It turns out, air fryers are AMAZING. I debated with myself and others for a very very long time before I decided to purchase one. And I think it was one of the best decisions ever -- particularly since the gas cuts where I live every 50 days or so, and someone has to physically go and renew the subscription (it's a thing, in some suburbs in Cairo). It's such a tedious task that sometimes we go on without the gas oven and stove for days until the subscription is renewed, BECAUSE the air fryer is so convenient! It has solved the has oven problem for me, and also works in a multitude of ways where i can literally cook anything in there, with minimal oil, and its done perfectly -- and I'm not talking fries! Everything from meatballs, to chicken breasts and wings and drumsticks, right down to veggies and other marinaded goodies. I even toasted bread in it once, and made a wrap too.... solve-all!
And so --- This symmetrical lunch of guiltless chicken & popping charred tomatoes for two was whipped in less than 30 minutes. That makes it perfect when you get home from work or school and need a quick bite (or if you just need a quick bite, lol).
You can either pre-marinade your chicken (check out these 10 amazing freezable marinades to save tons of time and effort and make different-style dishes with every marinade!) and marinade on the spot. Super BBQ'd on the outside, tender and moist on the inside -- you seriously can't go wrong!
And while I opted for these cherry tomatoes as a companion to these chicken-bits, you can use any accompanying vegetable you like -- cooked in the same way, with the same seasonings and all.
Serve with any style bread (I used barley crackers because they're crispy and just fab) but rusks, tortillas, toast, and even rice works here. Try it, and drop me a line. Here's what to do:
Ingredients:
For the chicken:
4 chicken breast fillets
2 tablespoons of your favorite spice mix
4 tablespoons BBQ sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Sunflower oil (in a spray can if possible)
For the Tomatoes:
2 cups cherry tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon garlic
Sunflower oil (in a spray can if possible)
Method:
For the Chicken 🍗: Marinade 4 chicken breasts with 2 teaspoons of your favorite spice mix, BBQ sauce, salt and pepper. Massage marinade into the chicken, and pop into the air-fryer for 15 minutes on 200.C. Pop on a plate!
For the Tomatoes 🍅: Slice open a bunch of cherry tomatoes, pop in a bowl, mix with salt, pepper, thyme, 1 spoon each vinegar & minced garlic, & oil spray. Pop it all in an air-fryer liner at 200.C for 10 minutes till charred.
Arrange them next to the chicken, add the charred tomatoes, and drizzle their juices all over the chicken.
Serve with barley crackers (or any kind of bread or rice) and you’ve got yourself one heck of a super quick & nutritious lunch or dinner. Faster than delivery, that’s for sure!
