Today I’m bringing you into my kitchen to make one of the seasonal recipes I always look forward to: Crispy Breaded Asparagus in the Air Fryer.
I know, I know that asparagus already look gorgeous and are delicious even simply boiled and dressed with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. But when I bread them and cook them in the air fryer, the story changes completely: they become irresistible, crispy outside and soft inside. They disappear from the plate before I even manage to photograph them properly.
This is one of those recipes I ended up making almost by chance, one day when I wanted something tasty but didn’t want to spend hours at the stove, nor feel guilty about the oil from classic frying.
My tip? Don’t skip drying the asparagus well before breading them: it’s a small detail but makes a huge difference to the success of the coating. And if you have an oil sprayer, bring it out: it’s the real secret for perfect browning in the air fryer.
Ready? Let’s begin. Let me know if you try them.
Anna Giovannini-lappetitovienmangiando
If you like asparagus, don’t miss the upcoming recipes:
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Cooking time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 servings
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring
Ingredients
- 1 bunch (about 1 lb / 450 g) asparagus
- 2 eggs
- to taste salt
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- to taste flour
- to taste breadcrumbs
Tools
- 1 Air fryer
- 3 Plates
- 1 Oil sprayer
- 1 Parchment paper
Preparation
The first thing I do is clean the fresh asparagus well. I remove the hardest, woodier part of the stem. I rinse them under running water and dry them thoroughly with a kitchen towel or paper towels.
I prepare three plates in a row, as you do for any classic breading. On the first I put the flour, on the second I beat the two eggs with a pinch of salt, on the third I pour the breadcrumbs. I keep everything ready before starting, so the process goes quickly and smoothly.
I take each asparagus and pass it first in the beaten egg, then in the flour, again in the egg and finally in the breadcrumbs.
I line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and lightly spray it with extra virgin olive oil, then arrange the asparagus on top, trying not to overlap them. If there are many I do two batches. Then I generously drizzle extra virgin olive oil on the surface. This is the secret to achieving an even browning without deep-frying. I cook at 356°F for about 12-14 minutes, turning them halfway through and oiling them again. Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus.
I serve my Crispy Breaded Asparagus in the Air Fryer immediately as soon as they’re ready, because they are best when the coating is still crunchy.
I love them as a tasty side dish, as an appetizer or even as finger food for an aperitif.
Tips, variations and storage
Breaded asparagus are definitely tastier freshly made. If you have leftovers, you can store them in the refrigerator in a closed container for up to 1 day, but the crust will inevitably lose its crunch.
To revive them, reheat them in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 356°F.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook them in a fan-assisted oven at 392°F for 15-18 minutes, turning them halfway through.
FAQ (Questions & Answers)
Do asparagus in the air fryer really get crispy?
Yes, and very much so. The important thing is not to overlap them in the basket and to spray the oil evenly.
How long does it take to cook them?
About 12-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. If they are very thin, even just 8 minutes.
Can I use seasoned breadcrumbs?
Absolutely yes.
