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Air Fried Zucchini Blossom with Ricotta and Mozzarella Cheese

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These delicate zucchini blossoms are filled with creamy and stringy cheeses, perfect appetizer that entices your eyes and palate.

– What are zucchini blossoms?

Zucchini blossoms are edible flowers from a zucchini plant and mainly can be found in farmers market or garden.  Therefore, every time I see in the local farmers market I will by a bunch of it.

– How do I prepare zucchini blossoms?

Because they are very delicate, you will need to handle it very gently from the moment you get them.

Yes, it is worth all the extra light and gently handling.

– Are you ready to try these awesome and pretty appetizers?

Ingredients:

  • 8-10 zucchini flowers
  • ½ cup part skim ricotta
  • 4 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped salt and pepper to taste
  • 2-3 mozzarella sticks, cut into half and then cut lengthwise
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup panko
  • olive oil spray

Method:

Gently wipe the zucchini flowers, remove any dirt or soil.

In a bowl, combine the ricotta, salt, pepper, and the fresh parsley.

Place the ricotta mix into a sandwich bag and make a small cut at the edge of the bag to pipe the creamy ricotta into the blossom.

Insert one piece of Mozzarella cheese into the blossom in the middle fo the ricotta mix.

Gently press the petals of the flower at the tip to seal.

Do this with all the zucchini flowers.

In a small bowl beat the egg and add the panko into another shallow dish.

Dip the blossoms into the beaten egg and then into the panko, toss around to coat all the flower with panko.

Spray the bottom of an air fryer with olive oil spray and place the blossoms in, and again spray the top of the blossoms.

Air fry at 365oF for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway using a thong and be gently.

– If you like this recipe, please check on these…

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Air Fried Yuca

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These air fried yuca are like French fries…great as a side dish…crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

I grew up eating “mandioca frita”, which translates into fried yuca…of course at that time it was fried using hot oil like the traditional French fries…the texture of the yuca, which is boiled before frying is rich, creamy, slightly nutty and sweet…denser than French fries, but equally delicious.

– What is yuca?

Yuca is called “mandioca” in Brazil, a very popular root vegetable, super common in Brazil.  As a matter of fact, tapioca is made of yuca starch.

– How is yuca prepared?

Yuca can be prepared the same way as potatoes…boiled, fried, mashed…and toasted as it is “farofa”, a side dish for meats, feijoada (black bean stew), poultry (as stuffing).

– What is the difference between mashed yuca and mashed potatoes?

Both are root vegetables rich in carbohydrates…If you like mashed potatoes, you must try mashed yuca. Mashed yuca has a slightly “chewier” texture than mashed potato, it is super creamy, nutty with a hint of sweetness…

– Why yuca is wrapped in wax?

Apparently, the layer of wax is to protect the root in order to preserve it and extending its shelf-life… which it not seeing in Brazil due to its popularity. Nevertheless, just remove the was when peeling the yuca and you are good to go.

– Where can I buy yuca root?

You can find yuca in most of the Asian and Latin grocery stores, and occasionally in the frozen section, which the yuca comes peeled and cut.

– Ready to try this new root?

  • Actually, there is no need for recipe…just a few steps to follow…
  • Peel the yuca root by removing all the wax and the dark brown skin.
  • Cut into pieces of approximately 2 inches.
  • Boil in water with salt until the yuca can be pierced with a fork.
  • Drain well, remove the hard-fibrous stems in the center of the cooked pieces.
  • Place the cooked yuca in a bowl and toss olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
  • Air-fry at 365oF for approximately 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown, tossing in between cooking.
  • Serve hot/warm.

– Care for more Brazilian recipe?

Check these out…

Did you know that yuca is a staple food in many Countries? Moreover, it is the third largest source of carbohydrates food followed by rice and corn.

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Bread Butter Crisp

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These sticks of buttery bread are light, crisp with a touch of sweetness…so addictive, you will not stop eating until they are all gone.

I don’t know if this is the right name for these bread sticks, I saw the recipe on a Taiwanese channel on YouTube and could not resist to try as soon as I could. Apparently, they are very popular in Hualien, a town on the east side of Taiwan…and this is how they call these sticks of bread basted with butter and sprinkled with sugar.

From my understanding, people line up in front of bakeries to buy these bread sticks…now…you tell me if the name makes sense and if you would line up for these bread sticks…although I must tell you that these bread sticks are very addictive…and I need to control the amount I make as they can be gone in one sitting…

– Why should you try these buttery bread sticks?

Because they are super easy to make, using leftover sandwich bread, butter and sugar.  Yes, only 3 ingredients!

– How do they taste?

They are so light, so airy, and so tasty, buttery with a touch of sweetness, which can be adapted to your taste, more or less butter, more or less sugar…it is totally up to you.

