibut and canned sardine cakes instead of crab cakes for a starter or light lunch.
Stewy Miso Eggplant and Potatoes
This cozy, vegetarian, super umami dish proves that stews don’t always need to be simmered for hours on end to be complex, rich, and satisfying.
Roasted Eggplant With Cilantro and Anchovy Salsa
There are plenty of options with this warm roasted eggplant salad: scoop it up with some grilled bread, toss it with pasta, or serve it on top of polenta.
Microwaved Eggplant With Smoky Green Onion Oil
The secret to soft and sweet eggplant? Toss it in the microwave.
Eggplant Tikkas in Creamy Yogurt, Mustard, Chile, and Ginger
Eggplant and onion pieces are marinated in spiced, creamy yogurt before being grilled or broiled.
Sunshine Broth With Frikadelki
The carrots melt into the broth of this comforting soup with meatballs.
Ceviche Verde With Pepitas
In this ceviche verde, halibut or sea bass is dressed with fresh lime juice blended with cilantro, mint, and pepitas.