Air Fryer Birista (Crispy Fried Onions)

Ingredients

• 3 large onions (about 450 g total), very thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp cornflour (optional)
• 1 tbsp oil, salt, 1/4 tsp sugar

Steps

1. Toss the sliced onions with the oil, cornflour, a pinch of salt and the sugar until evenly coated - the cornflour and sugar both help them crisp and brown faster.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C for 3 minutes.
3. Spread the onions in as thin and even a layer as the basket allows (work in two batches if needed - overcrowding is the main cause of uneven, soggy results).
4. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket every 3-4 minutes, until deeply golden and crisp, watching closely in the last few minutes as they can go from golden to burnt quickly.
5. Tip onto a paper towel-lined plate and let cool completely - they crisp up further as they cool.
6. Store in an airtight container once fully cooled.

Tip: Slice the onions as thin and evenly as you can, ideally with a mandoline - uneven slices cook at different rates, so the thick pieces stay soft while the thin ones burn before the batch is done.

🖨 Print Recipe

Nutrition (per serving)

Estimated from standard ingredient data — actual values vary by brand and exact quantities used.

Serving & Storage