Description
Make genuinely crispy polenta fries in your air fryer with this simple recipe. These fries have a creamy interior and a golden, crisp exterior.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup instant polenta
- 4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for spraying
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Bring the water and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan.
- Slowly whisk in the polenta. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Pour the hot polenta mixture into a parchment-lined 8×8 inch baking dish. Spread it evenly to about 3/4 inch thickness.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until completely firm. Freezing for 30 minutes helps achieve extra crispiness.
- Once firm, turn the polenta out onto a cutting board. Cut the block into fry shapes (about 1/2 inch thick sticks).
- Lightly spray the polenta fries with olive oil.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
- Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- For the crispiest results, ensure the polenta is very cold before cutting and air frying.
- Do not skip the light oil spray; this helps the exterior brown properly.
- If you want a stronger flavor, add 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan for a vegan version.
- Serve with marinara sauce or a garlic aioli for dipping.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 5