Easy bengali way
plain flour maybe 2-3 tablespoons for 1 medium aubergine
1 tblspn rice flour optional i don't always use it if I'm out of it, make extra crunchy.
1 tspn turmeric into the flour, 1 tspn curry powder, tiny pinch of chilli powder (optional).
Lots of salt to taste this is important or it will taste bland.
Then add enough lukewarm water to make a nice thick batter, but not too thick that it won't drop off a spoon. You want it to coat the aubergine
Next slice aubergine into round slices the thinner the better but not too thin, you want a bite.
Quick wash, drain in colander for few mins. In meantime get a large flat heavy pan of oil on, only need a few inches its not deep fried, but the aubergine does suck up the oil quickly, if that happens just add more in between adding your next batch. So got your vegetable oil on right? on highest heat. Don't use a wok you'll be there forever can't put maypny slices in unless its a flat wok. I don't think the non stick trial type pans work so good either, but they're not bad. Best is a heavy pan, like cast iron or anything heavy based, seems to come out crispier!
Dip the aubergine slice into the batter coat it slide off excess place into the oil. Do the same for all slices until pan is full. When full you can lower heat a tiny bit if you think its cooking to fast so may be raw, but you may lose the crispness if you do so keep an eye on it and increase again slowly.
Drain onto kitchen paper or in a dry colander to retain crispness. I usually use kitchen towel then immediately put it on a plate without kitchen roll so it doesn't go soggy.
i serve it with long grain white rice, equally nice with basmati. A typical bengali dish usually mum made this when food was low and she didnt want to do a big cook. Or in summer nice light meal compared with meat.
My 6 yr old hates aubergine, this is the only way he actually loves it, but if its a tad bit soggy he won't have it, uff kids are so annoying!
I also like delia smiths veg roast lasagne recipe, uses aubergine, her website has it.