Description
Easy Air Fryer Carrot Fries coated with smoked paprika and nutritional yeast, cooked until tender with browned edges, and served with creamy garlic aioli.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound carrots
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise
- 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped, pressed, or finely grated
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
Instructions
- Peel the carrots, trim the ends, and cut them into evenly sized French fry shapes about 1/4 inch thick.
- Combine the smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon olive oil, nutritional yeast, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
- Add the carrot sticks and toss thoroughly until every piece has an even coating. Add a small drizzle of oil only when needed.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F when recommended by the manufacturer.
- Arrange the carrots in a loose single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook in batches when necessary.
- Air fry for 15 minutes, shaking or turning the carrots halfway through cooking.
- Check for browned edges and a tender center. Cook for another 2 to 4 minutes when needed.
- Combine the mayonnaise, garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small blender. Blend until smooth.
- Taste the aioli and add more lemon juice or salt when desired.
- Cool the carrot fries for 2 minutes, then serve them warm with the garlic aioli.
Notes
- Cut the carrot sticks to a similar thickness so they cook evenly.
- Do not overcrowd the basket because trapped steam prevents browning.
- Use regular paprika, chili powder, or Cajun seasoning instead of smoked paprika when preferred.
- Replace nutritional yeast with grated Parmesan after cooking when dairy suits your diet.
- Use vegan mayonnaise for a fully vegan garlic aioli.
- Store cooled carrot fries and aioli in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat the carrot fries in the air fryer at 375°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 231
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 16
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 10