Fennel Pizzaiola in Air Fryer is a rich and tasty side dish. This preparation was born from my indecision whether to bring the classic side dish of air fryer gratinated fennel to the table or to make Mediterranean-style fennel, a recipe that includes tomato sauce, oregano, etc. And I thought… what if I combined the two preparations???!! And here is Fennel Pizzaiola in the air fryer.
A very simple and quick recipe: you put the sliced fennel in a baking dish without boiling them, and add the tomato puree or pulp, olives, capers, anchovies, and oregano. Once ready, sprinkle with Parmesan or Grana cheese and cook for a few more minutes until you get a nice gratin on the surface. Fennel Pizzaiola can also be perfect as a second course.
Fennel is good and healthy, another recipe that my guests really liked is this Sweet and Sour Fennel in Air Fryer I recommend you try it.
You may also be interested in these side dishes, click on the links to see the recipes:
- Cost: Very economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: servings for 2 fennels
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 2 fennels
- 1.25 cups tomato pulp (or tomato puree)
- 1.5 oz Leccine olives (or Taggiasche)
- 0.35 oz salt-packed capers
- 1 clove garlic
- 3 fillets anchovies in oil
- to taste salt and pepper
- to taste dried oregano
- extra virgin olive oil
- 1 oz grated Parmesan (or grated Grana Padano)
Tools
- 1 Baking dish
- 1 Air fryer
If you want advice on how to use the Air Fryer, we’re also on Facebook with our group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18EtPQrk9g/
Steps
Place the capers to desalt in cold water and move on to the fennel. Remove the stems, cut the base of the core and the tougher outer leaves, wash, dry, and slice them not too thickly
After slicing, transfer them to a baking dish and add all the ingredients, the desalted and squeezed capers, the broken anchovies, the olives, the tomato sauce, salt, pepper, and oregano except for the Parmesan, which will be used for gratinating
Place the baking dish in the air fryer and cook at 356°F for 15 minutes, stirring them a couple of times during cooking. At the end of the program, poke them with a fork and if you want them a bit more cooked, continue for a few more minutes. I prefer them a bit crunchy and not too cooked.
This is the result of the first cooking
Now add the grated Parmesan on top, spray with a bit of oil to prevent the Parmesan from flying
Put the baking dish back in the air fryer at 392°F for 5 minutes
Here is the ready Fennel Pizzaiola
You can store them in the fridge covered with plastic wrap for a couple of days and you can reheat them in the air fryer when needed
