Air Fryer Recipe
Stilton and Apple Stuffed Mushrooms
A delightful and easy-to-make Stilton and apple stuffed mushrooms recipe, perfect for air frying.
Ingredients
- 12 large flat-cap mushrooms, cleaned with stems removed
- 100g Stilton cheese, crumbled
- 1 medium apple, peeled and finely diced
- 2 tablespoons walnuts, chopped (optional)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Method
- Prepare the mushroom caps by cleaning them and removing the stems.
- In a bowl, combine Stilton cheese, diced apple, walnuts, and garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Stuff each mushroom cap with the mixture.
- Preheat air fryer to 180°C (356°F) and air fry mushrooms for 8-10 minutes until tender and golden.
Why this works in an air fryer
The air fryer’s fast convection evaporates surface moisture from the mushroom caps before the filling fully melts, so they soften without stewing. Stilton’s fat renders into the apple and garlic, while the walnuts add dry crunch that offsets the mushroom’s high water content.
Equipment notes
Assumes a 5–6 litre basket holding 12 large flat mushrooms in one snug layer; cook in batches if they touch heavily. In a single-drawer model, place larger caps at the outer edges where airflow is strongest; in a dual-zone fryer, split evenly and check the smaller drawer 1–2 minutes earlier.
Common pitfalls
- Watery puddles under the caps by minute 8? The mushrooms were too wet or overcrowded; pat them dry thoroughly and leave gaps so steam can escape.
- Filling browned but mushrooms still firm? Caps are too thick or overfilled; reduce to 170°C and cook 2–4 minutes longer so the mushroom flesh catches up.
- Stilton leaking through the basket? The caps have torn or the stuffing is mounded too high; use intact flat caps and press the filling just level with the rim.
- Apple pieces still sharp and crunchy? They were diced too large; cut to 3–4mm dice so they soften within the short air-fryer time.
Variations & substitutions
- Use ripe pear instead of apple for a softer, sweeter filling; it releases more juice, so keep the dice small and avoid overfilling.
- Swap Stilton for soft goat’s cheese for a milder result; it browns less aggressively, so expect a paler top rather than a golden crust.
- Use pecans or hazelnuts instead of walnuts; they toast faster in the dry airflow, so check at 8 minutes for scorching.
- Add a teaspoon of fine breadcrumbs to the filling if the apples are very juicy; they absorb moisture and make the stuffing hold together more firmly.
Storage & reheating
Keep leftovers chilled for up to 2 days, then reheat in the air fryer at 170°C for 3–5 minutes until hot and the filling is bubbling.
Nutrition
Calories: 250
