Carrot and smoked cheese meatballs in air fryer: Goodbye Greasy Fry, The Light Meatballs that Conquer!
Food lovers, get ready to say goodbye to guilt because today I have a recipe for you that is a real “game changer”: carrot and smoked cheese meatballs in the air fryer! Forget about the oil splattering, the smell of frying permeating the whole house, and that heavy feeling after a binge. With the air fryer, we get meatballs crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside, perfectly golden and light as a cloud. It’s the ideal solution for a tasty appetizer, a finger food that drives everyone crazy, or a vegetarian main dish that even satisfies the biggest meat lovers.
The sweetness of carrots divinely blends with the smoky flavor of the cheese, creating a combination of flavors that is simply irresistible. And the best thing? They are prepared in a flash, ideal for those summer evenings here in Piacenza where the desire to cook is little but the desire to eat well is tremendous! Ready to revolutionize the concept of the meatball?
The Soft Heart: Sweet Carrots and Melting Cheese, a Perfect Couple!
The real secret to the success of these carrot and smoked cheese meatballs in the air fryer lies in their creamy and flavorful filling. The carrots, with their natural sweetness and vibrant color, are not only a tasty ingredient but also a concentrate of vitamins and antioxidants, making these meatballs a super healthy option. And then there’s the smoked cheese! That touch of savoriness and melting texture that melts in your mouth, adds a dimension of taste that transforms a simple meatball into a gourmet experience.
Below are more recipes with the air fryer:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 504.31 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 33.07 (g) of which sugars 9.02 (g)
- Proteins 28.62 (g)
- Fat 29.22 (g) of which saturated 3.67 (g)of which unsaturated 5.81 (g)
- Fibers 5.68 (g)
- Sodium 751.05 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 213 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 14 oz carrots
- 10 oz smoked cheese
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
- 7 oz green beans
- to taste pesto (basil)
Tools
- Grater YC Kitchen Cheese Grater, Stainless Steel Grater, Manual Cheese Grater, Vegetable Grater, Square 4-Sided Grater and Kitchen Grater, Practical kitchen gadgets
- Strainer KitchenCraft Medium Stainless Steel Sieve, 18 cm (7"), Silver
- Air Fryer Papers PORTENTUM Parchment Paper for Air Fryer 100 units 20-20 cm Square. Suitable for Oven, 5 to 8 liters. Air Fryer Paper certified for food use BPA Free, FDA, and LFGB
Steps for carrot and smoked cheese meatballs in air fryer
Wash and peel the carrots, then grate them into a sieve, a bit large, sprinkle with salt. Let them rest for about 10 minutes. Also grate the cheese and Parmesan, and put everything in a bowl.
Press the carrots in the sieve with the back of a spoon to remove the water, then place them in a clean cloth and squeeze well. Pour them into the bowl with the cheeses, salt, and pepper and knead with your hands to form an elastic dough, if it is too soft add a little breadcrumbs, which you will then shape to form the meatballs.
Coat the meatballs in breadcrumbs and transfer them to the air fryer basket lined with appropriate paper. Spray oil on top and bake for 20 minutes at 340°F (170°C). They need to be turned halfway through for perfect browning. You can serve them hot along with boiled and seasoned green beans, with basil pesto, or a sauce of your choice.
Tips, notes, variations for carrot and smoked cheese meatballs in air fryer
Sweet Carrots: Choose fresh and firm carrots, their natural sweetness will make the difference.
Smoked Cheese: You can use white smoked cheese or even provola, or smoked.
Garlic/Onion (optional): For a more intense flavor, you can add a bit of finely chopped garlic or onion sautéed in a pan before mixing them into the dough.
Herbs: You can add parsley, or a pinch of thyme or marjoram for a different aroma.
Accompanying Sauce: Serve them with yogurt and chive mayonnaise, or a fresh tomato sauce for dipping!
