If you are looking for the perfect appetizer for your next event, look no further because these air-fried pickles dipped in ranch or your favorite dipping sauce garnished with dill is the best. They are very crunchy coated with seasoned flour and panko for the best crispiness. Learn how to prepare them to wow your guests.
What are air fryer fried pickles?
These are dill pickle slices coated in seasoned flour, buttermilk, eggs, and panko breadcrumbs, then fried in an air fryer.
Facts
These air-fried pickles are as crispy as if done in a pot of hot oil.
Pickles are fermented or preserved fruits and vegetables in an acidic solution or salted water brine. Cucumbers are soaked in water, spices, vinegar, and salt until they are no longer susceptible to spoilage. This process is called pickling, and we call the cucumbers pickle.
Origin
Pickles are native to Mesopotamia more than 4000 years ago when pickling food in an acidic brine was to preserve food. In ancient years before electricity usage, foods were salted or place in brine to preserve the food to keep them a little longer. No refrigerator was available to keep foods chill to have them serving a little longer. Cooking, salting, and pickling was their only option then.
On what occasions are they served?
These fried pickles are perfect for appetizers and finger food at any event. They accompany meals as a side dish too.
What pairs well with them?
They pair well with ranch dipping sauce or any of your favorite dipping sauces. Add them as sides with a meat sandwich or grilled cheese. Pair these fries with sweet and spicy foods.
How do the main ingredients work?
Buttermilk acts as a tenderizer and gives products a fluffy texture.
Eggs help to bine the ingredients together.
Panko gives a crispy exterior.
How is it done?
The pickles are first dried to rid excess liquid. By doing this, they will be better to bread. In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, dried dill, salt, pepper, garlic powder, egg, and buttermilk and set aside. You will need a cooking spray to grease the air fryer basket, or using an air fryer parchment paper or greased paper works just fine too. In another bowl, add the panko. With each slice of dill, coat them first in the flour and buttermilk mixture. The mixture may be thick and sticky. Coat them again in the bowl with the panko and lay them on a tray or plate.
Freeze the breaded pickles for 20 minutes before adding them to the air fryer. Fry them for 7 to 10m minutes or longer, depending on how crispy you may need them. Serve them warm with some ranch dip or any other dipping sauce that you like garnished with dill.
Why should you make these fried pickles?
Including pickles in your diet may help with weight loss because of their low-calorie count. These fermented cucumbers provide good bacteria called probiotics which is good for gut health and digestion. They are high in antioxidants that help to fight some diseases. They also help to curb sugar spikes because of their salty taste. Using the air fryer is a healthy alternative to deep-frying the pickles. This method has fewer calories that are diet-friendly.
Key term/words
Fermentation is converting carbohydrates to acid or alcohol by using yeast or bacteria that is free from oxygen.
Pickling is the process of preserving food and lengthening its shelf life by soaking food into a brine or acid. The process affects the texture, taste, and flavor of the food.
Brine is highly concentrated saltwater.
Question and answer
Question Can other breadcrumbs suffice?
Answer Yes, regular bread crumbs or seasoned breadcrumbs works just fine too, but bear in mind that the panko gives you a better crust and crispness.
Question Why fry them in batches?
Answer Frying them in batches will prevent them from sticking to each other. The air will circulate better and result in even cooking.
These air fryer pickles are tasty and pair well with any dipping sauce of choice. They contain vitamins and minerals that the body needs to function well. They are the perfect snack to enhance gut health and digestion. Air frying is a new method of cooking that is healthier and more efficient. Don’t just have your dill pickles in a burger or sandwich, be creative with them. Try this crunchy air fryer fried pickles with ranch dip and experience the flavor you have been missing.
Easy Air Fryer Crunchy Fried Pickles
Crispy fried pickles are the best appetizer option served with your favorite dipping sauce to spice things up.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups panko
- 1/2 tsp grounded garlic
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 lb Dill pickle slices
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- Cooking spray to grease
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, dried dill, grounded garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Dry the pickles with a paper towel to soak up excess juice.
- Add the eggs and buttermilk in the seasoned flour.
- In another mixing bowl, add the panko and set aside.
- Spray the air fryer basket with the cooking spray or use air fryer grease paper if you have it available.
- Coat the pickles in the buttermilk and flour mixture then in the bowl with the panko. The buttermilk mixture will be thick and sticky but this will add fluff to the pickles.
- Lay the coated pickles on a tray or plate and freeze for 20 minutes.
- After freezing, spray the pickles with the cooking spray and add them to the air fryer. Do not let them touch each other. do them in batches to avoid them sticking together.
- Fry them for 8-10 mins at 400 degrees. Turn them 5 minutes into frying. For extra crunch, you may fry longer as different brand air fryers fry at their own speed.
- Serve the pickles with ranch dip garnished with dill.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 142kcal
