As a Southerner, I can’t help but love fried foods. Of course, I’ve had to cut back on them over the past few years—until now! I’ve got a new way to enjoy my beloved fried foods with less fat and oils: air frying.
I’m so proud of my Paula Deen Air Fryer, y’all! Every time I use it, I’m amazed at the perfect crunch, the moistness, and, most importantly, the flavor. I loved it so much, I wrote a cookbook, Paula Deen’s Air Fryer Cookbook, so all my friends out there would have plenty of recipes to make good use of their air fryers. Today, I wanted to share a few of those recipes. I’m sure you’ll agree that they are out-of-this-world!
What foods do you like to make in your air fryer? Let me know in the comments below!
Chicken Stuffed with Prosciutto and Fontina – pg 59
Serves 2
- 2 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
- 4 ounces fontina cheese, rind removed, cut into 2-inch sticks
- 2 slices prosciutto
- salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup sliced portabella mushrooms
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 3 sprigs rosemary
- 1 bunch baby arugula
- ½ lemon, juiced
Directions
1. Place chicken breast halves between sheets of wax paper, and, using a mallet or rolling pin, pound thin.
2. Wrap each fontina cheese stick with one slice prosciutto and place in center of each flattened chicken breast half. Roll chicken around prosciutto and cheese and secure with toothpicks or butcher’s twine. Season chicken rolls with salt and black pepper.
3. In a heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the butter and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Quickly brown chicken rolls over medium heat, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place chicken rolls in air fryer basket. Set temperature to 350 degrees, and air fry for 7 minutes. Remove chicken rolls to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut rolls at an angle into 6 slices.
4. Reheat skillet, add remaining butter, mushrooms, wine, and rosemary; season with salt and pepper; and simmer for 10 minutes.
5. In a large bowl, toss arugula leaves in remaining olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. To serve, arrange chicken and mushrooms on a bed of dressed arugula.
Cajun Fried Okra with Creamy Chili Sauce – pg 123
Serves 6 to 8
Okra
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Paula Deen’s House Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 pounds fresh okra, sliced ½ inch thick
- oil, for spraying
Creamy Chili Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic chili sauce
- 1/3 teaspoon ground red pepper
Directions
1. In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, House Seasoning, and Cajun seasoning. Place buttermilk in a small bowl. Dip okra in buttermilk, then dredge in cornmeal mixture. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill battered okra in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
2. Working in batches of 10, spray okra with oil and place in air fryer basket. Set temperature to 400 degrees, and air fry for 5 minutes. Shake okra well, spray with oil, and air fry for 5 minutes. Shake okra well, spray with oil, and air fry for 3 minutes more. Repeat with remaining okra. Serve warm with Creamy Chili Sauce on the side.
3. To make the creamy chili sauce, combine mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, garlic chili sauce, and red pepper in a small bowl, and stir well. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Makes 1¼ cup.
Fried Apple Pies
Serves 8
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 McIntosh apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- flour, for dusting
- one 8-biscuit package refrigerated jumbo flaky biscuits
- oil, for spraying
- powdered sugar, for dusting
Directions
1. To make filling, in a large sauté pan, melt butter. Add apples, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Sauté over medium heat until apples are soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out biscuits into 7- to 8-inch diameter circles. Place 2 or 3 tablespoons of the apple filling on each circle and brush edges with water. Fold half of each circle over filling to make half-moon shape. Seal by pressing edges with tines of fork.
3. Working in batches of 2, spray pies on both sides with oil and place in air fryer basket lined with parchment paper. Set temperature to 350 degrees, and air fry for 5 minutes. Flip pies, spray with oil, and air fry for 5 minutes more. Repeat with remaining pies. Dust pies with powdered sugar.
To purchase my Paula Deen Air Fryer, click here.
To purchase my Paula Deen’s Air Fryer Cookbook, click here.
