VEGAN PARMESAN EGGPLANT STICKS 

These vegan Parmesan eggplant sticks are a healthy baked snack that delivers a crunchy texture your guests will love.

Step aside French fries; these vegan Parmesan eggplant sticks are the perfect crisp, savory bite that will take your snack table to another level. 

Of all the recipes I’ve demonstrated on my channel, this must be one of my favorites. These eggplant sticks disappear as quickly as they arrive; in fact, they are very hard to take a picture of as they get snapped up almost immediately!

Serve these with an all-time favorite sauce, marinara, and you’ll be in for a serious culinary treat.

Why you’ll love this vegan Parmesan eggplant stick recipe 

This recipe is one of my absolute favorites; here’s why I think you’re going to love it too:

• All the crunch and taste without having to deep-fry them. They’re just a really great healthy alternative to fried sticks. 
• Crispy on the outside, soft and dreamy on the inside, and served with a tasty marinara sauce; this recipe is beautifully balanced.
• Eggplant is a low-calorie vegetable that is packed with fiber. This is just a really great option if you want to include a little goodness in your menu.
• Cost-effective. Depending on where you are, eggplant is generally an economical vegetable to use.
• Serve this as a snack or a side dish! I love how versatile this recipe is.

Ingredients and substitution notes 

Here are a few notes on the ingredients in this recipe to help guide you to success:

• Eggplant. Choose lovely eggplants that are firm, dark, and shiny. Steer clear of eggplant that appear wrinkled.
• Panko Breadcrumbs. I wouldn’t use any other breadcrumbs unless you have to. These deliver the best crisp crunch as they are larger and lighter in crumb.
• Vegan Parmesan cheese. Check out my vegan Parmesan cheese recipe here.The combination of garlic powder, nutritional yeast, and Italian herbs really delivers that Parmesan experience.

Recipe variations and add-ins

This tasty recipe can be tweaked and twisted in a couple of fun ways; here are a few:

• Extra spicy: Add a little extra kick by mixing in a little chili powder, paprika, and cayenne into the Parmesan mixture.
• Indian Style: Sieve in some ground garam masala, cumin, and coriander into the flour mixture.
• Mexican Style: Add a little chili powder, and cumin to the flour mixture and serve the sticks with guacamole in addition to the marinara.

Top tips

Here are a few pointers to achieve the best eggplant sticks possible: 

• Slice the eggplant into even-sized pieces. This will ensure they cook evenly.
• Pat the eggplant dry. Doing this will help the coating stick properly. 
• If you do not have vegan parmesan topping, do not worry; add another 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs to the recipe, increase the salt by another 1/4 teaspoon, and you should have wonderful eggplant sticks even without the parmesan.

Make ahead of instructions and storage

You can slice your eggplant sticks the day before and pop them into an airtight container in the fridge. This is a great way to save a little prep time. 

In addition, you can also make up the vegan Parmesan cheese recipe in advance. If you choose to serve this with the recommended marinara sauce, go ahead and make that up. You can even make a batch and freeze it until you’re ready to use it.

You can freeze these eggplant sticks once baked and reheat them at a later stage. To refrigerate or freeze them, you’ll need to cool them first and then store them in an airtight container. 

Serving suggestions 

These vegan eggplant sticks are such a lovely snack or side. They are child-friendly and just such a lovely healthy vegetable dish to treat friends and family to.

• Switch up the sauce: Serve these with hummus, vegan ranch dressings, or vegan mayonnaise for a change.
• Salad. Serve these crunchy sticks alongside a light and fresh salad. This will complement the flavor of the sticks really well.
• Inside a sandwich. Fill slices of your favorite bread with lettuce, avocado, tomato, and hummus. Layer in these eggplant sticks for a totally delicious filling.
• Pasta. Top a little penne pasta with marinara sauce and a few of these tasty sticks.
• Rice bowl. Place the eggplant on top of a bowl of warm rice and serve with a side of beans, avocado, and salsa.

FAQs

Why are my Parmesan eggplant sticks soggy?

If your eggplant sticks have turned out a little soggy, it might be because they weren’t dried off before coating and cooking them first. Additionally, the oven might not have been hot enough.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

You most certainly can! Switch out the wheat flour for a suitable gluten-free alternative. You’ll need to use a gluten-free panko crumb mix too.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time? 

Yes, you can make the eggplant sticks ahead of time by preparing them in their coating and then refrigerating them until you’re ready to bake them off.

How long do eggplant sticks keep in the fridge?

These sticks will keep beautifully for up to 2 days.

Can I freeze eggplant sticks? 

Yes, you can freeze them. You’ll need to coat them and then space them out on a tray (without touching). Freeze them for 2 hours on the tray, and then you can lift them off the tray and pack them into an airtight container. This will prevent them from sticking and breaking.

Why is the coating not sticking to my Parmesan eggplant sticks?

Drying the outside of the eggplant sticks before coating them is really important. Doing this will ensure the coating sticks to the vegetable.

Wrapping it up

And there you are. This a delicious and crisp Parmesan eggplant stick recipe that will hit the spot for both vegans and non-vegans. Whether you’re looking for a snack recipe or a side dish, these really are worth a try. 

Enjoy the ‘crisp on the outside, soft on the inside’ experience of these sticks, and I hope you enjoy experimenting with different ways to use this recipe.

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