Say goodbye to dry or shriveled candy batches of air fryer candy potatoes! This recipe affords a way of par-cooking your candy potatoes earlier than chopping them into cubes and air frying them. The ensuing candy potatoes are completely tender and moist, but crispy and gently browning on the edges.
For a very long time, I stated that I owned an air fryer for 2 functions: reheating pizza and making candy potatoes.
This was a joke, and I’ve expanded my air fryer repertoire significantly since then. However air fryer candy potatoes are nonetheless a mainstay in my house. (As is leftover pizza.)
I serve my air fryer candy potato cubes with tofu scramble for breakfast. I pile them onto vegan bowls. They’re a straightforward aspect dish at dinnertime. And I like including them to tacos, too—particularly my candy potato tacos with black bean unfold.
Making candy potato cubes within the air fryer would possibly sound like a self-explanatory course of. For me, nevertheless, it was not.
It took me some time to get my air fryer candy potatoes excellent. This publish is concerning the easy par-cooking step that gave me nice outcomes.
Air fryer trial and error
Up to now, I roasted candy potato within the air fryer equally to how I roasted it within the oven. I cubed uncooked candy potatoes, seasoned them with oil, salt, and pepper, then let the air fryer go to work.
Typically, this labored out simply high-quality. However a variety of the time I ended up with candy potato cubes that have been dry and shriveled. Typically, that they had a pale, starchy look, even when their edges have been closely browned.
The feel of those potatoes was, for lack of a greater description, excessively air fried.
A part of what I really like about candy potatoes is their wealthy, candy flesh and satisfying texture. These cubes have been too ethereal; it was as in the event that they’d misplaced their substance.
I stored coating the potatoes in additional oil in an effort to fight this impact. I solely ended up with candy potatoes that have been each dry and greasy—not a fantastic combo.
I might have simply given up on making candy potatoes in my air fryer, however I didn’t wish to. I eat a variety of candy potatoes and hold my air fryer on the countertop typically; I needed to make this recipe work!
I stored tinkering with time and temperature, with no luck.
Lastly, I added a step that seems completely cooked candy potato cubes every time: par-cooking.
Par-cooked potatoes = excellent outcomes
Par-cooking is any course of wherein you cook dinner a meals incompletely earlier than ending cooking in one other approach, or at one other time.
You’ll be able to par-boil noodles earlier than making lasagna or blanch greens earlier than including them to a casserole. Typically it’s useful to simmer fruit earlier than baking it in a pie shell.
Right here, you’ll prick your uncooked candy potatoes and microwave them for about 4 or 5 minutes earlier than you dice and air fry them.
Technically, you can use the air fryer itself for the par-cooking step, however the microwave does the job sooner.
I first began utilizing the microwave to par-cook candy potatoes after I was writing The Vegan Week. That e book is all about meal prep, which implies that it’s additionally about tight schedules and effectivity.
I needed to current a method of oven-baking candy potatoes with deep taste and tenderness. But “low and gradual” isn’t at all times an choice for the hurried house cook dinner.
Par-cooking candy potatoes within the microwave earlier than transferring them to the oven for baking does the trick: tender, candy-like potatoes in much less time.
Equally, the microwave helps to offer the candy potatoes a head begin on this recipe. It’s additionally a cooking methodology that preserves their moisture. As soon as microwaved, the candy potatoes will grow to be crispy within the air fryer with out getting dry.
I do know it could appear just a little nuts to cook dinner a vegetable in two methods, particularly if comfort is a precedence. However 5 minutes of microwaving goes by rapidly, and it ensures nice candy taters each time.
Adapting the recipe to your air fryer
This methodology works for my air fryer and my oven, so it must be tailored efficiently for many varieties of air fryers.
That stated, air fryers can differ of their warmth, effectivity, and timing, so chances are you’ll have to experiment just a little with the tactic.
I’ve a Philips air fryer that’s now discontinued (this one is comparable), however it’s the sort with a basket, fairly than one that appears like a toaster oven. It has a few 4L capability, and this recipe is developed accordingly.
