Step 1

Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees. Prep your eggplant: Set up your dredging station: Place flour in a shallow dish. Place eggs in another dish and the panko in another. Sprinkle each eggplant slice evenly with salt on both sides. Dredge both sides of the eggplant slices in the flour; then the egg, and lastly in the panko. Place the breaded eggplant slices on a plate and set aside.

Step 2

Place eggplant into your air fryer racks and air fry for 12 minutes, rotating the trays halfway through. If using an air fryer with a drawer, flip (turn over) your eggplant halfway through.

Step 3

To serve: place one air fryer eggplant onto a plate. Top with marinara sauce, some basil, a tomato slice, mozzarella cheese, pesto, another eggplant slice, tomato or more marinara sauce, a light drizzle of olive oil and balsamic glaze if desired and more fresh basil for garnish. Repeat three more times to make 3 more. Enjoy immediately!