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 muffins recipe, they are easy to prepare, light, and irresistibly crispy 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 to enhance the flavor. My version is ideal for those looking for a tasty but lighter dish without giving up the satisfaction of frying: instead of milk, I use water to soften the bread, still obtaining soft and tasty meatballs.
Thanks to the cooking in Air Fryer , you will only need a little oil to achieve a golden and appetizing result. But if you really can’t give up 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 for dipping into tomato sauce or serving with a sauce of your choice.
Few ingredients and few steps: after squeezing the bread well, mix all the ingredients until you get a soft but compact dough. The meatballs are then formed by hand, rolled in breadcrumbs, sprayed with a little oil, and placed in the air fryer basket without overlapping.
Let’s get started! 😄🍴
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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 meatballs
- 7 oz stale bread
- 1 egg
- 1.4 oz Grana Padano grated (or Parmesan)
- 2 tbsp 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, put the crumbled stale bread with water and let it rest for 10 minutes
After the resting time, squeeze the bread well and mix with all the ingredients, except the breadcrumbs, blending thoroughly. I added 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs later because the mixture was very soft; if your mixture is already compact, it is not necessary to add, or add it little by little until reaching the right consistency.
Take a piece of bread mixture and shape it into balls. Pour the breadcrumbs into a small tray or plate and roll the balls completely covering them and making it stick well
As you prepare them, transfer them to the grill or tray of the fryer, lightly oiled, without overlapping. Spray oil on top too
Cook at 392°F (200°C) for 15 minutes and until the surface is well golden
Take out the drawer or tray. If you need to do a second batch, it may take a few minutes less than the first cooking
Here are your Bread Balls 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 (170°C), they will be crispy like freshly made.
Tips
Brush a bit of oil on the drawer grill or tray to prevent the balls from sticking during cooking
Turn or shake the drawer for even cooking if necessary
Variations
For these balls, you can use white bread or fresh bread, preferably slightly compact.
You can fill them with a cube of mozzarella or soft cheese in the center for a melting effect
Add spices, aromatic herbs, and garlic powder for a stronger touch
Serve them with yogurt sauce or a simple tomato sauce
