Crispy courgette fries in the Ninja Crispi

Vegetable rounds that are tender on the inside with a real golden crust that stands up to cooking, that is what the large 3.8 L container allows. The secret to courgette fries in the Ninja Crispi lies in the firmness with which you press the breadcrumbs before starting the machine.

I have tried several breading methods in my appliance, and this is the only approach that gives a truly crispy result without the crust blowing off. Keep the 2 cm thickness to avoid a mushy texture when tasting.

Crispy courgette fries in the Ninja Crispi

Recipe by Marion LundCourse: Side dishCuisine: FrenchDifficulty: Easy

Servings

2-4

people

Prep

15

minutes

Cook

14

minutes

Total time

29

minutes

Make courgette fries in the Ninja Crispi with a firm breadcrumb coating, cooked directly in the large 3.8 L container in Air Fry mode. This recipe relies on carefully pressed breadcrumbs for even browning.

Ingredients

• 600 g courgettes (approx. 2 medium ones)

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 50 g flour

• 2 eggs

• 100 g breadcrumbs (preferably panko)

• Salt and pepper

Instructions

• Wash the courgettes, dry them and cut them into rounds of approx. 2 cm thick. A 2 cm thickness prevents the courgette from turning into mush.
• Prepare three shallow bowls on the work surface: one with the flour seasoned with salt and pepper, one with the beaten eggs, and the last with the panko breadcrumbs.
• Coat each round in the flour, tap off, then in the egg, and finally in the breadcrumbs by pressing firmly so that it adheres well. The powerful airflow of the Crispi may displace poorly fixed breadcrumbs.
• Place the crisper plate in the large 3.8 L container and arrange the rounds in a single layer, without them overlapping. Drizzle the olive oil in a very thin stream.
• Fit the adapter and the PowerPod. Select Air Fry, 14 minutes, and press START. On a Crispi Pro or Pro 5 modes (5.7 L container): Air Fry at 200 °C, 18 to 22 minutes; on a DualZone, 15 to 18 minutes per 3.8 L container.
• Turn the rounds 2 or 3 times during the cycle: lift the PowerPod to pause, turn the rounds over with silicone-tipped tongs, place the PowerPod back on and press START.
• Check the cooking through the glass during the last 2 minutes. It is ready when the breadcrumb coating is well browned and firm under the tongs over the entire exposed surface.

Courgette fries with grated parmesan

Mix 30 g of very finely grated parmesan into the panko breadcrumbs before breading the rounds to enhance the flavour of your crust. This trick adds an interesting cheesy dimension to your side dishes.

Adjusting the heat according to your model

For this recipe, we are looking for a well-seared crust around the vegetable. The Air Fry mode propels hot air directly onto the breading, which gives the expected texture without the need for deep-frying.

The 3.8 L glass container offers the surface area needed to spread the pieces out in a single layer, without overlapping them. Air circulates correctly all around the food to dry the outer layer.

The settings adapt according to the appliance used and the quantity of vegetables prepared in your kitchen.

• On the Crispi with the 3.8 L container: Air Fry for 10 to 14 minutes for 600 g of courgette rounds, turning 2 to 3 times.
• On the Crispi with the 1.4 L container: without the adapter, allow 8 to 10 minutes for 200 g of rounds.
• On a Crispi Pro or Pro 5 modes (5.7 L container): Air Fry at 200 °C for 800 g of courgettes, 18 to 22 minutes, turning 2 to 3 times.
• On a DualZone: Air Fry at 200 °C, 15 to 18 minutes for 500 g of rounds per 3.8 L container, turning them halfway through and checking the colour from 15 minutes.

Breaded courgettes need no preheating: place the rounds cold on the plate, put the PowerPod on and press START.

The importance of thickness and coating

Cooking is very easy to monitor from the outside, directly through the glass of the container. During the last few minutes of cooking, the crust changes from a pale shade to a rich golden brown.

As soon as the surface seems dry and textured, the cooking is correct. If the underside of the pieces still lacks colour, simply extend by one or two minutes.

The most frequent error consists of cutting rounds that are too thin. Stay at 2 cm: the times in this recipe are based on that thickness.

The second trap concerns fixing the breadcrumbs. The hot airflow of the Crispi blows with great force. Press the breading firmly with your fingers during coating.

Without that step, the crumbs will blow off into the container and dirty the bottom without sticking to the vegetable. A well-packed layer stays in place from the beginning to the end of the preparation.

Cooling and reheating method

The breading softens quite quickly when left at room temperature or placed in the refrigerator. Consume these vegetable fries immediately after cooking finishes to enjoy the texture.

Condensation trapped in a closed container destroys the benefit of the panko crust. If you must prepare them a little in advance, let them cool completely in the container in the open air.

Place the storage lid only once the pieces are completely cold. Never close the lid on a still-warm dish, as residual steam ruins the breadcrumb layer.

To restore their texture the next day, replace the plate at the bottom of the container. Use the Recrisp mode for 5 to 12 minutes, until they are hot all the way through, watching the colour through the sides.

Hot, dry air drives out the moisture absorbed by the breadcrumbs while in the fridge. On adjustable models, use Recrisp with the plate in place and watch the colour in the same way.

What sauce are you going to prepare to go with these crispy courgette fries?

Frequently asked questions

Can frozen courgette fries be used?

Courgettes release a lot of water. Frozen breaded fries do not give the same crispiness in the Crispi and risk being soggy when taken out. Use fresh vegetables cut to the right size instead.

How do you cook a smaller quantity?

For 200 g of rounds, use the 1.4 L container, without the adapter. Cooking is faster: allow 8 to 10 minutes in Air Fry mode to obtain a nice golden colour.

Do classic breadcrumbs work as well as panko?

Yes, but panko breadcrumbs offer superior crunch. Their thicker flakes withstand the appliance’s hot airflow much better without detaching from the vegetable surface during the cycle.