– Do I need an air-fryer?

No…actually the original recipe was done in regular oven…I adjusted the recipe using air-fryer…if you own an air-fryer, this is the way to go for these bread sticks, much faster and easier…

– No more talk, ready to explore the recipe?

Ingredients:

  • Slices of sandwich bread
  • Butter
  • Sugar

Method:

Freeze the slices of bread for at least 30 minutes or overnight. By freezing the slices of bread, will facilitate the cutting.

Cut each slice of bread into five to six sticks.

Layer the bread sticks in an oven safe pan or cookie sheet and bake in a pre-heated oven of 130oC  (265oF) for 15 minutes. Flip the bread sticks and bake for another 15 minutes. Make sure the bread sticks are totally dry and crisp.

Alternatively, you can use the air-fryer by placing the bread stick into the basket and air-fry at approximately 275oC for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bread sticks are totally dry.

Remove the dry bread sticks from the oven or air-fryer and baste with semi melted butter (for more buttery and sugary sticks) or melted butter (for a mild butter with less sugar) on two sides of the bread stick (opposite).

Dip the bread stick butter side on a dish with sugar. Repeat on the other side.

Place the buttery sugary bread stick back on the oven safe pan of air-fryer basket (sugar side facing top and bottom).

Bake again at 265oF for 15 minutes or in the air-fryer at 275oC for 10 minutes. Please adjust the temperature and time accordingly, making sure the sugar does not burn.

Remove from the oven or air-fryer. Cool completely before serving.

Store in an airtight container.

– Looking for more simple and easy recipes?  Please look at these…

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Air-Fried Sweet Potatoes

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These slightly crispy air-fried sweet potatoes are super easy to make and they are great as side dish or as a healthy snack in between meals.

Before I go on with the post, sorry for not “visiting” you lately…we were on vacation and just got back a couple of days ago…we visited part of Croatia in a small ship through the Adriatic Sea, it was a lot of fun, met great people and enjoyed fantastic food…sharing some pictures are at the end of the post in case you are interested…now back to the post…

– Why air-fried sweet potatoes are healthy?

Air-fried sweet potato fries are made with less fat than traditional fries, so they are a healthier version with less fat and calories for you when craving for conventional fried potatoes or sweet potatoes.

– Very easy, almost no work

You will need only a few ingredients and very small work for these air-fried sweet potatoes.

– Seasoning?

I like it almost plain…just a bit of salt after air-fried…the contrast of the sweet and savory is magical…but feel free to coat with your favorite herb or any dip you like. The possibilities are endless…

– Air-fried sweet potato tips?

Yes, for even cooking try to cut the sweet potato as uniform as possible, either thin or thick…and place them in one single layer or close to it…that’s it!

– Thin or thick cut?

It all depends, sometimes I like it thin for extra crispness and sometimes I like it thick, so the middle is soft and moist, contrasting with the crisp layer on the outside.

– Are you ready for the sweet potatoes fries in the air-fryer

Ingredients:

  • Sweet potatoes
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • Any seasoning if using

Method:

Preheat air-fryer to 400oF.

As stated above, try to cut them as uniform as possible.

Toss with olive oil, salt and/or any herbs.

Cook in batches, without overcrowding the basket.

Cook for approximately 8 – 10 minutes if the fries are thin and around 14-16 minutes for thicker cuts.

Make sure to flip the basket half way.

Serve warm…with or without your favorite dipping sauce.

– If you enjoy this super simple recipe using an air-fryer you might want to check on these…

Did you know that sweet potatoes contain soluble fiber? Moreover, sweet potatoes also contain vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese and potassium. Since sweet potatoes come with all variety of colors they are loaded of nutrients, especially the purple and orange.

And here I have some pictures of our cruise through Adriatic Sea where we visited many Croatian islands, small part of Slovenia and Venice…

Sorry for the long post…

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Air-Fried, Twice Cooked Potatoes

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Yes, you read it right…twice cooked potatoes, first boiled and then air-fried…the texture is amazing, creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside…

Despite being cooked twice there is not a recipe to follow…just boiled the potatoes in water with a bit of salt, drain and then toss some olive oil and freshly chopped rosemary or whatever herbs you are up to…place them on the air-fryer and voila…

These potatoes are delicious, slightly crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside making them perfect as a side dish. In this recipe I used the golden and red small potatoes.

– What is an air-fryer?

As the name suggests, it uses air, hot air to cook and yes, it mimics the deep oil fryer, well, almost…the air-fryer will not work when using wet batter, with that said, it is amazing with all kind of dry coat food.

– Why use an air-fryer?

