Meet our latest favorite snack- three ingredient air fryer broccoli with chili crisp. Wondering what chili crisp is? I will get to that in a bit. But before that, here is why you should cook broccoli only in the air fryer- It is ridiculously simple, effortless and so delicious that you cannot stop making it.
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Have I told you how much I love my air fryer yet? In case I have not, you can consider this as my declaration of undying love for my air fryer. To put it in a very English style, it is this wicked appliance that has changed lives forever. I m quite new to this air frying business and I must admit, I am chuffed about its versatility.
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Lao Gan Ma- Spicy Chili Crisp
If you have read the title and are wondering what Chili crisp, let me put it in one short sentence- It is the condiment that will make your life so much better. To elaborate, this is an Asian condiment that is a concoction of crispy chili flakes and garlic in oil.
Lao Gan Ma is a popular brand that makes this amazing condiment. You can find this is Asian supermarkets and it is absolutely worth all the hype.
5 ways to use Lao Gan Ma Chili Crisp
- Spoon some of it over your daily eggs. And jazz up your breakfast.
- Add some to your fried rice or ramen.
- Or use it as a marinade for Paneer and tofu dishes.
- You can add it as a topping on your soups. The crispy garlic adds a welcome bite to the otherwise smooth texture of soups.
- Try adding some to your pasta. Begin with Aglio Olio and thank me later.
Ingredients
I have just used two ingredients for this recipe.
Broccoli
Choose the greenest, freshest broccoli you can find. I recommend picking heads that have a tender stem. These roast beautifully and taste juicy.
Lao Gan Ma Chili crisp
Although I have used this particular brand, you can use other brands of this sauce too. So what if you do not have access to this?
Lemon juice
When I was a 12 something kid, my aunt introduced me to the concept of squeezing some lemon on to veggies and salads. I have never looked back since. For me, any roast vegetable dish is incomplete without some lemon juice. While this is optional, it is highly recommended.
Substitutes for Chili Crisp
You can use 1 tsp oil, 1 tsp garlic powder and 1/2 tsp salt instead of the Lao Gan Ma sauce. These work well for making some crispy air fried broccoli too.
Expert tips
Here are some things that I have observed while roasting veggies. I hope you find these pointers useful, especially if you are a beginner.
- Always make sure that the veggies are dry and free from any kind of moisture. When there is moisture, the veggies begin to steam instead of roasting.
- Do not over crowd them in the pan. This again releases steam and the veggies become soggy.
- When roasting veggies like broccoli or cauliflower, do not roast them for too long or in very high temperatures. Doing either of these will dry the veggies out and they wont be juicy after they are done roasting.
- I recommend using a salad spinner to dry the chopped veggies. Yes, a salad spinner is not just great for greens but also for chopped veggies. Alternatively, you can wipe them dry with a paper towel and then dry under the fan for a few minutes.
Shelf life, Make ahead and Storage
These crispy broccoli florets are best when they are made fresh and served immediately. However, you can make them ahead if you desire. Air fried broccoli keeps well in an air tight container in the fridge for 2 days.
A word of caution though- the broccoli will not be crispy after it cools down. They soften up but are still good to eat. To serve refrigerated broccoli, gently warm them up in a microwave for 1 min and serve.
Recipe Notes
- The chili crisp oil has salt added to it and this is more than sufficient for the quantity of broccoli mentioned in this recipe. However, if you prefer a little more salt, please add up to 1/2 tsp salt to the broccoli while tossing.
- The roasted broccoli loses its crispy texture once it cools down fully. For this reason, I recommend serving it immediately after air frying.
Method with pictorial
Prep Work
Our first step is to prep the broccoli. Chop the base of the broccoli and separate the florets. Place them in a colander and wash them thoroughly under water.
When done, place them in a salad spinner and spin to dry or wipe them with a paper towel. Spread them out on a kitchen towel and allow to dry under the fan for a few minutes.
Tossing the broccoli
In a mixing bowl, place the prepared broccoli florets. Add the chili crisp oil to the broccoli and gently rub it onto the florets.
Air frying
Arrange the broccoli pieces in the air fryer basket. When arranging, make sure they are not crowded. I have a 6 quart air fryer and so I could fry the entire batch in one go. If your air fryer basket is smaller, I recommend roasting the broccoli in two batches.
Air fryer timings
Roast in the air fryer at 375 F (190 C) for 8 minutes, shaking at the half way mark. When done, transfer to a serving tray and squeeze lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Oven roasted broccoli
If you do not have an air fryer, you can make these in the oven too. Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). On a baking sheet, arrange the broccoli florets in a single layer. Make sure there are no overlaps.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes tossing them around the 8th minute mark. Continue to bake them till they are crisp and brown around the edges. Once done, squeeze lemon juice over the roasted pieces and serve immediately.
More Ways To Cook Broccoli
Air fryer broccoli with spicy chili crisp
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 set of measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 pound broccoli florets
- 1 tbsp Spicy chili crisp
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or adjust to your liking
Substitutes for Spicy Chili Crisp
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 1 tsp Oil
Instructions
Prep Work
- Chop the base of the broccoli and separate the florets.
- Place them in a colander and wash them thoroughly under water.
- When done, place them in a salad spinner and spin to dry or wipe them with a paper towel.
- Spread them out on a kitchen towel and allow to dry under the fan for a few minutes.
Tossing the broccoli
- In a mixing bowl, place the prepared broccoli florets.
- Add the chili crisp oil to the broccoli and gently rub it onto the florets.
Air frying
- Arrange the broccoli pieces in the air fryer basket.
- When arranging, make sure they are not crowded.
- Roast in two batches if your basket is small.
Air fryer timings
- Roast in the air fryer at 375 F (190 C) for 8 minutes, shaking at the half way mark.
- When done, transfer to a serving tray and squeeze lemon juice.
- Serve immediately.
Oven roasted broccoli
- Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). On a baking sheet, arrange the broccoli florets in a single layer.
- Make sure there are no overlaps.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes tossing them around the 8th minute mark.
- Continue to bake them till they are crisp and brown around the edges.
- Once done, squeeze lemon juice over the roasted pieces and serve immediately.
Notes
- The chili crisp oil has salt added to it and this is more than sufficient for the quantity of broccoli mentioned in this recipe. However, if you prefer a little more salt, please add up to 1/2 tsp salt to the broccoli while tossing.
- The roasted broccoli loses its crispy texture once it cools down fully. For this reason, I recommend serving it immediately after air frying.
- Air fryer timings will vary based on the brand, capacity and model.
- Please refer the blog post for expert tips on roasting veggies.
- Nutritional information shared is a rough guide and is given as a courtesy.
For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes
Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.
Disclaimer
Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.
Nutrition
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Air frying the broccoli with some spices is a sure hit way to enjoy for kids…
Air frying broccoli is the go to method for my little one. I shall look out for the magic chili sauce 🙂
I love oven roasted and grilled broccoli. I use garlic powder and chili powder/flakes. Next time will try air fryer method and will also look out for that magic chili sauce.
Love these condiments that takes the vegetables to next level. Who can say no to broccoli when made this way. So so good.
Wow, chili crisp broccoli sounds and looks amazing !! Pls get me chili crisp while coming 😉
I love the vibrant color of the broccoli and the chili oil sounds amazing. I have the ingredients and can’t wait to try this recipe.
Wow this is an excellent snack Anusha…very nice finger food..