Category Archives: Air Fryer

Hickory Maple Salmon Bites on Pomegranate Apple Quinoa Salad

Posted on by
Reply

There’s nothing like a dish that combines simplicity, flavor, and nutrition all in one beautiful presentation. That’s exactly what you get with this Hickory Maple Salmon Bites on Pomegranate Apple Quinoa Salad. Featuring pre-seasoned, ready-to-grill salmon from Cedar Bay Grilling, this recipe makes for an effortlessly impressive meal that’s perfect for weeknights or special occasions.

A colorful plate featuring Hickory Maple Salmon Bites atop a vibrant Pomegranate Apple Quinoa Salad. The dish is garnished with fresh spinach, jewel-like pomegranate arils, golden quinoa, crisp apple slices, and toasted pecans, all lightly drizzled with a creamy maple-lemon vinaigrette. The salmon bites are caramelized and crispy on the outside, perfectly complementing the fresh and hearty salad ingredients.

Effortless Salmon Preparation

Cedar Bay Grilling takes the guesswork out of cooking salmon. Their planked and pre-seasoned salmon filets are ready to cook straight from the packaging. For this dish, I used their 5-ounce Hickory Maple Salmon filets and transformed them into bite-sized pieces. By cutting each filet into eight segments, not only do you get the ideal size for layering over the quinoa salad, but you also expose more surface area for a crispy, caramelized crust while keeping the interior tender, succulent and flaky. Whether you grill, bake, or air fry, these bites are ready in under 15 minutes, making them as convenient as they are delicious.

A Salad That’s as Vibrant as It Is Nutritious

While the salmon cooks, you can quickly assemble the pomegranate apple quinoa salad (have pre-cooked quinoa on hand, even the pre-cooked kind in a pouch works). It’s a vibrant, nutrient-packed base that’s both hearty and refreshing. Here’s what makes it shine:

  • Quinoa: This protein-rich grain adds substance and texture, providing a neutral canvas to highlight the other ingredients.
  • Pomegranate Arils: Jewel-like bursts of tangy sweetness complement the savory salmon and nutty quinoa.
  • Apple: I chose Opal apples for their crispness and natural resistance to browning, ensuring the salad stays fresh and visually appealing.
  • Toasted Pecans: For a buttery crunch and depth of flavor.
  • Red Onion: A subtle sharpness that cuts through the sweetness of the fruit.
  • Spinach: A nutrient-dense leafy green that ties everything together.

Maple-Lemon Vinaigrette

To dress this salmon bowl, I created a creamy maple-lemon vinaigrette that adds a tangy sweetness and a touch of indulgence without overloading on calories. Greek yogurt serves as the base, making the dressing creamy and protein-rich, while fresh lemon juice and maple syrup balance the flavors beautifully.

Plating and Serving

To assemble layer the pomegranate quinoa salad in a shallow serving bowl and top with the crispy salmon bites. The contrast of colors—golden salmon, ruby pomegranate arils, emerald spinach, and snowy quinoa—makes for a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply treating yourself, this dish is guaranteed to impress.

Why You’ll Love It

  • Quick and Easy: Pre-seasoned salmon and minimal prep make this dish perfect for busy schedules.
  • Nutritious and Balanced: Packed with lean protein, whole grains, healthy fats, and fresh produce.
  • Beautiful and Versatile: A show-stopping presentation that works as a main dish or a nourishing lunch.

With its blend of seasonal flavors, easy-for-anyone preparation, and nourishing ingredients, Hickory Maple Salmon Bites on Pomegranate Apple Quinoa Salad is a recipe you’ll return to again and again. Give it a try and experience how effortless gourmet cooking can be with Cedar Bay Grilling.

You can find Cedar Bay Grilling salmon at:  Kroger, Publix, Hannaford, Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Ralph’s, Giant, Giant eagle, Stop n Shop and Roche Bros.

Also, follow for Cedar Bay Grilling recipes and news – Facebook and Instagram.

