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Air Fryer Breaded Scampi with Tartare Sauce
- Category: Popular |
A classic takeaway dish served with some tartare sauce and lemon wedges. Now you can, of course, do a battered version mixing cider and flour, but this is a fakeaway and I’ve made it healthier and less of a faff.
SERVES
4
CALORIES
274
COOKING TIME
14 mins
DIFFICULTY
simple
Can you cook scampi in the air fryer?
The air fryer cooks scampi perfectly – crispy on the outside and tender inside, with no need for deep frying.
How long does scampi take to cook in the air fryer?
It usually takes 8–10 minutes at 200°C, depending on the size of your scampi. Give the basket a shake halfway through for an even crisp.
Do I need to use fresh or frozen scampi?
You can use either. Frozen scampi can go straight into the air fryer – no need to defrost. Just add a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time.
Can I make homemade breaded scampi?
Coat raw prawns or scampi tails in flour, beaten egg, and breadcrumbs. Spray lightly with oil before air frying for that classic golden crunch.
What’s the best way to serve air fryer scampi?
Serve it with homemade tartare sauce, air fryer chips, and a wedge of lemon for the ultimate fakeaway.
How do I make tartare sauce?
Mix light mayo, chopped gherkins, capers, lemon juice, and parsley. It’s quick, fresh, and tastes even better than shop-bought.
Can I make it healthier?
Use wholemeal breadcrumbs, light mayo for the tartare sauce, and pair with air-fried chips or salad instead of deep-fried sides.
Do I need to use oil in the air fryer?
Just a light spray of oil helps the breadcrumbs turn golden and crisp, but it’s much less than frying in oil.
Can I reheat scampi in the air fryer?
Yes. Reheat for 3–4 minutes at 180°C until piping hot and crisp again.
And for more healthy fakeaway recipes like this, you can check out:
Or, you can pick up a copy of my brand new book, Healthy Fakeaways on Amazon!
Method
Step 1
Pat the raw prawns dry with kitchen paper and sprinkle over some salt.
Step 2
Put the flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs into three separate bowls. Dip the prawns in the flour, then the egg and lastly the breadcrumbs until well coated.
Step 3
Spray the prawns with the oil, then air-fry at 200°C for 12–14 minutes until nice and golden.
Step 4
While the prawns are cooking, make your speedy tartare sauce. Add all the ingredients to a bowl, then stir it all together.
Step 5
I like to serve the scampi with the tartare sauce, some lemon wedges for squeezing over, and some chunky chips. So good.
Ingredients
300g raw, peeled prawns
3 tbsp plain flour
1 egg, beaten
100g panko breadcrumbs
low-calorie spray oil
salt, to taste
Tartare sauce:
5 tbsp light mayo
2 tbsp fat-free yogurt
handful of chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp chopped capers
juice of ½ lemon
1 gherkin, finely chopped
½ tsp dried herbs (oregano or mixed herbs)
To serve:
lemon wedges
chunky chips