You’ll be able to half or double the recipe when you’re working with a unique sized machine.
Easy methods to make excellent cubed air fryer candy potatoes—every time
Step 1: Choose your candy potato
I often make this recipe with one massive candy potato. It’s high-quality to organize it with two smaller potatoes, however when you try this, chances are you’ll want to regulate microwave time (4 minutes for a single, smaller potato, or about seven minutes for 2 smaller potatoes without delay).
Step 2: Par-cook within the microwave
Prick the candy potato throughout with a fork. Place it on a microwave-safe plate and microwave the potato for five minutes.
At this level, the potato might be tender, however it gained’t be totally cooked. In the event you’re working with a medium or small potato, fairly than a big one, 4 minutes of microwaving will do the trick.
No microwave? No downside. I embody directions for par-cooking within the air fryer itself within the recipe card.
Step 3: Dice the potato
Enable the potato to chill for 5 minutes, then reduce it into 1-inch / 2.5cm cubes. Cautious as you do that—it’ll be scorching!
Step 4: Season the potatoes
I typically use avocado oil spray after I’m making something in my air fryer; it’s handy and simple. So, you’ll be able to switch the cubes to your air fryer basket, give them a sprig of oil, then season them with salt and pepper.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to toss them with a small quantity of standard avocado oil in a bowl, season them with salt and pepper, and switch them to the air fryer basket.
Step 5: Air fry
Air fry the potatoes at 400°F / 200°C for 8-10 minutes, or till the potatoes are tender and browning alongside the sides.
Cease as soon as midway by way of air frying to shake the basket effectively; this helps the potatoes to crisp up evenly.
Step 6: Serve
You’ll be able to serve the candy potatoes simply the best way they’re, or you’ll be able to sprinkle them with toasted chopped nuts or seeds.
It’s also possible to drizzle the potatoes with some form of dressing. I’m actually a fan of my cashew queso, however vegan honey mustard (I sweeten mine with dates), beet ketchup, and yum sauce are good concepts, too.
Meal prep & storage
A young batch of cooked candy potatoes is one in every of my favourite issues to meal prep over the weekend. This recipe finds its approach into my very own meal planning on a regular basis.
The potatoes might be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
In the event you’re like me, and your first query about any meals or recipe is “can I freeze this?” the reply is sure! You are able to do so for as much as eight weeks.
Defrost the potatoes within the fridge in a single day. Get pleasure from them chilly, in salads or bowls, or reheat them within the air fryer at 350° for about 5 minutes.
The Greatest Cubed Air Fryer Candy Potatoes
Creator –
Yields: 2 servings
- 1 massive candy potato, scrubbed and cleaned
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil (or avocado oil spray)
- Salt
- Freshly floor black pepper
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Prick the candy potato throughout with a fork. Place it on a microwave-safe plate and microwave* the potato for five minutes (4 minutes for a medium or small potato). The potato might be tender, but not totally cooked. Enable the potato to chill for 5 minutes, then reduce it into 1-inch / 2.5cm cubes.
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In a mixing bowl, toss the cubes with the avocado oil after which switch them to your air fryer basket. Alternatively, you’ll be able to switch them to the basket and spray them with avocado oil spray. Season the potatoes with salt and freshly floor black pepper.
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Air fry the potatoes at 400°F / 200°C for 8-10 minutes, or till the potatoes are tender and browning alongside the sides, stopping as soon as midway by way of air frying to shake the basket effectively (this helps the potatoes to brown and cook dinner evenly). Get pleasure from.
The candy potatoes might be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days or frozen for as much as eight weeks. To reheat, air fry the potatoes at 350°F / 175°C for five minutes.
It’s humorous to commit as a lot trial and error as I’ve to a easy aspect dish. However we love what we love, and I really like candy potatoes.
I’ll inform you all about my go-to air fryer mushrooms quickly!
For now, I hope you discover this methodology helpful.
xo