A colorful plate featuring Hickory Maple Salmon Bites atop a vibrant Pomegranate Apple Quinoa Salad. The dish is garnished with fresh spinach, jewel-like pomegranate arils, golden quinoa, crisp apple slices, and toasted pecans, all lightly drizzled with a creamy maple-lemon vinaigrette. The salmon bites are caramelized and crispy on the outside, perfectly complementing the fresh and hearty salad ingredients.
Print
Hickory Maple Salmon Bites on Pomegranate Apple Quinoa Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 
Course: dinner, dinner, entree
Keyword: fish, pomegranate, quinoa, salmon, seafood
Calories: 593 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 5- oz Hickory Maple Salmon Filets from Cedar Bay Grilling
  • ½ medium chopped golden opal apple or another variety
  • 4- ounce pomegranate arils
  • ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1/3 cup toasted chopped pecans
  • 3/4 cup cooked plain quinoa home cooked or plain from a pouch
  • 2 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach
Dressing:
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tsp real maple syrup
  • 1.5 Tbsp zero-fat Greek yogurt
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat air-fryer or oven to 380F. Unwrap salmon and cut each filet into eight pieces, spreading out just a bit on the provided cedar plank.
  2. Cook for 8-12 minutes until salmon is flakey and slight still pink and tender in center. If using a thermometer, the internal temperature in thickest part should reach 145F.
  3. While salmon is cooking, prepare quinoa salad. Toss together chopped apple, pomegranate arils, red onion, pecans, cooked quinoa and spinach.
  4. Add all dressing ingredients to a small mason jar and shake until thoroughly combined. Pour over salad and stir to distribute evenly.
  5. Distribute salad among two bowls. Place salmon pieces evenly atop salads (removing bottom skin) and enjoy!
  6. Serves 2.
Recipe Notes

Spicy Sweet Ancho Roasted Spanish Peanuts in Air Fryer (or Oven)

Posted on by
Reply

Summer’s here I’m snacking on peanuts more than ever. Recipes like these Spicy Sweet Ancho Roasted Spanish Peanuts make a quick, easy and economical snack that will curb the hangries and keep the whole family filled up on road trips, hikes, long days at the park and more.

Get your hot peanuts here! Raw Spanish peanuts are roasted in air fryer or oven after being coated with butter, sugar (or alternative), salt and a mildly spicy chile powder. An easy, economical and low-carb snack.

This sweet savory peanut recipe uses raw Spanish peanuts – make sure you are using RAW nuts, not those already roasted and salted. Raw Spanish peanuts are typically a great deal compared to other nut options and can be ordered in large bags* or you can pick up from the bulk bins in the exact amount you want at your market. *If you have more raw peanuts than you will use right away, keep remaining raw Spanish peanuts in an air-tight container in the fridge or freezer for up to 6 months, to ensure freshness.

Get your hot peanuts here! Raw Spanish peanuts are roasted in air fryer or oven after being coated with butter, sugar (or alternative), salt and a mildly spicy chile powder. An easy, economical and low-carb snack.

I used Ancho Chile Powder for a mildly spicy, sweet vibe – but feel free to sub another spice like a hotter chile powder or cinnamon even pumpkin pie spice! This is YOUR snack!

When prepping for the Ancho Roasted Peanuts recipe, all you may wonder if you need to remove the red skin from the Spanish peanuts. No, that’s no necessary!  In fact, peanut skins have an abundant amount of natural antioxidants and a high content of dietary fiber, so I always leave them on!

I made this spiced Spanish peanut recipe in a large, oven-style air fryer. If using a smaller, drawer-style air fryer you will need to do in two batches. Also, you can roast red skin peanuts, including this recipe, in a traditional oven. The details are in the recipe card below.

This roasted red skin peanut recipe makes about two cups, serving eight (about ¼ cup per each). Leftovers store great, just keep in an air-tight bag for a month or so – if they last that long! Also, check out my Heavenly Cinnamon Honey Roasted Peanuts based on a recipe from my Cooking for One for Dummies book.

Get your hot peanuts here! Raw Spanish peanuts are roasted in air fryer or oven after being coated with butter, sugar (or alternative), salt and a mildly spicy chile powder. An easy, economical and low-carb snack that sustains -- perfect for hikes, road trips, post workout and more!

Post contains Amazon affiliate links. Visit my Amazon store for more products I love to use in my recipes.

Get your hot peanuts here! Raw Spanish peanuts are roasted in air fryer or oven after being coated with butter, sugar (or alternative), salt and a mildly spicy chile powder. An easy, economical and low-carb snack that sustains -- perfect for hikes, road trips, post workout and more!
Print
Spicy Sweet Ancho Spanish Peanuts Roasted in Air Fryer
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
13 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 

Get your hot peanuts here! Raw Spanish peanuts are roasted in air fryer or oven after being coated with butter, sugar (or alternative), salt and a mildly spicy chile powder. An easy, economical and low-carb snack that sustains — perfect for hikes, road trips, post workout and more!

