If you’re looking for a tasty and original idea to serve at the table, these parmesan potato snacks are the perfect solution. They are very simple potato balls, made with few ingredients but really rich in taste, ideal for an appetizer or as an unusual side dish.
The great advantage of this recipe is the cooking method: they are non-fried because they are conveniently prepared in an air fryer, achieving incredible crispness in no time.
If you don’t have an air fryer, no problem: they can also be easily cooked in the oven (increasing the degrees and time slightly), or if you prefer, you can decide to fry them in the classic way. You’ll find all the necessary instructions for each cooking method below, in the procedure.
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 21 oz potatoes
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 oz grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for topping as needed)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- as needed breadcrumbs
- as needed smoked paprika
- as needed thyme
- as needed extra virgin olive oil
Tools
- Air Fryer
Steps
Let’s start preparing our snacks with the main ingredient: potatoes. First, we boil them in plenty of boiling water until they are nice and soft. Once cooked, we drain and mash them well in a bowl. We add the flour, Parmesan, a pinch of salt, and some smoked paprika, which will give an extra touch of character. Mix everything well to blend the flavors.
Now let’s prepare our balls: with hands slightly greased with oil (so the mixture won’t stick), we take a little less than a tablespoon of mixture at a time and form small regular spheres between the palms of our hands. Continue until all the mixture is used.
Next, we move on to the breading: in a plate, mix the breadcrumbs with thyme, another pinch of salt, and a bit of paprika. Roll each ball in the breadcrumb mix, making sure it adheres well to the entire surface.
Place the balls directly in the basket of our air fryer, spray with a little oil and cook at 375°F for about 15 minutes. Remember to shake the basket or stir halfway through cooking to ensure they turn golden brown evenly.
If you prefer to use the traditional oven, simply place the snacks on a baking tray with parchment paper and bake at 400°F for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown. If you instead opt for frying, dip a few balls at a time in plenty of hot seed oil until they are well browned, then drain them on absorbent paper.
Once ready and crispy, we take them out of the oven and finish with a final sprinkle of Parmesan on top before serving.
Valentina’s Tips
Cheese Variation: If you don’t like Parmesan, you can replace it with Pecorino Romano for a stronger taste, or add a cube of provolone or scamorza to the center of each ball for a super stringy effect.
Herbs and Spices: Smoked paprika gives an incredible touch, but if you prefer classic flavors, you can use chopped rosemary or turmeric to give an intense yellow color. If you like it spicy, add a pinch of chili powder to the breadcrumbs.
Flour Substitution: If you want to make the recipe even lighter or suitable for different dietary needs, you can use rice flour or cornstarch instead of all-purpose flour; they will make the center of the ball even softer.
Storage: These snacks are best when freshly made for maximum crunchiness. If any are left over, you can store them in the refrigerator for a day and reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes to make them crispy again.
The Trick for the Bread Coating: For an even thicker and crunchier crust (“crunch” style), you can replace the classic breadcrumbs with panko or with coarsely crushed corn flakes that are not sweetened.
Don’t miss the latest recipe for the 👉 stuffed piadipizza in an air fryer: in an amazing version with a stuffed crust!
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