The vegetable balls in the air fryer are a tasty, light recipe for bringing a versatile and delightful side dish to the table.
Crispy on the outside, with a soft and tasty center — they’re great both hot and cold, so if you take a lunch break at work they make an excellent meal.
With the air fryer you’ll get healthy, light cooking because you use very little oil, and the result, I can tell you, doesn’t change — with the advantage that you’ll eat a low-fat dish.
For the vegetable balls in the air fryer I used carrots, zucchini and potatoes, but you can replace or add other vegetables, for example bell peppers.
You can make them even more indulgent by adding cheese inside for a melty center; I preferred to omit it for a lighter dish.
Below you’ll find other variations of balls also made in the air fryer, so if you’re a fan of balls you just have to try them all! 😛
- Portions: 8 pieces
- Cooking methods: Air fryer, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 2 carrots
- 1 large zucchini
- 11 oz peeled potatoes (about 2/3 lb)
- Half onion
- 1.4 oz grated Grana Padano cheese (about 1/3 cup)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 egg
- to taste salt
- to taste garlic powder
- to taste white pepper
- to taste breadcrumbs
Tools
- Friggitrice ad aria
- Mandolina
Steps
Clean the carrots, zucchini and potatoes and cut them into julienne strips.
In my recipe I lightly pre-cook the vegetables.
Place a pan on the stovetop with two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, add the finely chopped onion and let it gently soften.
First add the carrots, stir and cook for 2–3 minutes, then add the potatoes, stir and finish with the zucchini.
Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Turn off the heat when the vegetables are dry with no liquid left at the bottom, then let them cool.
Once cooled, transfer the vegetables to a bowl and add: egg, Grana Padano, and salt.
Add white pepper and garlic powder as well.
Begin forming the balls by taking portions of the mixture, shape them and roll them in breadcrumbs.
Place them in the air fryer basket on a sheet of oiled parchment paper.
Cook at 356°F for 20 minutes; halfway through cooking, turn the balls for even browning.
The vegetable balls in the air fryer will even tempt children who are usually hesitant in front of a plate of vegetables — with this recipe you’ll win them over!
