I received product to test and review. All opinions and recipes are my own.
The holidays are over and a new year is upon us which means New Year’s resolutions, healthier diets, exercise and determination to live in a different way. One of the most exciting things I looked forward in the new year was trying lighter recipes especially with an air fryer. Our family likes fried foods occasionally but I completely try to avoid it because of the mess and the hassle.
The Avalon Bay Air Fryer became very comfortable in our kitchen and promised fried foods with no guilt and all the pleasure. I could not wait to try my first air fried food. As I perused the manual, I noticed all the options I had to prepare in the fryer and then everything that was not listed was based on experimentation.
What is an air fryer? I had not really heard of one before I received it, but I was VERY intrigued to see how foods would turn out. Per the manufacturer:
The Air Fryer uses a combination of high-speed circulation, which makes the hot air rapidly circulate within the AirFryer. All the ingredients within the non-stick food basket will be heated at once, as the heat will come in through all sides. This guarantees that with the Avalon Bay Air Fryer your food will be cooked evenly due to the optimal heat distribution.
Not only is this product advertised to fry your foods without any oil, but it also grills, roasts and bakes different foods. There is a 30-minute timer to cook any foods at any length of time between that time and it cooks between 200 and 400 degrees. A 3.2 L metal basket slides into the front of the fryer and allows the cook to place anything from frozen foods, fresh meat to potatoes and fish. The sky is the limit! After the recipe has cooked, the timer shuts off and alerts the cook with a bell.
As I tested the air fryer, I started with frozen breaded products like french fries, onion rings, and fish sticks. In 10 minutes we had a quick hot lunch available to eat. It seemed so easy and painless. I then started making fresh foods and I then things did not start cooking like I wanted to. Sweet potato chips, sliced by a mandoline, did not come out crispy but soggy and half cooked. I tried twice with better results but it was not my favorite.
When I finally came to a food I liked, I made a list of recipes that worked. One of my favorite foods to cook in the air fryer are corn tortilla chips. Tortillas are very popular in our home and well, sometimes, we just do not buy them in the store because it is not in our budget or else they are high in calories. When I decided to air fry the tortillas, I felt like the result would be promising. In 10 minutes, 5 corn tortillas, that had been cut into triangles, became chips.
I sprayed the chips with Pam olive oil spray and sprinkled with salt. The result was delicious!! Now I could have chips at any desired moment. When I found out I had this result, I immediately knew was recipe I could make lighter: Chilaquiles. This is a popular dish in Mexico using corn tortilla chips but usually using chips that have been lightly fried in oil. While I love the flavor of the chips, the calorie content is so high. Now the only calories to count for the dish were the toppings.
The total dish took 20 minutes to prepare, cook, and serve. I made the sauce with canned tomato sauce, onions, poblano, garlic and then I sprinkled some Mexican cheese, shredded chicken and sour cream and it was a done deal. It was so delicious and I was happy to know that I could NOW have this meal any time and not fret about splattering oil or even an oven that emits lots of heat. The convenience is great.
Skinny Air Fryer Chicken Chilaquiles
by Noelle Kelly
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Keywords: cook boil air fry breakfast brunch lunch entree vegetarian vegetarian recipes on recipage low-carb gluten-free oil free corn tortillas chicken eggs tomatoes Mexican
Ingredients (2 servings)
1-8 ounce chicken breast
1- 10 ounce can Rotel tomatoes
1- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 small yellow onion
1/2 poblano pepper
3 garlic cloves
10 corn tortillas
4 Tablespoons Mexican cotija cheese or feta cheese, crumbled
4 Tablespoons sour cream or crema
red onions, sliced
Instructions
In a small pot, add the chicken with some bay leaves and pour water over chicken. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes. Remove chicken from water once cook and cool. Once cooled, shred chicken.
Meanwhile, prepare sauce in a blender. Add the canned tomatoes, onions, poblano, garlic and blend until smooth. Place sauce in a pot and bring to a low boil and cook for 10 minutes. Salt to taste.
Slice the corn tortillas into diamond shape slices. Cut a set of 5 tortillas in half and then with each half, cut into 4 triangle shapes. Place the 5 tortillas in the metal basket of the air fryer. Spray with olive oil non-stick spray and toss. Add some salt and toss again. Set the heat to 392 and set for 10 minutes. Depending on the brand of tortillas you might have to cook between 10-15 minutes.
Once the timer goes off, remove metal basket and empty corn tortilla chips into a bowl. Repeat process with 5 other tortillas.
Divide the tomato sauce between each bowl and toss the sauce into the tortilla chips. Add 1/3 cup shredded chicken, sprinkle with cheese, and drizzle with crema. Garnish with red onions and devour without guilt.
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Although I have only several examples of how this air fryer works, there are 8 other bloggers that have shared their recipes using it in different ways, Go and check out their recipes and then enter the AWESOME giveaway for your own opportunity to win your own air fryer.
If you would like to try your very own recipes using an air fryer, check out the two different options on the Air and Water website, use the code oilfree – and it will give a $15.00 discount of an air fryer. Check out constant updates on their products on their Facebook page as well.
Check out these 9 recipes made in the new Avalon Bay Air Fryer from these
food bloggers friends of mine, there is even a dessert!
Appetizers
Sriracha & Honey Tossed Calamari by Colleen of Souffle Bombay
Philly Cheesesteak Eggrolls by Sarah of How I Pinch A Penny
Air Fryer Breaded Raviolis by Linda of Giggles Gobbles & Gulps
Coconut Shrimp with Spicy Marmalade Dipping Sauce by Kellie of The Suburban Soapbox
Sides
Lemony Green Beans by Heather of Real: The Kitchen and Beyond
Air Fryer Baked Parsley Potatoes from Courtney of Courtney’s Sweets
Entrees
Skinny Air Fryer Chicken Chilaquiles from Noelle of Opera Singer In The Kitchen
Air Fryer One Dish Crustless Tomato & Onion Quiche from Lauryn of The Vintage Mom
Desserts
Nutella Apple Pies by Larisha of We’re Parents
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