There has been no better time to be vegan; the lifestyle is rapidly gaining popularity around the world, and vegan options abound. However, now that virtually every junk-food dish has been veganized, a generic vegan diet doesn’t always equate to a healthy diet. If your New Year’s resolution involves a bit less fast-food and fewer trips to your favorite bakery, it might be time to invest in an air fryer. Recreate your favorite dishes, from fried rice to brownies, with this innovative appliance that will quickly earn a permanent spot on your countertop.
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How do air fryers work?
Despite their name, air fryers don’t actually fry food. In fact, they’re actually more similar to ovens. But there are key differences in their size and their efficiency. Air fryers are small, compact, and easy to place on the countertop and then put away after use. Plus, they also heat up far quicker than ovens.
“A heating element near the top of the fryer emits heat into the air in the cooking chamber (radiation), while a fan circulates the heated air rapidly around it (convection),” explains BBC Science Focus. “This combination creates a very intense heat transfer, resulting in a cooking method that’s closer to frying than baking.”
Is using an air fryer healthy?
Air fryers are considered far healthier than the alternative, which is deep-frying. And this is because, unlike the latter, they don’t require foods to be completely submerged in oil, which results in a lower fat content. In fact, research suggests that deep-fat fryers use up to 50 times more oil than air fryers.
That said, how healthy your meal is still depends on the foods you cook. Air fryers are a healthier alternative for cooking products like French fries or hash browns, but they won’t make these foods healthy, as such. (It can’t reduce salt content, for example!)
Vegan air-fryer recipes
Frozen foods aside, from tofu to cauliflower to brownies, you can make several different ingredients taste delicious using an air fryer. If you’ve just bought yours, or you’re looking to try something new, here are some of our favorite vegan recipes.
1 Orange Tofu
This oil-free tofu is sweet and spicy, crispy yet tender—perfectly reminiscent of fast-food orange chicken but without cruelty or excess calories. It’s also quick to throw together. You can have dinner on the table faster than Postmates could get to your door, and when your meal is homemade, there’s no need to tip. Serve with a side of steamed broccoli and regular or cauliflower rice for a deliciously nutrient-dense weeknight meal.
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Glue & Glitter
2 Fried Rice
Another takeout classic, fried rice gets a healthy, veganized spin with an air fryer. Swapping out cauliflower rice for white rice also cuts the calories and amps up the fiber so you’ll feel full, not deprived. The recipe is rounded out with tofu (or your favorite vegan protein) and a generous portion of veggies, making for a complete meal you can plop in your belly while watching Netflix all night long.
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The Foodie Eats
3 Buffalo Cauliflower
Buffalo cauliflower has become somewhat of a trend in restaurants; even non-vegan places have added it to their menus. While subbing cauliflower for chicken is a great start, many of these establishments still deep-fry this tasty appetizer and use an eyebrow-raising amount of butter in the sauce. This recipe cuts way down on the vegan butter and skips the deep-fryer altogether. The result is an equally satisfying snack that won’t weigh you down later.
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4 Golden Turmeric Falafel
Falafel is a vegan staple, but many store-bought and restaurant varieties deep-fry these traditional chickpea patties. Get the same crispy edge with a soft and creamy interior by using your air fryer instead. Add some turmeric for some color and flavor, then serve your perfectly “fried” fritters with vegan tzatziki sauce and tabouli.
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5 Animal Style Fries
Who says you can’t enjoy the occasional French fry while on a health kick? Just use your air fryer. But don’t settle for simple ketchup and mustard to dress up those fries—make them animal-style. It may seem a bit indulgent, but this homemade special sauce and the caramelized onions are both oil-free. Go ahead, get wild. A sustainable diet is one that you enjoy!
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6 Apple Blueberry Crumble
For some people, if there’s leftover pie in the fridge, it becomes breakfast. It’s a fun occasional treat, but not exactly healthy eating approved. When craving dessert, treat yourself to an individual, air-fried fruit pie, and you won’t have to worry about any leftovers calling to you in the morning.
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Veggies Save the Day
7 Small Batch Brownies
Craving a brownie, but don’t have the time, energy, or willpower to resist over-indulging in an entire batch? These oil-free, small batch bars of chocolatey goodness come together quickly and use basic ingredients you likely have on hand. You can also customize them (add chocolate chips, nuts, or a bit of espresso powder for a personal mocha brownie). Whatever you choose, be sure to serve with a tall glass of non-dairy milk.
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For more vegan air-fryer recipes, read:
Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
