Say goodbye to dry or shriveled candy batches of air fryer candy potatoes! This recipe provides 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 simple facet 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, nonetheless, 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
Prior 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 advantageous. However plenty of the time I ended up with candy potato cubes that had been dry and shriveled. Typically, that they had a pale, starchy look, even when their edges had been closely browned.
The feel of those potatoes was, for lack of a greater description, excessively air fried.
A part of what I like about candy potatoes is their wealthy, candy flesh and satisfying texture. These cubes had been too ethereal; it was as in the event that they’d misplaced their substance.
I saved coating the potatoes in additional oil in an effort to fight this impact. I solely ended up with candy potatoes that had been each dry and greasy—not an incredible combo.
I may have simply given up on making candy potatoes in my air fryer, however I didn’t need to. I eat plenty of candy potatoes and preserve my air fryer on the countertop typically; I wished to make this recipe work!
I saved 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 by which you cook dinner a meals incompletely earlier than ending cooking in one other method, 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 possibly 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 ebook is all about meal prep, which signifies that it’s additionally about tight schedules and effectivity.
I wished to current a way 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 present 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 change into crispy within the air fryer with out getting dry.
I do know it could appear a bit of 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 should be tailored efficiently for many kinds of air fryers.
That stated, air fryers can differ of their warmth, effectivity, and timing, so you might have to experiment a bit of with the strategy.
I’ve a Philips air fryer that’s now discontinued (this one is comparable), but it surely’s the kind with a basket, relatively 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 should you’re working with a unique sized machine.
Find out how to make excellent cubed air fryer candy potatoes—every time
Step 1: Choose your candy potato
I often make this recipe with one giant candy potato. It’s advantageous to organize it with two smaller potatoes, however should you do this, you might 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 can be tender, but it surely received’t be absolutely cooked. If you happen to’re working with a medium or small potato, relatively 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
Permit the potato to chill for 5 minutes, then reduce it into 1-inch / 2.5cm cubes. Cautious as you do that—it’ll be sizzling!
Step 4: Season the potatoes
I typically use avocado oil spray after I’m making something in my air fryer; it’s handy and straightforward. So, you’ll be able to switch the cubes to your air fryer basket, give them a twig 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 means of air frying to shake the basket nicely; this helps the potatoes to crisp up evenly.
Step 6: Serve
You’ll be able to serve the candy potatoes simply the way in which they’re, or you’ll be able to sprinkle them with toasted chopped nuts or seeds.
You too can 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 method into my very own meal planning on a regular basis.
The potatoes may be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
If you happen to’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. Take pleasure in them chilly, in salads or bowls, or reheat them within the air fryer at 350° for about 5 minutes.
The Finest Cubed Air Fryer Candy Potatoes
Writer –
Yields: 2 servings
- 1 giant 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 can be tender, but not absolutely cooked. Permit 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 means of air frying to shake the basket nicely (this helps the potatoes to brown and cook dinner evenly). Take pleasure in.
The candy potatoes may 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 dedicate as a lot trial and error as I’ve to a easy facet dish. However we love what we love, and I 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
