TLDR;
This video presents ten easy recipes and techniques using an air fryer, emphasizing convenience, speed, and minimal effort for quick home-cooked meals. It covers a range of dishes from meatballs and polenta fries to ribs, roasted chicken, and even reheating leftover pizza, showcasing the air fryer's versatility beyond just fries and wings. The recipes often involve batch cooking and combining dishes for complete meals, perfect for when you're short on time or feeling lazy.
- Air fryers are great for convenience, speed, and ease, not just for making fries and wings.
- Batch cooking in an air fryer allows for quick assembly of individual meals.
- Combining air-fried dishes can create well-rounded and satisfying meals with minimal effort.
Intro [0:00]
The video introduces the concept of using air fryers for more than just typical fried foods. It highlights the convenience, ease, and speed that air fryers offer, especially for quick meals when time is short or motivation is low. The presenter promises to share ten go-to recipes and techniques developed over the years to make cooking fast and easy.
Meatballs [0:34]
Air-fried meatballs are presented as a quick and easy protein source with minimal cleanup. The presenter uses a standard beef meatball recipe, mixing ground beef with finely chopped onions, garlic, parsley, an egg, and seasonings. The mixture is kept in the fridge for batch cooking, and meatballs are rolled and air-fried at 375°F for 8-12 minutes. These meatballs can be served with various dishes, such as stew or polenta fries.
Polenta Sticks [1:55]
Polenta fries are introduced as a simple and flavorful side dish. One cup of polenta is cooked with three cups of liquid (a mix of chicken stock and water) and seasoned with salt. The cooked polenta is spread in a parchment-lined pan, refrigerated to set, and then cut into sticks. These sticks are air-fried at 375°F for 10 minutes per side until crispy and tender. They can be served plain or with dipping sauces, and pair well with the air-fried meatballs and marinara sauce.
Bacon/Breadcrumbs [3:29]
The air fryer is used to cook bacon, which is layered in the air fryer and cooked at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until crispy. The rendered bacon fat is then used to make breadcrumbs by mixing leftover bread with chopped parsley and green onion salt, and air-frying at 375°F for 5-7 minutes. The crispy bacon and breadcrumbs are then added to a kale salad with cucumbers, sauerkraut, asiago cheese, and a creamy Caesar dressing.
Leftover Pizza [5:41]
Reheating leftover pizza in the air fryer is highlighted as a way to revive the pizza, making the crust crispy. Slices are air-fried at 375-385°F for 3-4 minutes. The presenter enjoys this reheated pizza with a salad, considering it a well-balanced and satisfying meal.
Eggplant Salad [7:47]
Medium-sized eggplants are roasted in the air fryer at 350°F for 20 minutes, with additional time as needed until the inside is completely soft. The cooked eggplant is then used to make baba ganoush or eggplant salad.
Pita Chips [8:38]
Leftover pita bread is cut into triangles, tossed with oil, salt, and Middle Eastern spices, and air-fried at 375°F for 5 minutes until crispy. These pita chips are then served with the air-fried eggplant salad or baba ganoush.
Ribs [10:10]
Ribs are seasoned with salt, pepper, and barbecue spice, then wrapped in tin foil and air-fried at 280°F for 1-2 hours until tender. They are then coated with barbecue sauce and air-fried uncovered at 390°F for about 10 minutes until caramelized and crispy.
French Fries [11:52]
Russet potatoes are peeled (optional) and sliced into fries, then boiled until cooked through but still holding their shape. The fries are then air-fried at 375°F for 15 minutes for their first "fry," then stored in the fridge. For the second fry, they are air-fried again at 375°F for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and crispy. These fries are served with the air-fried ribs.
Whole Roasted Chicken [13:41]
A whole chicken is dried, seasoned with salt and pepper, and stuffed with onions, herbs, and citrus. It is then dry-brined in the fridge overnight. The chicken is roasted in the air fryer at 350°F for 20 minutes on each side, with the cooking time depending on the size of the bird.
Roasted Beets [14:34]
Beets are wrapped in tin foil with oil, salt, and vinegar, and roasted in the air fryer alongside the chicken. The roasted beets are then combined with seasoned escarole and chicken to create a warm roasted beet escarole chicken salad.