Description
This recipe delivers perfectly crispy air-fried artichoke hearts seasoned with garlic, oregano, and parmesan, served alongside a zesty homemade garlic basil aioli. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a delicious appetizer or snack that pairs flavorful herb seasoning with a satisfyingly crunchy texture, made easily in your air fryer.
Ingredients
For the Crispy Artichokes
- 1 can whole artichoke hearts in water
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp arrowroot powder
- 2 tbsp finely grated parmesan
For the Garlic Basil Aioli
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp finely chopped basil
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer: Set the air fryer to 400º Fahrenheit and allow it to preheat for 5 minutes to ensure an even and crispy cook.
- Prepare artichokes: Drain the artichoke hearts from the can, then carefully cut each one in half without breaking them apart, keeping the halves intact.
- Dry the artichokes: Place two layers of paper towels on your countertop, and lay the halved artichokes face down on them to absorb any excess moisture, which helps with crisping.
- Season artichokes: Transfer the artichoke halves into a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the garlic powder, salt, pepper, and dried oregano over them, then gently stir to evenly coat all pieces with the seasonings.
- Add coating: Sprinkle the arrowroot powder over the artichokes and stir again to ensure an even coating, then add the finely grated parmesan and stir one last time to combine thoroughly.
- Prepare air fryer basket: Generously spray the preheated air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Arrange artichokes for cooking: Evenly space out the seasoned artichoke halves in the air fryer basket. If there is any remaining parmesan or seasoning on the bottom of the bowl, sprinkle it over the artichokes before cooking.
- Cook artichokes: Cook the artichokes in the air fryer for 5 minutes. Then, carefully flip each artichoke half over and cook for an additional 5 minutes until crispy and golden.
- Prepare aioli: While the artichokes cook, combine mayonnaise, minced garlic, chopped basil, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt in a small bowl. Stir well until smooth and flavors meld.
- Serve: Transfer the crispy artichoke hearts to a serving dish and serve with the prepared garlic basil aioli on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Be gentle when halving the artichoke hearts; they are delicate and can break easily.
- Arrowroot powder helps achieve a light, crispy coating—substitute with cornstarch if unavailable.
- For a vegan version, replace parmesan with a plant-based alternative and use vegan mayo in the aioli.
- Spraying the air fryer basket well prevents sticking and promotes even crisping.
- The aioli can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