Air fryer required non or very little oil. In my experience when cooking food that contain fat naturally such as chicken, there is no need to add any oil. As for vegetables, a spray of oil will do.

– Why you should try this recipe…

Well, this is almost a no-recipe post…no secret and super easy…

Ingredients:

  • Potatoes (as many or as little you want)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil
  • Fresh rosemary (or any herbs you like such as oregano, thyme, or a combination)

Method:

Bring enough water to boil to cover the potatoes. Carefully add the potatoes and salt. Bring the water to boil again and lower the heat to simmer. Cook until the potatoes are tender and easily pierce by a fork.

Remove them from the heat and drain the water.  Let is cool and peel the skin off.

In the meantime, preheat the air-fryer to 375oF.

In a bowl add the potatoes, drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper and the fresh chopped rosemary.  Toss gently.

Place the potatoes in the air-fryer basket and “fry” until golden brown. Gently shake the basket in between to accomplish even color.

Serve hot.

– Would you like more air-fryer recipes?  Check these out…

Did you know that potatoes are rich in vitamin C? The controversial about potatoes being unhealthy lays totally on the method of cooking. Potatoes are healthy food when cooked properly and contain other vitamins such as A and B, also minerals.

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Air Fried Bean Curd Sheet with Vegetables

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This is a very simple and yet fulfilling Asian inspired dish using air fried bean curd sheet, a great alternative for substituting meat.

– Where can you find bean curd sheet?

Since we moved, every time I go visit my mom I have to stop by an Asian grocery store and stock up with lots of fresh vegetables, refrigerated and frozen food. It is true that we have Asian market in the area, but I always feel that it is not as abundant and fresh as in the areas where are more populated by Asians, supply and demand…

One of my favorite item is the fresh bean curd sheet, which is found in the refrigerator section…I discovered that it can perish fast and a great way to preserve is by using the air fryer. Once the bean curd sheets are “baked” in the air fryer and the moist removed it can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for much longer time.

The bean curd sheet is so Asian, what I mean without any discrimination is that you need to acquire the taste for it…and I was so surprised that my husband really enjoys it…the texture is very different from the regular tofu, and I am not talking about soft, regular or firm…the bean curd sheet is somehow stretchy, slightly chewy and can absorb a lot of flavor.

I hope you get a chance to try it…you will find it very different and interesting.

– Let’s start cooking…

Ingredients:

1 package fresh bean curd sheet

1 inch fresh ginger cut into thin strips

2 cups water

¼ cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon sesame oil

Red pepper flakes to taste

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Pat dry the bean curd sheet and cut into 1 inch wide. Randomly separate the layers and place in the 325-350F preheated air fryer for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the bean curd sheets are golden brown and crispy. Shake the basket every so often to prevent the sheets from sticking together.

Once the bean curd sheets are ready, remove from the air fryer and set aside. Place all the other ingredients in a medium pot. Bring to boil then add the air fried bean curd sheet. Bring to boil and turn the heat to simmer.

As the air fried bean curd sheets absorb the sauce it will shrink. Simmer for about 15 minutes, if needed add more water, salt and pepper.

Remove from the heat.

At this point, it can be served as it is or added to any stir-fry vegetable.

– More recipes with soybean curd?

Yes, if you enjoy this simple and easy vegetarian item, you might want to take a look at Tofu Fa recipe which is a dessert made with soft bean curd.

Did you know that bean curd sheet is a film form from boiling soy milk? The film is similar to the film formed when boiling milk. The soy milk film is then accumulated and dried acquiring a yellowish color, unlike the soy milk. Bean curd sheet is also called bean curd skin or tofu skin.

Thanks for visiting Color Your Recipes, have a colorful week!



Air Fried Sweet Mini Peppers with Onion and Zucchini

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This is one of my favorite method to “roast” sweet mini peppers. It is super easy and fast…it’s lightly caramelized and perfect on bread, crackers or salad.

I love the colors of the sweet pepper, so summery and refreshing.  Many times we just eat them raw…crunchy and sweet, but sometimes I like to enhance the sweetness of the peppers by roasting…

I used to roast mini peppers in the oven…but since I got the air-fryer, this is my preferred way to “roast” almost anything…I love how even and caramelized the sweet peppers turned out in the air-fryer.  All the excess liquid, either from the washing or the pepper itself just drains out of the basket.

This recipe is very versatile, you can air-fry only the mini peppers or mix and match it with all kind of vegetables, I decided to go with zucchini and onion as I had them handy, but feel free to use whatever vegetable you have available such as carrots, eggplant, yellow squash…

Once the vegetables are air fried and seasoned you can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days and serve cold, which I love during warm weather.

Ingredients:

1 lb sweet pepper

1-2 zucchinis

1 medium size onion

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar to taste

Freshly ground salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Preheat air fryer to 400F.

