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Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans

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Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup cold sparkling water (or regular cold water)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking spray (for coating)
  • Fresh lemon wedges (for serving)
  • A pinch of sea salt (optional, for topping)

Ingredient Highlights for Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans

  • Green Beans: Green beans are not only nutritious, but they also provide a satisfying crunch that works perfectly with a crispy coating. They are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.
  • Cornstarch: Cornstarch helps create a lighter, crispier batter, giving the green beans that signature tempura crunch without the heaviness.
  • Baking Powder: A little baking powder is added to the batter to help it puff up slightly, resulting in an even crispier texture once air-fried.
  • Sparkling Water: Sparkling water is key in giving the batter that light, airy quality that makes the tempura coating so crispy. The bubbles help to make the batter light and crunchy, just like traditional tempura.

Instructions

Prepare the Green Beans:

  1. Trim the Green Beans: Start by trimming the ends off the fresh green beans, removing any tough or fibrous parts. If you prefer, you can also cut them into smaller, bite-sized pieces.

  2. Blanch the Green Beans (Optional): For a softer texture, you can blanch the green beans by boiling them for about 2-3 minutes and then immediately transferring them into an ice bath. This step is optional but can help achieve a more tender inside while still keeping the outside crispy.

Prepare the Tempura Batter:

  1. Make the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt.

  2. Add Sparkling Water: Gradually pour in the cold sparkling water (or regular cold water if you prefer) into the dry ingredients while stirring gently. The goal is to create a batter that’s smooth but slightly thick. Don’t overmix – the batter should be lumpy, not too smooth, to give that crispy texture once fried.

Coat the Green Beans:

  1. Coat the Green Beans: Dip each green bean into the tempura batter, ensuring it’s fully coated. Shake off any excess batter, as too much batter may prevent the beans from becoming crisp.

  2. Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 3-5 minutes.

Air Fry the Green Beans:

  1. Arrange in Air Fryer Basket: Lightly coat the air fryer basket with olive oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange the battered green beans in a single layer in the basket. Make sure they don’t overlap too much to ensure even cooking. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

  2. Air Fry the Green Beans: Cook the green beans at 375°F (190°C) for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time. The green beans should be golden brown and crispy when done.

Serve and Enjoy:

  1. Serve with Lemon Wedges: Once the green beans are crispy and golden, remove them from the air fryer and transfer them to a serving plate. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt if desired. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://buttereats.com/air-fryer-tempura-inspired-green-beans/