These crispy Air Fryer shallots, with their beautiful caramelized, toasted flavor, are one of the best toppings to add to savoury dishes like soups, stews and casseroles.
They’re much healthier than their deep-fried cousins since they are air-fried, but are still golden brown and crispy.
Batch make these over the weekend and store them for months, ready to be sprinkled over your favorite foods.
I have to be honest- I’m fairly new to the whole Air Fryer game.
Sure, I’ve tried quite a few good Air Fryer recipes recently - my Air Fryer roasted garlic and Air Fryer asparagus topping the list.
But ditching the deep fryer and making air-fried shallots was something I had never imagined I would do. And I’m so glad I did!
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What's So Great About the Recipe?
My favorite part about these crispy Air Fryer onions is the fact that they’re so much healthier than the regular fried onions that I usually relied on.
Plus, you can make them in a big batch and store them for later too! You’ve got to try this recipe if you love making condiments and seasonings at home.
Ingredients For the Air Fryer Shallots Recipe
You’ll need just 2 simple ingredients to make the Air Fryer crispy shallots.
Shallots: You’ll need to start off with fresh shallots. Find shallots that are firm to touch and don’t have any blemishes or spots on the outside.
Oil: To grease and add moisture to the shallots, you’ll need a bit of oil too. Use any cooking oil of your choice.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Shallots
Got all your ingredients ready? Let’s show you how to make crispy shallots in an Air Fryer.
Peel the shallots. Rinse and pat them dry using a paper towel.
Thinly slice the shallots and toss with oil. Preheat the Air Fryer at 250 degrees.
Arrange them in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket.
Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes or so.
Once they look golden brown, get them out and allow them to cool down completely. Use them for your favorite recipes.
Substitutions & Variations
- To add a bit of extra flavor to the crispy shallots, you can also sprinkle a bit of salt over them before you pop them in the Air Fryer basket.
- Crushed black pepper and red pepper flakes are both good additions too. Just remember to mix them in towards the end, after the shallots are done getting crispy.
💭Top Tip
Don’t use a lot of oil to grease the shallots- when it comes to Air Frying, a little goes a long way.
Equipment
How to Store the Crispy Shallots
If you’ve made a big batch of the crispy Air Fryer shallots, the best way to store them is to allow them to cool down first, and then transfer them to an airtight container.
You can store this container in a cool and dark place, and it should stay fresh for months.
If the shallots have become soggy and have lost their crunch factor, you can receive them by microwaving them for a few minutes.
Also Read: Lime Pickled Onions
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- To get the perfect thin slices, I would recommend that you use a mandolin slicer. This will also ensure that all the shallots are cooked at the same time.
- Also remember not to overcrowd the Air Fryer basket with too many shallots rings. Leaving a bit of space between them will ensure that they all cook evenly.
- The cook time for these crispy shallots depends on the kind of Air Fryer you’re using, and some other factors. Generally, it takes about 25 minutes for the sliced shallots to be all nice and crispy.
How to Use the Air Fried Shallots
The beauty of these crispy fried shallots is the fact that they’re so versatile and flavorful, you can use them in tons of different recipes. Add them to your sandwiches and wraps or use them as a condiment- the ideas are endless.
In Salads
These Air Fryer shallots are one of the simplest and most versatile additions to your simple salads. They bring in a nice crunch factor and a touch of sweetness, which can work beautifully with most flavors.
In fact, they can also be a crunchy snack option to consider sprinkling over your dips and using as a garnish.
Also Read: Balsamic Pickled Onions
As a Topping
These crispy shallots are one of my favorite toppings to use over my soups, stews and casseroles. I love sprinkling it over my Elote casserole when I need a bit of extra texture.
I also love how it can add such a beautiful bit of sweetness to my soups- particularly my cucumber gazpacho and cilantro chicken soup.
Crispy fried onions aka birista are also a staple condiment in most Indian households, and are sprinkled over curries and stews. I love using this air fried version over my goat paya and bhuna gosht.
And if you’re obsessed with using aromatics like garlic and onions, you might also want to check out these Mexican grilled onions and Korean green onion salad recipes.
FAQs
You sure can! Both red and white onions are great choices, but remember that if you’re looking for a milder flavor, shallots are the best.
Yes, that’s completely fine too! Both avocado oil and olive oil work great- the idea is to add a bit of moisture (and incentive) to the onions to brown up nicely in the Air-Fryer.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Crispy Air Fryer Shallots
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup shallots
- ½ teaspoon oil
Instructions
- Peel the shallots. Rinse and pat them dry using a paper towel.
- Thinly slice the shallots and toss with oil. Preheat the Air Fryer at 250 degrees.
- Arrange them in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket.
- Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes or so.
- Once they look golden brown, get them out and allow them to cool down completely.