Course: Snack
Cuisine: Southwestern
Keyword: ancho, low carb, peanuts, snack
Servings: 8 1/4 cup servings
Ingredients
  • 2 cups raw Spanish peanuts red skin still on
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 tbsp sugar or equivalent low-carb granulated sweetener
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ancho chile powder or can use another type of chile powder or spice like cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, etc.
Instructions
  1. In medium bowl, stir sugar, salt, and chile powder until combined.
  2. Add peanuts (leave skins on), stir until coated. Pour out onto air fryer tray lline with parchment paper for easier clean up.
  3. Air fry at 300F degrees for 5 minutes, stir around with spatula. Then air fry at 350F degrees for an additional 8 minutes (so 13 min. combined).
  4. Or, roast in 350F degree oven on a rimmed baking sheet, for about 15 minutes (stirring up every 5 minutes).
  5. If desired, while still warm you can sprinkle with a little more sugar and salt. So yummy warm. If you have leftovers, let cook and store in a zip-top bag.

Best Low Carb Side Dishes in Air Fryer

Posted on by
Reply

Although I prioritize fitness and healthy eating, I still find myself susceptible to cravings for delicious, crispy “fried” treats. Thankfully, my air-fryer has emerged as my guilt-free solution, transforming indulgent side dishes into wholesome alternatives – these are some of the best vegetables in the air fryer! Explore these low carb air fryer side dish recipes to elevate tonight’s dinner to a new level of satisfaction – even when time is tight!

A low-carb, gluten-free and keto-friendly way to snack and get more vegetables in your day! These easy air fryer zucchini chips use just a few simple ingredients and are done in minutes – perfect for game day entertaining or a delicious side dish and alternative to fries.

Cheddar Zucchini Chips in the Air Fryer stay low carb, thanks to a coating made from crushed cheddar crisps and almond meal, instead of breadcrumbs and flour. Dunk in your favorite dipping sauce, so addictive!

 Honey Ginger Broccoli for Two in Air Fryer is my delicious spin on “crack” broccoli – my kids beg for it and will eat up the whole batch!

Crispy, crunchy and quick, these baked onion rings are lower in carbs thanks to a coating that includes keto-friendly ingredients like crushed pork rinds, Parmesan cheese and coconut flour. A delicious appetizer, game day snack or side dish for steak, burgers and more!

Crispy Low Carb Onion Rings in Air Fryer are a clever way to avoid eating carbs or staying gluten-free. The onions are coated in topping made with crushed pork rinds – a smart and flavorful way to use this old-school snack!

Hatch green chile fries are a quick and easy air fryer recipe suitable for paleo, whole30, gluten free and low carb diets.

Hatch Green Chili Fried in Air Fryer make mage with this popular, milder New Mexico pepper. Of course, you can use any type pepper (even hot ones, if you dare) and even bell pepper strips!

Let cool a couple minutes. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with honey, toss gently. Sprinkle with granola!

Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries hit the spot – crunch on the outside, soft on the interior and drizzled with honey, sprinkled with sea salt and upgraded with a lightly spicy granola. Upgraded comfort food to pair up with almost any main dish protein.

TIPS FOR CRISPY AIR FRYER SIDE DISHES

Type of Air Fryer: You can use whatever air fryer you prefer – a smaller “drawer” style one may require you to make some of these recipes in two batches. I prefer a larger oven-style air fryer with a door that pulls downward. That makes it easy for me to check on food, flip it, see what’s going on through the door winder, and also typically cook up the whole batch at once to serve my hungry family.

Can I Use an Oven? Yes, but it will take a little longer. Preheat the oven temperature to the same temperature and increase cooking time by about 33% longer, flipping halfway through. So if an air-fryer recipe says 10 minutes, bake in oven for 15 minutes. Also, it is preferable to use a mesh rack or over the baking sheet or a crisping tray sheet to help promote crispiness.

