Crispy breaded pan-fried asparagus (air fryer optional)

Crispy asparagus fries in panko coating with chili crisp dipping sauce.

5 from 2 votes

Crispy breaded pan-fried asparagus (air fryer optional)

Breaded asparagus spears get wonderfully crispy on the outside, thanks to seasoned panko breadcrumbs. Serve them as an appetizer, snack, or side dish. They're especially delicious dunked in chili crisp dipping sauce.

Prefer to air fry for a lighter appetizer? Get the instructions in the notes section of this recipe card.

Prep Time24

Cook Time9

Total Time33

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Vegan

Keyword: air fryer, finger food

Servings: people

Calories: 191kcal

Author: Cadry Nelson

Ingredients

16 ounces asparagus
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
Several pinches of salt divided
6 to 8 Tablespoons water
1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs plus more if necessary
1 teaspoon dried basil plus more if necessary
1 teaspoon paprika plus more if necessary
1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder, plus more if necessary
1 teaspoon granulated onion or onion powder, plus more if necessary
Avocado oil liquid for pan frying or spray for air frying

Instructions

Rinse asparagus and move to a clean kitchen towel to blot dry. (The breading sticks better when the spears are dry.)
Cut an inch or two off the bottom of each stalk to remove the tough, woody ends.
If the spears are especially long, you can cut them into halves or 5 to 6-inch pieces for easier breading. Then set aside.
Now it's time to make a breading station with a shallow bowl (like a cereal bowl) for batter, a plate for seasoned breadcrumbs, and a plate for the breaded asparagus as they are finished.
In the bowl, use a fork or whisk to combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, a pinch of salt, and 6 Tablespoons of water. After the batter is mixed, slowly add 2 more Tablespoons of water, as needed. You want the batter to have the consistency of pancake batter with no lumps.
Then on a dinner plate, combine panko bread crumbs, dried basil, dried oregano, paprika, granulated garlic, granulated onion, and a pinch of salt.
Pro tip: Panko adheres best when it's dry. So it can be handy to divide the seasoned panko breadcrumb mixture onto 2 or 3 separate plates. As you finish one plate, you can grab another one with completely dry panko.
One at a time, dip each asparagus spear into the batter and fully coat it. Tap off any excess batter. Then dredge it in the panko bread crumb mixture until it's coated all over. Continue breading each one until they are finished.
(If you run out of panko breadcrumbs, add more to the plate, along with a pinch of each of the seasonings.)
Tip: For less mess when breading, use one hand for wet & one for dry. By always dipping one hand into the wet batter and the other into the dry panko, you will have less clean up while you bread the asparagus.
As you finish each one, set the breaded asparagus spear on the separate final plate.
Bring a large non-stick skillet to a medium high heat with about a half inch to an inch of avocado oil (or other high heat oil). Drop a breadcrumb into the oil to see if it's hot enough. If bubbles immediately form around it, it's ready to use.
Put the breaded asparagus into the oil, being careful not to overcrowd. (You'll need to fry in batches. If the skillet is overcrowded, they won't brown as well.) Fry for about 5 minutes, occasionally turning with a spatula or tongs. (Don't move them until they brown.)
Once they are brown all over, transfer the fried asparagus spears to a towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Continue frying the remaining breaded asparagus. Because the oil gets hotter as you go, the second batch may cook more quickly. Keep an eye on it to avoid burning.
Put the fried asparagus on a serving platter and finish with another pinch of salt. Serve with spicy vegan chili crisp dipping sauce or your preferred sauce.

Notes

Optional air fryer instructions

For a lighter appetizer, the breaded asparagus can be cooked in the air fryer instead of pan frying.

Put the breaded asparagus fries into the air fryer basket in a single shallow layer. Be careful not to overcrowd, or they won't brown as nicely.

(You'll likely need to work in batches. Be aware that subsequent batches will likely cook faster, because the air fryer is hot.)

Lightly spritz the spears with oil. Air fry at 400 degrees for 7 to 9 minutes, stopping once or twice to carefully flip the spears with a spatula. Spray any white parts with oil, and continue air frying until brown all over.

Remember that air fryers vary. You may need to cook slightly longer or shorter, depending on your machine.

Storage & reheating instructions

Store leftover fried asparagus in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep for 3 or 4 days.

Leftover asparagus fries reheat beautifully in the air fryer. Air fry at 400 degrees for about 7 minutes, stopping once halfway through to gently flip.

Nutrition info FYI

Because it is difficult to calculate the oil absorption of pan-fried foods, the nutrition information listed is for the air fried version. If you're frying in a skillet with more oil, the calorie amount will be higher.

Nutrition