Crispy Eggplant Rice Paper Fritters
Crispy Eggplant Rice Paper Fritters
Easy Crispy Eggplant Rice Paper Fritters Recipe: Crispy Outside, Tender Inside Eggplant Fritters with Sweet & Salty Sauce (feat. Rice Paper Calories)
Are you tired of the same old eggplant recipes? Today, I’m thrilled to introduce a delightful ‘Eggplant Rice Paper Fritters’ recipe that’s crispy on the outside and wonderfully tender on the inside. This dish has become incredibly popular recently on social media, offering the perfect balance of the lightness of rice paper and the soft texture of eggplant. Rice paper, with its approximately 20 kcal per sheet and gluten-free nature, is a great option for those mindful of their diet. (However, as it’s fried, moderation is key!). While delicious on their own, wrapping eggplant in rice paper and frying it is already a treat. But for an ultimate ‘crispy exterior, tender interior’ experience, coating them with breadcrumbs before frying takes it to a whole new level! Since the eggplant itself isn’t seasoned before frying, I’ve prepared a special sweet and savory soy sauce glaze to enhance the flavor. Simply combine oil, minced garlic, soy sauce, sugar, oligosaccharide, vinegar, and water in a pan and simmer briefly – and voilà! This irresistible sauce pairs perfectly with the fritters, making them an ideal snack or a satisfying side dish for your meals. Elevate your everyday meals with this simple yet delicious eggplant dish. Let’s get started!
Main Ingredients- 2 eggplants
- Approx. 24 sheets of rice paper
- Lukewarm water (for softening rice paper)
- Breadcrumbs (generous amount)
- Cooking oil (for frying, generous amount)
Sweet & Salty Soy Glaze- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 2 Tbsp water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by preparing 2 fresh eggplants. Wash them thoroughly under running water, trim off the stems, and cut them lengthwise into roughly three equal pieces. This makes them a convenient size for frying.
Step 2
Next, take the three pieces of eggplant and cut each one in half lengthwise again. This ensures that the eggplant pieces have a uniform thickness, allowing them to cook evenly when fried.
Step 3
Your eggplant pieces are now uniformly cut into sticks. Time to get ready for frying! Spread breadcrumbs on a wide plate and prepare a bowl of lukewarm water for softening the rice paper. Once everything is ready, let’s start wrapping the eggplant sticks with rice paper, just like making fresh spring rolls.
Step 4
It’s crucial to use lukewarm water, not hot water, for softening the rice paper. Water that’s too hot will make the rice paper disintegrate too quickly. Aim for a temperature where it feels pleasantly warm to the touch. Dip the rice paper in the water briefly until it becomes pliable, then immediately remove it.
Step 5
Place the softened rice paper on a cutting board or a clean work surface. To make it easier to peel off later, you can slightly overlap the edge of the rice paper onto the board. Then, place the prepared eggplant stick onto the softened rice paper.
Step 6
Gently fold the bottom edge of the rice paper upwards towards the eggplant, creating a horizontal fold to secure the eggplant.
Step 7
Now, fold the left and right sides of the rice paper inwards, neatly tucking them in. Think of it like wrapping a gift – aim for neat folds.
Step 8
With the sides tucked in, tightly roll the rice paper upwards around the eggplant. Ensure it’s rolled snugly so the eggplant doesn’t fall out. Continue this process for each eggplant piece.
Step 9
Once all the eggplant sticks are neatly wrapped in rice paper, it’s time to coat them with breadcrumbs. Place the wrapped eggplants into the plate of breadcrumbs.
Step 10
Gently press the breadcrumbs onto the rice paper-wrapped eggplant, ensuring an even and thorough coating. Pressing helps the breadcrumbs adhere well, which is key to achieving a satisfying crunch when fried. Take your time to coat them completely.
Step 11
Now for the frying! Pour a generous amount of cooking oil into a deep pan and heat it over medium-high heat. Here’s a tip for checking oil temperature: insert a wooden chopstick into the oil. If small bubbles actively form around the chopstick, the oil is ready for frying. Carefully place the breadcrumb-coated eggplant into the hot oil and fry, turning them occasionally, until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides. Eggplant cooks quickly, so about 2-3 minutes of frying per batch should be sufficient.
Step 12
Be mindful of the heat, as the breadcrumbs can burn easily. Fry for about 2-3 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed. If any of the rice paper sections stick together while frying, gently separate them to ensure even cooking.
Step 13
Once the eggplant fritters are a beautiful golden-brown color, as shown in the picture, carefully remove them from the oil. Place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Set them aside for a moment.
Step 14
Now, let’s make the irresistible ‘Sweet & Salty Soy Glaze’ that will take these fritters to the next level! In a clean pan, combine 1 Tbsp cooking oil, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide, 1 Tbsp vinegar, and 2 Tbsp water. Heat over medium heat.
Step 15
Using a spatula or spoon, stir all the ingredients in the pan to combine them well. Keep stirring to prevent the soy sauce mixture from burning, and bring it to a gentle simmer.
Step 16
As the sauce simmers and the ingredients meld together beautifully, creating a glossy finish, turn off the heat. Your delicious glaze is ready! It’s the perfect complement to your crispy fritters.
Step 17
Arrange the perfectly fried eggplant fritters on a serving plate. Drizzle or serve the freshly made sweet and savory soy glaze alongside. Your ‘Eggplant Rice Paper Fritters’ are now complete – a dish that both kids and adults will adore! Enjoy them as a delightful snack or a flavorful side dish.
