Air Fryer Potato Trees: Crispy, Gooey and easy to prepare, perfect as an appetizer or a fun side dish for the holidays.
The air fryer potato trees are a fun and scenic idea to enrich festive tables or to make a simple side dish special.
The potatoes are sliced thinly and passed through the air fryer for crispiness, then assembled into tree shapes with toothpicks. Between each slice, a bit of melty scamorza cheese ties it all together, while a sprinkle of parmesan and some pink peppercorns complete the dish with taste and color.
The preparation is easier than it seems: just have a bit of patience for the assembly, but the result is surprising and perfect even for children, who will appreciate the playful shape.
It’s a light appetizer but full of flavor, combining the soft inside of the potato with the crispy outside, along with the delicious note of melted scamorza cheese.
Let’s see together how to prepare the air fryer potato trees: crispy and gooey.
READ THE TIPS AND FAQ AT THE END OF THE RECIPE
OTHER INTERESTING RECIPES:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 6 People
- Cooking methods: Air Frying, Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
Ingredients
- 4 potatoes (medium)
- 1.75 oz smoked scamorza cheese (sliced or coarsely grated)
- extra virgin olive oil
- dried oregano
- salt
- spices (for roasted potatoes)
- pink peppercorns
Tools
- Toothpicks
- Slicer for vegetables
Steps
Wash, peel, and slice the potatoes not too thinly and place them, trying not to overlap, in the basket of the air fryer.
Season with roasted potato spices or salt and pepper and a drizzle of oil, and cook at 356°F (180°C) for 8/9 minutes.
Meanwhile, grate or slice the smoked scamorza cheese.
Let the potatoes cool slightly and stack the slices alternating with the scamorza. Start with the larger slices at the bottom to create the trees.
Skewer each tree with a toothpick.
Return to air fryer at 356°F (180°C) for a few minutes, just until the scamorza slightly melts. Decorate with pink peppercorns and, if desired, parmesan. Serve hot.
Notes:
For oven cooking:
Place the potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, season, and bake in a preheated oven at 356°F (180°C) for about 15 minutes (they should turn golden).
Place the trees on the same tray and bake in the middle of the oven, still at 356°F (180°C), until the scamorza starts to melt.
Tips:
The skewers can be soaked before skewering to prevent them from burning during cooking.
If you like, you can also make trees of various sizes and use long wooden skewers.
You can replace the scamorza with provolone or emmental for different flavor variations.
Add herbs like thyme or rosemary between the slices for extra aroma.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can it be prepared in advance?
Yes, save the final browning in the oven or air fryer just before serving to have the gooey scamorza.
Can they be made vegan?
Yes, by omitting the scamorza and using a plant-based cheese.
