Creative Spiralizing: Air Fryer Veggie Delights

Spiralizing vegetables is a fun and healthy way to add some variety to your meals. Spiralized vegetables can be cooked in an air fryer, which is a compact convection oven that circulates hot air around food to produce a crispy texture. Some vegetables that can be spiralized and cooked in an air fryer include potatoes, zucchini, and sweet potatoes. Spiralized potatoes can be made into curly fries or zoodles (zucchini noodles), while spiralized zucchini can be turned into crispy noodles or fries.

Spiralized sweet potato fries

Ingredients:

• 2 large sweet potatoes
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch, organic, or potato starch
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil or higher heat oil of choice, in a sprayer
• Salt to taste

Method:

• Start by cutting the sweet potatoes with a spiralizer.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place the spiralized sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket and coat them with olive oil or cooking spray.
• Cook for 10 minutes, then flip them with tongs and cook for another 5 minutes, or until they're golden brown.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Tips:

• For extra crispiness, pat the sweet potato noodles dry with paper towels before placing them in the air fryer.
• If you don't have an air fryer, you can also make these sweet potato fries in the oven. Preheat your oven to 420 degrees Fahrenheit and follow the same cooking instructions.
• Get creative with your seasonings! Try adding garlic powder, cinnamon, allspice, rosemary, or dill to mix things up.
• For a healthier option, serve these sweet potato fries with a dip like honey mustard or a spicy sauce like Sriracha.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer for a minute or two to regain crispness.

Spiralized zucchini noodles

Ingredients

You will need:

• 2 zucchini
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

• Cut the ends off the zucchini and use a spiralizer to create zucchini noodles.
• Place the noodles on a dish towel and blot out as much water as possible. Leave for about 40 minutes.
• In a small bowl, add the noodles, olive oil, and seasonings. Toss together.
• Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
• Pour the noodles into the air fryer, ensuring they overlap as little as possible.
• Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until tender with a bit of crisp on the edges.

Serving Suggestions

Zucchini noodles are delicious served with marinara sauce, pesto, or grated parmesan cheese. They can also be enjoyed with a simple olive oil and vinegar dressing or as a side dish.

Spiralized garlic French fries

Ingredients:

• 3 medium-sized potatoes
• 3-5 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp sea salt or kosher salt
• Olive oil

Method:

• Use a spiralizer to prepare the potatoes.
• Place the spiralized potatoes into the basket of the air fryer and drizzle with olive oil.
• Set the temperature to 350ºF and cook for 2 minutes.
• Use tongs to toss the potatoes and distribute the olive oil evenly.
• Cook for 8 minutes and toss again.
• Add the minced garlic and cook for another 8 minutes.
• Toss again and cook for an additional 4 minutes, if needed. The total cooking time depends on how crispy you like your fries.

Tips:

• If you plan to spiralize vegetables often, it is recommended to get a KitchenAid stand mixer with a spiralizer attachment.
• If you don't have a KitchenAid, you can choose between a basic spiralizer or a fancier, easier-to-use option.
• You can adjust the amount of garlic used according to your preference.

Spiralized curly fries

Ingredients

• 1 lb of Russet potatoes (or Yukon Gold)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil
• Optional: Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder

Method

• Spiralize each potato. Use kitchen scissors to cut the potato "noodles" into shorter pieces. This will prevent you from having one incredibly long fry!
• Transfer the potato to a large bowl. Fill with cold water and let sit for an hour. This is an important step to ensure crispy fries.
• Drain the water and dry the potatoes on clean tea towels or paper towels. If you don't remove the excess moisture, the fries will not crisp up.
• Toss the potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can also add other seasonings, such as smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
• Preheat your air fryer to 375°F.
• Add the spiralized potatoes to the basket or trays, depending on your model.
• Set the time to 20 minutes. Give the basket or trays a shake at the 10-minute mark. If using trays, swap them at this point as well.
• Check the crispiness of your curly fries at the 20-minute mark. You may want to add a few more minutes, but keep a close eye on them as they can quickly burn.
• Serve immediately while they are still warm and ultra-crispy!

Tips

• For extra crispy fries, use Russet potatoes, also known as baking potatoes. These are high in starch and low in moisture, giving the best crispiness.
• Soaking the spiralized potatoes in cold water before cooking helps to remove excess starch and ensure crispiness.
• Don't pile the potatoes too high in the air fryer. You want to make sure the air can circulate well for ultimate crispiness.
• Use tongs to toss the potatoes a few times while they cook to expose them to the hot air.
• Depending on your air fryer capacity, you may need to cook the potatoes in multiple batches.

Spiralized carrot curls

To make spiralized carrot curls, you will need:

• 2 large carrots
• 1 tablespoon of arrowroot powder
• 2 tablespoons of avocado oil
• 1/4 teaspoon of dried thyme

First, preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Next, peel your carrots and use a spiralizer to create carrot curls. Place the carrot curls in a large zip-top bag with the arrowroot powder and shake to coat. Then, add the avocado oil and shake again to coat evenly.

Arrange the carrot curls in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 10 minutes, or until golden. Sprinkle with dried thyme and serve.

You can also experiment with different seasonings to add extra flavour to your carrot curls. For example, a honey glaze made with honey, minced garlic, melted butter, cinnamon, and ground ginger will give your carrot curls a sweet and spicy kick. Alternatively, try a warm Moroccan spice blend with garlic powder, cumin, and coriander for a savoury treat.

Frequently asked questions