The Bread Balls in Air Fryer are a traditional recipe revisited in a modern way, without losing their authentic flavor. Perfect for recovering stale bread, just like in the bread muffin recipe, they are easy to prepare, light, and irresistibly crunchy on the outside, with a soft and fragrant heart.
The ingredients used are simple and genuine: soaked stale bread, eggs, grated cheese, parsley, and a pinch of salt, pepper, and chives for extra flavor. My version is ideal for those looking for a tasty but lighter dish without sacrificing the satisfaction of frying: instead of milk, I use water to soften the bread, still obtaining soft and tasty balls.
Thanks to the cooking in the Air Fryer , you only need to use a little oil to achieve a golden and appetizing result. But if you cannot give up the classic frying, cook them in a pan with hot oil.
The Bread Balls in Air Fryer are a versatile dish suitable for the whole family: perfect to dip in tomato sauce or serve with a sauce of your choice.
Few ingredients and few steps: after thoroughly squeezing the bread, mix all the ingredients until you get a soft but compact dough. The balls are then formed with hands, rolled in breadcrumbs, sprayed with a bit of oil, and placed in the air fryer’s basket without overlapping.
Let’s go make them! 😄🍴
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very economical
- Rest time: 10 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 25
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
Ingredients for 25 balls
- 7 oz stale bread
- 1 egg
- 1.4 oz Grated Grana Padano (or Parmesan)
- 2 tbsps breadcrumbs
- to taste chives
- to taste salt and pepper
- to taste water
- 1 bunch chopped parsley
- to taste breadcrumbs
- A few sprays extra virgin olive oil
Tools
Recommended tools
- 1 Air Fryer
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Spoon
- 1 Plate or small tray
Steps
Preparation
In a bowl, place the broken stale bread with water and let it rest for 10 minutes
After the rest time, squeeze the bread well and add all the ingredients, except the breadcrumbs, mixing thoroughly. I added 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs later because the mixture was very soft; if your dough is already firm, it is not necessary to add it, or add it little by little until you reach the right consistency.
Take a piece of bread mixture and shape it into balls. Pour the breadcrumbs in a small tray or plate and roll the balls covering them completely and making it adhere well
As you prepare them, place them on the grid or tray of the fryer, lightly oiled, without overlapping them. Spray oil on the surface too
Cook at 392°F for 15 minutes until the surface is well golden
Remove the basket or tray. If you have to make a second batch, it might take a few minutes less than the first cooking
Here your Bread Balls are ready, serve them and enjoy with the whole family☺️
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Storage Tips and Variations
Storage
Bread Balls can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days in an airtight container. They can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator before cooking or cooked and reheated in the fryer for a few minutes at 338°F, they will become crispy again as if just made.
Tips
Grease the drawer grid or tray with a bit of oil to prevent the balls from sticking during cooking
Turn them or shake the drawer for even cooking if necessary
Variations
To prepare these balls, you can use white bread or fresh bread, preferably slightly compact.
You can stuff them with a cube of mozzarella or soft cheese in the center for a stretchy effect
Add spices, herbs, and garlic powder for a bolder flavor
Serve them with a yogurt sauce or a simple tomato sauce
