These air fryer fingerling potatoes are a simple yet delicious side dish and a tasty alternative to traditional fried potatoes!
The potatoes are wonderfully crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a delicious smoky flavor from the homemade flavor oil used in the recipe. The addition of smoked paprika, garlic and thyme in the flavor oil gives the potatoes a savory taste that perfectly complements the nuttiness of fingerling potatoes. You can easily adjust the recipe to your liking by using different herbs and spices.
This recipe is also a healthier option than traditional fried potatoes! Air frying the potatoes instead of deep frying them significantly reduces the amount of oil needed to cook them. Fingerling potatoes are also a nutritious addition to any meal, as they are a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6.
And with this recipe you can easily bring these healthy potatoes into your meals in a delicious and satisfying way. Give this recipe a try and impress your family and friends with your air fryer cooking skills.
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What are Fingerling Potatoes?
Fingerling potatoes are a popular variety of potato and best known for their long, finger-like shape and their unique flavor and creamy texture.
They are often smaller than regular potatoes and are mostly used in recipes that call for small or bite-sized potatoes.
Fingerling potatoes come in a variety of different colors, including yellow, red, and purple and most famous for their rich buttery and nutty flavors. They are commonly used in French cuisine and are a staple ingredient in many dishes, such as potato salad, roasted potatoes, and gratins.
The many different types of fingerling potatoes include:
- French Fingerling, also called ‘La Ratte’, which I have used in this recipe
- Russian Banana
- Purple Peruvian
- Rose Finn Apple
- Austrian Crescent
Where to buy fingerling potatoes?
In the US, fingerling potatoes can be found at many grocery stores and farmers markets. Some popular retailers include Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Sprouts Farmers Market.
In the UK, La Ratte potatoes can be bought from the grocery store Waitrose. They are a popular variety of fingerling potatoes that have a nutty, buttery flavor and are often used in French cuisine.
If you are unable to find La Ratte potatoes, you can substitute them for another type of fingerling potato or regular mini potatoes.
Health Benefits
Fingerling potatoes are a great addition to any meal, as they are both tasty and nutritious. They are a good source of vitamins such as vitamin C and B6, and they are high in fiber, and potassium. Fiber is important for digestive health, while potassium helps regulate blood pressure and supports healthy muscle function. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that supports the immune system, and vitamin B6 is important for brain health and the production of red blood cells.
Ingredients & Notes
Here's everything you need for this recipe:
- Fingerling Potatoes - I’ve used the La Ratte variety. You can leave the potato skins on, and give them a good scrub to remove any dirt residue before slicing.
- Olive oil - used for frying and flavoring the potatoes
- Garlic - sliced and used in the flavor oil to give the potatoes a savory taste
- Smoked paprika powder - adds a smoky flavor
- Dried thyme - used in the flavor oil to give the potatoes a herbal taste
- Sea salt - enhances the flavor of the potatoes, I like to use kosher salt
- Black pepper - adds a mild spiciness to the potatoes
Find the full quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Equipment
To make air fryer fingerling potatoes, you will need:
- air fryer - I personally use a Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
- mixing bowl
- small pan
- fine mesh sieve
- sharp knife
- cutting board
- serving dish
Instructions (Step-by-Step)
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
Wash and dry the fingerling potatoes, then slice them into evenly sized pieces.
Prepare the flavor oil by heating 2 tbsp of olive oil in a small pan and adding sliced garlic, smoked paprika powder, dried thyme, sea salt, and black pepper. Fry the mixture for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Strain the oil into a glass jar through a fine mesh sieve.
Pour the flavor oil over the sliced potatoes in a mixing bowl and toss to coat evenly.
Place the potatoes into the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook in the preheated air fryer for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Serve hot as a side dish or snack.
Top tips
Cutting the potatoes
When cutting fingerling potatoes for this recipe, it's important to aim for even slices. This will help ensure that the potatoes cook evenly in the air fryer and have a consistent texture.
To make cutting easier, use a sharp knife to make clean, precise cuts. For larger potatoes, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise first, then place the cut sides down on the cutting board to cut into small pieces.
Air Fryer Temperature
The recommended air fryer temperature for cooking potatoes is 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200°C).
The best way to get perfectly crispy potatoes, is to fully preheat the air fryer before adding the potatoes to the air fryer tray. This ensures that they cook evenly and become crispy on the outside while remaining tender on the inside.
The cooking time may vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of the potatoes, so it's best to check them regularly and adjust the cook time as needed.
Serving
Air fryer fingerling potatoes are super versatile and can be served in a variety of ways. They make the perfect side dish to complement any meal, whether it's a simple weeknight dinner or a more elaborate special occasion.
- Garnishes - Garnish with additional herbs or spices, such as chopped fresh parsley or chives. This adds a pop of color and freshness to the dish, and enhances the flavor of the potatoes.
