Torrijas (a kind of French toast), leche frita (a kind of crêpe) or battered cod are some of the dishes with which you can surprise your guests this festive season. The air fryer is an appliance that is increasingly present in homes. Now that Easter is approaching, we can consider using it to prepare some of the traditional dishes with simple recipes. And these are the ones that will give the best results.
Because not everything is suitable for cooking in an air fryer. I can tell you now that pestiños (honey-coated fritters), roscos fritos (deep-fried doughnuts) and flores (pastries) don’t turn out the same and, in fact, my colleagues at Directo al Paladar looked very unhappy when I asked them about the results. Even so, there are dishes (and desserts) that turn out very well, and we are going to review some of them.
It should be made clear that, when using an air fryer, the result will never be identical to that obtained with the traditional method, whether it be for cooking dishes or frying in plenty of hot oil. Yes, I confess: I am on the oil team.
French toast
As well as the traditional method, torrijas can also be prepared on the grill or in the oven, although in both cases the result is quite different from the original. If you opt for an air fryer, the result is somewhat closer, although it is still not identical.
When fried in oil, the torrijas develop an outer layer thanks to the egg which allows the heat to penetrate quickly, resulting in a very creamy interior when they are well done. On the other hand, when prepared in an air fryer, they tend to be a little drier. However, if the timing is properly controlled, it is possible to achieve a juicy texture, with the added benefit of reducing the amount of fat and minimizing the cleaning afterwards.
You can find the detailed recipe here, but here’s a summary. First, heat the milk with the sugar, a cinnamon stick and the lemon peel in a saucepan. Once it comes to the boil, remove from the heat, cover and leave to cool before soaking the bread to prevent it from falling apart.
Then place the slices in a dish with the milk that we have warmed for an hour, or until the bread has completely absorbed it. Then beat the eggs and dip the slices in the batter on both sides. Place them in the basket of the air fryer – without them sticking together – on lightly greased baking paper, which will make it easier to turn them over. Add a drizzle of oil on top. Cook at 200°C for 10 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking.
Fried milk
Although torrijas are undoubtedly the most emblematic dessert of Lent and Holy Week, we must not overlook one of their closest relatives: leche frita.
This traditional delicacy, in its classic version, requires to be cooked in a frying pan – hence its name. But preparing them requires a lot of time and, why not say it, a lot of oil, aspects that put many people off.
Making them in an air fryer is a lighter and more convenient alternative and we also significantly reduce the amount of fat and calories, while also saving on oil and avoiding splatters.
And best of all, we get a result that is just as tasty, with a crunchy texture on the outside and a creamy inside, without complications and without giving up the pleasure of a traditional dessert.
To prepare leche frita, heat milk with cinnamon and lemon peel, and mix with cornflour dissolved in cold milk and condensed milk, cooking until a thick cream is achieved. Then, it is poured into a dish and left to cool in the fridge for at least four hours, until it sets completely.
Once a consistent mass has been made, it is cut into portions, coated in flour and egg, and fried until golden brown in the basket of the deep fryer. It is drained on absorbent paper and sprinkled with icing sugar and cinnamon.
Cod and its variants
Another of the star dishes, in addition to desserts, at Easter and Lent is cod in its different variants. One of them is Pávias de bacalao rebozado (breaded cod fritters) which can be easily prepared in an air fryer. This recipe can be made with fresh or desalted cod.
A typically Andalusian dish that is a star at this time of year and can be prepared in the air fryer. Pávias de bacalao, soldaditos de Pávia or battered cod is a very simple recipe and the result can be excellent.
To prepare this dish, first clean the fish well, removing skin and bones, and cut into large pieces, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Then, prepare three dishes: one with a mixture of flour, garlic powder, paprika and pepper; another with beaten egg, water and a few drops of hot sauce if desired; and a third with panko.
The pieces are coated by passing them through these three steps and are placed on the fryer tray without touching each other. They are sprayed with a little oil and cooked at 200°C for 5 minutes on each side. The result is golden, crispy and delicious fish, ready to serve.
With all these recipes, as well as creating healthy dishes by using less oil, we are also saving on this ingredient and, at the same time, making the kitchen less dirty by avoiding stains and splashes.