Wash and slice in half the sweet peppers and remove the seed. Slice the zucchini and the onion.

In a large bowl place the sweet mini peppers and drizzle with olive oil.

Carefully place the sweet peppers in the air fryer basket and let is cook for approximately 15 minutes. Make sure to shake the basket in between. Remove from the basket and place in a large bowl.

Do the same with the onion and zucchini. Once the onion and zucchini are done place them together with the sweet peppers.

Add salt and pepper and drizzle balsamic vinegar to taste.  Toss gently.

Serve warm or cold.

I hope you enjoy this simple method of roasting mini sweet peppers…for more air-fryer recipes, please check HERE.

Did you know that peppers contain large amount of antioxidants such as lycopene, beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin? These carotenoids are important, especially for the eyes.

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Air Fried Shrimp over Pesto Zucchini Noodles

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Have you ever tried cooking shrimp using an air fryer? Well, this is a super simple way to have your shrimp cooked fast and without fuss…and it is delicious topped on zucchini noodles tossed with pesto sauce.

It has been a long time since I last posted a recipe or anything…I had a long break and during this time so much had happened, some good and some not so good…I should start with the “not so good” one…

When I decided to come back blogging I encountered a major mess on the website as we had some glitch on the hosting/server system and all the posts and pages got lost and the comments nowhere to be found.  I am still working on retrieving the posts, one by one… and updating as much as I can. I almost gave up on blogging but decided to rebuild and take it slowly…without any pressure and revisiting the old posts, it was like looking at old photo albums…now the comments are totally gone, and I am very sadden by it as lots of great memories were in it, all the people I met and visited…

Now, the good news…we move to a new house…after searching for our forever home for almost two years we finally move into our dream home where we plan to retire. It was a lot of work moving and redecorating the house. Fast forward 3 months…we finally have it the way we like and start to really enjoy the new neighborhood and all the amenities that the city offer.

With all that said, I am still in the process of coming back, gathering my thoughts together but decided to say “HELLO” and post a simple recipe…using my air fryer which I am still in love with. Confession…I cheated on the pesto sauce and used the one from Trader Joe’s….

So here we go…

Ingredients:

  • ½ lb shrimp, clean and deveined
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 large zucchini, spiralized
  • Pesto sauce, store bought or homemade.

Method:

Preheat the air fryer according to the manufacture’s instruction at 350F.

In a medium bowl, place the shrimps, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss gently and place in the air fryer basket. Cook for approximately 7 minutes, make sure to “shake” the basket once in between cooking time.

While the shrimps are in the air fryer, blanch the spiralized zucchini.  Drain well and set aside.

To serve, toss pesto sauce to the blanched zucchini and top with the air fried shrimps. Serve hot.

I hope you enjoy this simple and easy recipe using air fryer you might want to take a looks at recipes using air fryer from my Recipe Box.

Did you know that shrimp is low in calories and contain many nutrients and vitamins? In spite of the healthy content in shrimp, we need to be aware that shrimp has high sodium and cholesterol, therefore should be eaten in moderation, especially is you have high blood pressure and heart condition.

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Air Fried Chicken Wings

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This is the easiest, healthiest and fastest way to enjoy chicken wings…air-frying it!

If you are like me and enjoy crispy, and grease free chicken wings you must, I emphasize you MUST try this method…it is magical, and you just need a few ingredients besides the air-fryer and chicken wings, super simple!

Honestly since I got the air fryer I have been using it a lot and I kick myself for not have found this gadget sooner…it is true that is kind of bulky, but it does wonder and does not heat the kitchen as the oven… Did I convince you that this is the way to go?

When ordering chicken wings in a restaurant I always request them dry and the sauce or sauces on the side so I can dip the wings into the sauce as I like…not to mention that I can pretty much enjoy eating hot wings without having sauce all over my fingers.

In this post, I dip the wings in Moore’s Creamy Ranch Buffalo Sauce…a nice balance of tangy and heat…not to mention the creamy texture which coat the wings nicely…so good…by the way, I received this sauce as a compliment and all the opinion are mine.

Ingredients:

  • Chicken wings
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Drizzle of cooking Chinese wine (vodka, rice wine)

Method:

In a medium bowl toss together all the ingredients.

Preheat the air fryer to 350-375F according to the manufacture’s instructions.

Place the wings into the basket and cook for 25 to 30 minutes until the skin is browned and crisp. Make sure to shake or turn the wings during cooking.

Remove from the basket and serve with your favorite sauce.

I hope you enjoy this simple and healthy way to “fry” chicken wings.

Did you know that Chinese five-spices is made with a mix of star-anise, close, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper and fennel?

Thank you for stopping by Color Your Recipes…have a colorful day!