- Dips - Serve the potatoes with a dipping sauce, such as garlic aioli, ketchup, herb cream cheese or a spicy butter bean dip for an extra layer of flavor and texture.
No matter how you choose to serve them, these crispy fingerling potatoes are simply delicious!
Here are 5 recipes that pair well with these air-fried fingerling potatoes:
- Frozen Air Fryer Burgers
- Miso Roasted Aubergine
- Vegan Kabob Skewers
- Vegan Seitan Schnitzel
- Roasted Cabbage and Lentil Salad
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, simply place them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, or until they are heated through and crispy again. You can also reheat them in the oven at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, or until they are hot and crispy. Avoid reheating them in the microwave, as this can make them soggy.
Substitutions
Here are some possible ingredient substitutions for the Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes recipe:
- Potatoes - You can substitute La Ratte potatoes with other types of fingerling potatoes or regular small potatoes.
- Olive oil - Any type of cooking oil can be used for the flavor oil instead of olive oil, such as canola oil or vegetable oil.
- Garlic - If you don't have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder instead. Use 1/4 tsp of garlic powder for every clove of garlic.
- Smoked paprika powder - You can use regular paprika powder instead of smoked paprika powder.
- Dried thyme - You can use other dried herbs, such as dried rosemary or dried oregano.
Variations
Here are a few possible variations for this air fryer fingerling potato recipe:
- Spicy Fingerling Potatoes - For a spicier version of this recipe, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the flavor oil. This will add a little spice to it. You can also serve the potatoes with a spicy dipping sauce, such as a sriracha mayo or hot sauce.
- Oven Roasted Fingerling Potatoes - If you don’t have an air fryer to hand, simply roast the potatoes in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and toss the potatoes with the flavor oil in a mixing bowl. Spread the potatoes out on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast for 25-30 minutes, or until tender and crispy.
- Cheesy Fingerling Potatoes - For a cheesy twist on this recipe, sprinkle a little grated parmesan or cheddar cheese over the potatoes before air frying them. The cheese will melt and create a delicious crust on the potatoes. I love adding grated Violife Mature vegan cheese or sprinkling the potatoes with nutritional yeast before serving.
- Lemon Herb Fingerling Potatoes - For a fresh and zesty version of this recipe, add the lemon juice and zest of one lemon to the flavor oil before drizzling the potatoes. You can also add chopped fresh rosemary, parsley, dill, or basil for a pop of herbaceous flavor.
- Balsamic Glazed Fingerling Potatoes - For a sweet and tangy version of this recipe, drizzle balsamic glaze over the cooked potatoes before serving. To make the glaze, simmer balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium heat until it thickens and reduces by half.
More Recipes for your Air fryer:
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Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 small pan
- 1 fine mesh sieve
- 1 sharp knife
- 1 cutting board
- 1 serving dish
Ingredients
- 18 oz fingerling potatoes (500 g) e.g. La Ratte potatoes, washed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic cloves sliced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- In the meantime, wash and dry the fingerling potatoes. Slice them into evenly sized pieces, about 1/2 inch thick. To remove excess starch from the sliced fingerling potatoes, pat them dry with a paper towel.
- To make the flavor oil, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a small pan. Add 2 cloves of sliced garlic, 1 tsp smoked paprika powder, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp sea salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Fry the mixture for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Then, strain the oil into a glass jar through a fine mesh sieve.
- In a large bowl, pour the flavor oil over the sliced potatoes and toss to coat evenly.
- Once the air fryer has preheated, place the potatoes into the basket of the air fryer. For best results, spread the potatoes out in a single layer so that they cook evenly.
- Cook the potatoes for 10-12 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Once the potatoes are done, carefully remove them from the air fryer basket and transfer them to a serving dish. Garnish with additional dried or fresh herbs or spices, if desired, and serve hot as a side dish or as a snack alongside your favorite dips.
Notes
- To remove excess potato starch from the sliced fingerling potatoes, pat them dry with a paper towel before tossing them in the flavor oil.
- Aim for even slices of fingerling potatoes to ensure they cook evenly.
- Fully preheat the air fryer before cooking the potatoes for best results.
- Use a sharp knife to make clean, precise cuts when slicing the potatoes.
- To make the potatoes spicier, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the flavor oil.
- For a cheesy twist on the recipe, sprinkle grated parmesan or cheeze over the potatoes before air frying them.
- To make a sweet and tangy version of the recipe, drizzle balsamic glaze over the cooked potatoes before serving.
- Potatoes - You can substitute La Ratte potatoes with other types of fingerling potatoes or regular small potatoes.
- Olive oil - Any type of cooking oil can be used for the flavor oil instead of olive oil, such as canola oil or vegetable oil.
- Garlic - If you don't have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder instead. Use 1/4 tsp of garlic powder for every clove of garlic.
- Smoked paprika powder - You can use regular paprika powder instead of smoked paprika powder.
- Dried thyme - You can use other dried herbs, such as dried rosemary or dried oregano.
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