Air Fryer Recipe
Crispy Butter Bean Fritters
Butter bean fritters achieve their best texture when the outside is craggy and crisp, while the inside remains creamy. The air fryer is ideal for this dish as it quickly removes surface moisture, allowing the fritters to brown beautifully with minimal oil.
Ingredients
- 2 x 400g tins butter beans, drained and rinsed well, about 480g drained weight
- 1 small shallot, very finely chopped, about 40g
- 2 garlic cloves, grated or crushed
- 1 unwaxed lemon, zest finely grated, plus 1 tbsp juice
- 15g fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 10g fresh coriander, finely chopped (use extra parsley if you dislike coriander)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ¼ tsp chilli flakes, optional
- 1 medium egg, beaten
- 35g gram flour or plain flour
- 45g panko breadcrumbs
- ¾ tsp fine sea salt, plus extra to finish
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1½ tbsp olive oil, divided, or olive oil spray
Method
- Drain the butter beans thoroughly, rinse off the tin liquid, then spread them on a clean tea towel or kitchen paper for 10 minutes. Pat the tops dry before mixing.
- Tip the beans into a bowl and mash roughly with a fork or potato masher until about two-thirds are crushed and one-third remain in small pieces.
- Add the shallot, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, ground coriander, chilli flakes if using, salt and a good grind of black pepper. Stir firmly.
- Mix in the beaten egg, then add the gram flour and 25g of the panko breadcrumbs. Leave the mixture to stand for 8–10 minutes.
- Shape into 10–12 patties, each about 45–50g and roughly 1.5cm thick. Press the edges neatly, then scatter the remaining 20g panko on a plate and press both sides of each fritter lightly into it.
- Chill the shaped fritters in the fridge for 15 minutes if time allows.
- Preheat the air fryer to 190°C for 3 minutes. Brush or spray the basket with a little oil, then arrange the fritters in a single layer with space between them. Brush or spray the tops with the remaining oil.
- Air fry at 190°C for 7 minutes, then turn carefully with tongs or a silicone spatula. Cook for a further 4–6 minutes until deeply golden on the ridges and hot through.
- Rest the fritters on a rack or plate for 3 minutes before serving. Finish with a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon.
Nutrition
Calories: 250
