Delicious Italian Fried Eggplant Balls Recipe

Enjoy the crispy and flavorful Italian Fried Eggplant Balls, a perfect appetizer or side dish. These balls are made with eggplant, cheese, breadcrumbs, and herbs, then fried to perfection. This recipe is a crowd-pleaser and will leave everyone craving for more. Serve them with marinara sauce or as a topping for pasta dishes. These bite-sized delights are easy to make and will surely impress your guests at any gathering or potluck.

Ingredients

• 2 medium-sized eggplants
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Directions

1. Start by peeling the eggplants and cutting them into 1-inch cubes.
2. Place the eggplant cubes in a colander, sprinkle them with salt, and let them sit for about 30 minutes. This helps to remove excess moisture.
3. After 30 minutes, rinse the eggplant cubes and squeeze them gently to remove any remaining moisture.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine the eggplant cubes, grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, beaten eggs, chopped parsley, chopped basil, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly combined.
5. Take a small portion of the mixture and roll it into a ball, about 1 inch in diameter. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
6. Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or pot. Make sure there is enough oil to fully submerge the eggplant balls.
7. Once the oil is hot, carefully drop a few eggplant balls into the oil and fry until they turn golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Don't overcrowd the pan, fry them in batches.
8. Using a slotted spoon, remove the fried eggplant balls from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil.
9. Continue frying the remaining eggplant balls.
10. Serve the Italian Fried Eggplant Balls hot with marinara sauce or as a topping for pasta dishes. Enjoy!

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