Recently, I have been having fun with my air fryer. When I first got it, I only used it for frozen foods — appetizer stuff like mozzarella sticks and jalapeño poppers. Since I have been home and am tired of cooking the same things day after day, I have discovered the air fryer helps me create things I used to only think I could get at restaurants. Things like egg rolls, chips, sweet potato fries, and Mickey beignets — because who doesn’t need a little Disney magic in these trying times? Most of these items do not take much prep work and are big winners with the family! My husband asked me four times as we ate the egg rolls if they had been frozen; he just couldn’t believe they were handmade by me (insert eye roll)!
If you don’t have an air fryer, order one from Amazon now.
I am telling you, it makes weekday cooking a no-brainer and doesn’t heat up the kitchen. I even got one for my daughter for her dorm room. Her favorite thing to cook in it are frozen waffles since she didn’t have a toaster and the waffle bar in the cafeteria is always shut done due to fires. I hear you can make bacon in the air fryer, but I haven’t tried it yet. My point is there really is no limit to what you can make if you aren’t afraid to just try. The best tips I can give you about air frying is to always preheat, shake or turn food as directed, and use spray oil like Pam to help things crisp up.
Egg Rolls with Spicy Orange Sauce
Ingredients for the egg rolls:
- 1 lb ground pork (or any meat/meat substitute you prefer), browned and drained
- slaw mix with carrots
- 2 TBSP soy sauce
- 2 TBSP olive oil, plus more for brushing on rolls
- 1 TBSP toasted sesame oil
- 1 small onion sliced or chopped
- egg roll wraps
- hot sauce-optional
Directions:
In large skillet or wok, heat olive oil and add onion. Heat until soft and add garlic and slaw mix. Stir often and heat for about 3-4 minutes, then add cooked pork, sesame oil, soy sauce, and hot sauce (if desired.) Add soy sauce and hot sauce until desired flavor is reached. Cook on low 5 minutes to help flavors blend and until most of the liquid is absorbed. If any liquid remains, drain mixture before assembling egg rolls. Follow instructions on back of egg roll wraps to assemble. Brush lightly with olive oil, heat air fryer to 400, add rolls and cook for about 12 minutes or until golden brown, turning once.
Ingredients for sauce:
- ¼ cup jalapeño jelly
- 2 TBSP soy sauce
- 2 TBSP hot sauce
- 2 TBSP corn starch (mix with a little cold water)
- 2 TBSP orange vinegar or orange marmalade
- 2 TBSP honey
Directions:
Mix in a sauce pan and heat on medium until well combined and thickened. This sauce can be made less hot by not adding the hot sauce, but it really isn’t that hot. My daughters both loved it and they do not like hot foods at all.
Potato Chips
Ingredients:
- potatoes, sliced thin, peels on
- olive oil or Pam
- salt/pepper
Directions:
Dry potatoes with paper towels to remove excess water. Toss potatoes in a splash of olive oil until lightly coated, then mix in salt and pepper. If you aren’t tossing in olive oil, simply spray them with Pam once you get them in the fryer. Heat air fryer to 360. Heat in small batches, shaking every few minutes until golden brown, about 12 minutes. These are especially good topped as nachos; just add black beans, queso, salsa, avocado, jalapeños, and cilantro.
Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients:
- sweet potatoes sliced into strips like fries, peel on
- olive oil or Pam
- salt and pepper
- cinnamon or paprika (optional)
Directions:
Toss sweet potatoes in olive oil and spices. If you don’t use olive oil, you can instead spray them with Pam once you get them in the fryer. Heat fryer to 400, cook in small batches for about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Shake every few minutes during cooking. Serve with ketchup or whip up your own little zingy sauce.
Mickey Beignets
Ingredients:
- silicone or metal mold, any shape you want. I had a metal Mickey Mouse shape that I used. Whatever you use, it must be able to withstand the heat of 370 in the fryer.
- Parchment paper
- Pam cooking spray
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 large eggs, separated
- 3 tsp melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch salt
- confectioners’ sugar
Directions:
Preheat fryer to 370 degrees F. Combine flour, sugar, water, egg yolk, butter, baking powder, vanilla, and salt with whisk in bowl. Beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Fold into batter gently until just combined, careful not to lose your “air.” Place mold on parchment paper in fryer basket. Spray well with Pam. Fill mold about halfway; if you fill it to the top it will be too big once it rises. Fry until golden brown, mine was about 6-8 minutes, but this depends on the size of your mold and how much batter you are using. Just watch it closely. If any of the batter leaked out of the mold, cut that off with a sharp knife before removing from mold. Place on cooling rack and dust with confectioners’ sugar. Sing “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” in your head whilst you enjoy your own little piece of Disney Magic!
