We all have moments when we just do not feel like cooking. But our diets and nutritional needs call for a healthy recipe a.s.a.p. – hence, a home-cooked meal it is! After all, home-cooked meals are healthier and they always taste better, right?
But in this modern society, where people are constantly busy and always on-the-go, where do we find the time to whip up healthy dishes?
Well, fret not! With modern problems come modern solutions. Mummies and daddies, meet the magical air-fryer!
There are various types of air-fryer brands out there that come with different specifications to suit your kitchen needs.
Once you get one of your own, how about trying these healthy air-fryer recipes for yourself and the whole family?!
5 Healthy, Delicious, And Must-Try Air-Fryer Recipes
1. Squid Tempura
Who does not love tempura, seriously? Squid, prawn, and fish tempura are loved by many, including kids.
But with all the tempura recipes available, which mainly include excessive oil, some might think twice to cook them, especially those who are health-conscious.
Well, now you do not have to worry anymore! With an air-fryer, you can make your own crunchy tempura with a healthy twist.
Want to know how? Let’s take a look at this squid tempura recipe:
- Take about 5 squids and then, wash them clean.
- Drain the water and pat them dry.
- Then, cut them into nice rings of squids.
- Prepare a bowl containing the mixture of all-purpose flour and rice flour with the ratio of 1:1.
- Bath your squid rings in it. Make sure all parts are well coated.
- After that, let them sit for about 10 minutes. This is to ensure the flour mixture is well glued to the squids.
- Now, put them in the air-fryer and air-fry for about 15–20 minutes with the temperature of 180°C. After 10 minutes, flip them over to the other side so that they are evenly cooked.
Meal or snack, you can now enjoy your healthy squid tempura without having to deep-fry them!
Or, if you think the tempura are rather dry or flaky, you can spray some oil to the flour-coated squid rings before air-frying them.
Hmmm… not really into squid tempura? You can replace the squid with other ingredients like prawn, chicken, or fish.
Not to worry, the recipe is basically the same!
And if you are a vegetarian, vegetables like lady’s finger and eggplant are the perfect choices for you!
2. Flavourful Cauliflowers
Are you a big fan of vegetables? Then, this recipe is a must-try for you!
Cauliflower normally takes quite some time to be thoroughly cooked, and some of us do find this process troublesome.
But with an air-fryer, you can whip up your flavourful cauliflowers as easy as ABC.
- Prepare a bowl of chopped cauliflowers.
- Wash them clean and drain the excess water.
- Add some oil, Italian/mixed herbs, pepper, salt, and chilli powder or paprika into the bowl. Season it well according to your taste. You can even add curry powder for a spicy kick.
- After that, put them in the air-fryer basket and air-fry them for about 15–20 minutes at 180°C. After 10 minutes, give the basket a nice shake so that the cauliflowers are evenly cooked and seasoned.
Easy, isn’t it? Behold, healthy and delicious air-fried cauliflowers!
And if it is not spicy enough for you, you can try coating them with a hot sauce of your choice or chilli flakes. Aside from cauliflowers, potatoes go well with this recipe, too.
3. Air-Fried Honey Chicken Wings
Want to indulge yourself with tasty honey chicken wings? Try this special air-fryer recipe by Fitria Ria:
- Prepare a bowl of 8 chicken wings.
- Add a spoonful of garlic paste into the bowl.
- Then, add 2 spoons of oyster sauce, chilli sauce, and honey for seasoning.
- Add some soy sauce and a ½ spoon of sugar for the final marinating touch.
- Mix the ingredients well and let the marinated chicken wings sit for an hour.
- After that, air-fry them for 20 minutes at 180°C. After 10 minutes, flip them over to the other side so that they will be air-fried evenly.
Even without a touch of oil, you can have tasty honey chicken wings served on your plate.
Please be warned that this recipe shared by ‘Resepi Air Fryer (Malaysia)’ might get you addicted, so eat at your own risk!
4. Oreo Cupcake
Craving for some desserts? This Oreo cupcake recipe shared by Derry Daunian is hassle-free and tasty!
By using only 3 ingredients, this dessert can be tastily made in a blink of an eye! And here is how you do it:
- Add 2 packets of Oreo in a blender.
- Pour in 200 ml of milk (feel free to use original or chocolate-flavoured milk).
- Add in a small packet of regular Eno (yes, THAT Eno you consume for your stomach!).
- Blend the ingredients into a nice mixture. Then, pour the mixture into a few paper cupcake muffin cups.
- Air-fry them for 20 minutes with the temperature of 160°C.
You must be wondering why are we adding a packet of Eno into the mixture, right?
Well, here is why: Eno is like baking soda; its function is to raise the cupcake’s texture so that it looks (and tastes) fluffy.
You can sprinkle some chocolate chips or chopped fruits as toppings if you like.
With very few ingredients needed and an easy method to follow, you just cannot say no to air-fried cupcakes!
5. Burnt Cheesecake
Wait, what? You can even make a cheesecake with an air-fryer? No way!
Yes, your eyes did not fool you! Many people have given it a try and they, too, agree that this dessert is a no-fail recipe.
Let’s try this method created by Suhaila Jabarudin:
- Blend a ½ cup of sugar with 3 eggs into a nice mixture.
- Put 250 gm of cream cheese, 2 spoons of flour, a teaspoon of vanilla essence, 125 ml of whipped cream, and 2 to 3 spoons of lemon juice into the mixture and blend the ingredients well.
- Strain the mixture and pour it into a cake mould lined with baking paper.
- Then, air-fry it for 25 minutes at 180°C.
- Once it is done, allow it to cool.
- After that, use a tea strainer to sprinkle some icing sugar on top of it. You can even add some fresh fruits beforehand if you like!
See, isn’t it easy? Basically, all you need to do is just blend the ingredients, air-fry the mixture, and voilà!
As for the whipped cream, some chefs like to modify the recipe by replacing it with natural yoghurt, and it still tastes just as good!
Preparing for healthy and delicious meals is not a hassle anymore when you have an-fryer at home. By using one, you can easily cook a thousand dishes without having to go through kitchen disasters. So, what are you waiting for? Give it a try today!