How do I Reheat Leftovers? It’s best to reheat leftovers in a pre-heated air-fryer (375F) for just a few minutes until crisped up and warmed. Reheating in a microwave is not recommended, as it will made the food soggy.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Garlicky Roasted Pumpkin Seeds in Air Fryer or Oven (Easy & Economical)

Posted on by
5

Life has been busy, and I’m a little late on sharing my recipe for Garlic Pumpkin Seeds in Air Fryer (or Oven). Halloween has come and gone, and you’ve probably already carved a pumpkin which is the perfect time to roast pumpkin seeds)!

Garlicky Roasted Pumpkin Seeds can be made in the air-fryer or oven and are a quick, easy and economical snack you and your family will love this fall season.

BUT, if you still have a whole pumpkin sitting around or are getting one to process the flesh for Thanksgiving recipes, remember to SAVE THE SEEDS! You can keep the white pumpkin seeds raw in the fridge (in an air tight container) for a few days, if you don’t have a few minutes to spare to roast up in the air-fryer.

Garlicky Roasted Pumpkin Seeds can be made in the air-fryer or oven and are a quick, easy and economical snack you and your family will love this fall season.
Pin this for later!

Roasted garlicky pumpkin seeds are a smart and healthy snack . .. and economical too if you already have the pumpkin on hand! You can basically make roasted pumpkin seeds for “free” . . . while they are big bucks in the bulk bin at the grocery store ($10.48/lb at my market).

Pumpkin seeds in white shell sold in bulk bin at market
Pumpkin seeds roasted in their shell are SO ridiculously expensive in the store — so I make my own!

A question I hear frequently – CAN I EAT THE WHITE OUTER SHELL? Yes, yes you can -it’s loaded with fiber and satisfyingly crunch after roasting. The shell and kernel are also a good source of minerals like iron and magnesium. The actual seed kernel is inside the white outer shell, you may recognize them as the little green pepitas that are so popular right now.

Raw pumpkin seeds before removed from the pulp.

Making DIY roasted pumpkin seeds in the air fryer is so simple the kids can do it. Just pull out the seeds from the center of the pumpkin and as best you can, extract from the pulpy strands attached. Throw the seeds in a bowl to wash off the remainder of pumpkin pulp and then spread out on a paper towel to dry for 30 minutes or so. Then, for every on cup of pumpkin seeds in their shells, it’s just a matter mixing them up with 2 tsp olive oil and ½ tsp garlic salt (plus a pinch of chili pepper if you’d like), before spreading in a thin layer and air frying (in UNpreheated air fryer) at 360F for 12 minutes, shaking pan halfway through. You can roast in the traditional oven PREheated to 360, for about 12 – 14 total minutes.

This is not a sponsored post, but I feel compelled to tell you about the very best air fryer I’ve used. It’s the Omni Plus 19L/18Q Multi-Function Air-Fryer and honestly love it more than any appliance in my kitchen – we use this mini oven style air fryer numerous times a day. I can’t imagine life without it, lol. 

Garlicky Roasted Pumpkin Seeds can be made in the air-fryer or oven and are a quick, easy and economical snack you and your family will love this fall season.

I like to eat roasted pumpkin seeds them as-is, or toss in a trail mix or on my salad. If you don’t care for garlic roasted pumpkin seeds, just use regular salt. A ¼ cup serving has 81 calories, 8.5g carb, 4.2g fat and 3g protein.

As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

5 from 5 votes
Garlicky Roasted Pumpkin Seeds can be made in the air-fryer or oven and are a quick, easy and economical snack you will love this fall season.
Print
Garlicky Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
22 mins
 

Garlicky Roasted Pumpkin Seeds can be made in the air-fryeror oven and are a quick, easy and economical snack you and your family willlove this fall season.

Course: Snack
Keyword: air fryer, chia seeds, garlic, pumpkin seeds
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 81 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds in white shell
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt or seasoned salt
Instructions

  1. Rise pumpkin seeds to remove pulp.

  2. Pour out onto a clean dish cloth or paper towels at pat dry – let air dry for another 15-30 minutes.

  3. Add seeds to bowl and stir in olive and garlic salt or seasoned salt.

  4. Add to air-fryer (not preheated) set to 360 and "roast" for 12 minutes, shaking pan at the halfway point.

  5. To make in oven, PREHEAT oven to 360 and roast for about 12 to 14 minutes.

  6. Enjoy! Store cooled leftovers in an air-tight container.

Recipe Notes