These air fryer fingerling potatoes are a healthier alternative to traditional fried potatoes - they are wonderfully crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and have a delicious smoky flavor. They are seasoned with a homemade flavor oil, that includes smoked paprika, garlic and thyme and complements the nutty flavor of these small potatoes.
18ozfingerling potatoes (500 g)e.g. La Ratte potatoes, washed
2tablespoonolive oil
2clovesgarlic clovessliced
1teaspoonsmoked paprika powder
1teaspoondried thyme
½teaspoonsea salt
½teaspoonblack 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 ½ 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 tablespoon of olive oil in a small pan. Add 2 cloves of sliced garlic, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon sea salt, and ½ teaspoon 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.
Substitutions
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 ¼ teaspoon 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.
Keyword air fryer, fingerling potatoes, fried potatoes, la ratte potatoes