The tortilla kebab in the air fryer, also called kebab skewers, are an innovative recipe that has become viral online, and I wanted to reinterpret them in a lighter but still irresistible version. They are made with only three main ingredients, are super easy and quick to make… and also great fun to assemble!
The result? Really surprising. At the first bite you perceive a light crispness on the outside that immediately gives way to an incredibly soft and juicy core. The meat remains very tender and almost melt-in-the-mouth: it literally melts in your mouth, giving a warm and irresistible sensation. It is precisely this contrast between the slightly firmer exterior and the soft, stringy interior that makes these skewers so special and impossible to forget.
Perfect for a tasty dinner or a different lunch, they will win everyone over at the first bite! Below you also find instructions to cook them not only in the air fryer, but also in the oven (increasing time and temperature) or in a pan.
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Budget
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Cooking time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 pieces
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 oz provola (or melty cheese)
- 4 tortillas or flatbreads
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- as needed cooking spray
- 2/3 cup Greek yogurt (0% fat)
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Tools
- Air fryer
- Air fryer parchment sheets
Steps
Start by trimming the edges of the tortillas (or flatbreads) to obtain squares of the same size.
A small tip: don’t throw away the trimmings! You can cut them into triangles, season with oil, salt and spices (for example smoked paprika or herbs like sage, thyme and oregano), give a final spray of oil and cook in the air fryer at 356°F for 5-7 minutes: you’ll get tasty, crunchy nachos/chips!
In a bowl, combine the ground meat with smoked paprika and salt. No extra oil is needed. Work the mixture with your hands until the spices are evenly distributed. Take the tortillas and spread a thin layer of the ground meat over the entire surface.
Also add the previously grated provola on top. Repeat the operation with all 4 tortillas. Finally, stack them one on top of the other to form a sort of tortilla “lasagna”.
Divide the resulting block into four equal strips.
Turn the strips on their side so the layers are visible vertically, and bring them close together. Turn the block and insert four long skewers perpendicular to the strips, one for each section. Now cut between one skewer and the next to separate the four kebab skewers. This way you’ll get compact skewers ready for cooking.
Air fryer cooking:
Place the skewers in the air fryer basket (you can use perforated parchment sheets if you prefer, available here: air fryer parchment sheets), give a spray of cooking spray and cook at 392°F for 10 minutes, turning them over halfway through.
Oven cooking:
You can also bake them in a convection oven, again with a spray of oil, at 392°F for about 15 minutes or until golden.
Pan cooking:
Alternatively, you can cook them in a pan over low heat with a drizzle of oil, covered with a lid. Cook all 4 sides, turning often, for about 10-12 minutes or until each side is golden and the meat is fully cooked.Serve your skewers hot and cheesy, perhaps accompanied by your favorite sauce. Mine is very simple: mix Greek yogurt with mayonnaise, ketchup and smoked paprika. Enjoy!
Valentina’s Tips
• Alternatives: if you prefer a milder flavor, you can replace the beef with ground chicken or turkey. If you love stronger tastes, try using crumbled sausage (do not add extra salt). Regarding the cheese, provola is perfect for its smoky taste, but you can opt for cheddar for a more “American” touch, emmental or a block mozzarella (less watery) for extreme stretchiness.
• Vegetarian version: making a vegetarian variant is very simple! You can use a plant-based mince made from soy or peas, which behaves exactly like meat. Alternatively, you can create layers with flavored spreadable cheese and very thinly sliced grilled vegetables (such as zucchini or eggplant), or use a firm chickpea hummus as a protein base instead of meat.
• Waste-not corner (zero waste): the round parts of the tortillas you removed at the start are a precious resource—don’t throw them away! You can transform them into an irresistible snack in minutes. Cut the trimmings into triangles to mimic nachos, place them in a bowl and season with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, salt and your favorite spices: smoked paprika is classic, but try also a mix of aromatic herbs like sage, thyme and oregano for a more Mediterranean aroma. Once seasoned, give a final spray of oil and cook in the air fryer at 356°F for about 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. They will become super crunchy chips, perfect to nibble on while the skewers finish cooking!
• Air fryer: to cook these I used the COSORI Turbo Blaze 6 Liter air fryer, which has a stronger fan for very fast cooking. You can find it here: air fryer.
Don’t miss the latest recipe 👉 spicy breaded mozzarellas in the air fryer: like the fried ones but with only a spray of oil! And with an amazing spicy sauce that will leave you speechless…
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