Crispy Turkish-style fan-cut zucchini in about 30 minutes: scrape grooves with a fork, fan-cut so the slices stay joined, salt for 10 minutes, dredge in herbed flour and a parmesan-egg coat, then pan-fry in olive oil and butter 5 minutes per side. Serve hot under a cold garlic-dill yogurt sauce. Serves 2.
Never eat dry chicken again: this Japanese low-temperature method keeps chicken breast tender and juicy every time. Trim the tendons, cure a 300 g breast with 3 g salt and 1.5 g sugar for 15 minutes, then poach in just-off-the-boil water (80–85 °C / 175–185 °F) for 23–25 minutes until the center hits 74 °C / 165 °F. Finish with a 1-minute butter sear for colour. Serves 2.
Mashed banana does the heavy lifting in these chocolate waffles, binding with eggs so only 30 g (1 oz) of flour and two tablespoons of cocoa are needed for a batter that cooks in 5 minutes in the waffle maker. Pick a ripe, spotty banana; it mashes smooth and carries enough natural sweetness that one tablespoon of honey covers the rest. When measuring that honey, dip the spoon in oil first and it slides off cleanly. Wheat flour swaps easily for oat or a gluten-free blend, since banana and eggs hold everything together. A drizzle of jam or chocolate sauce makes it a breakfast that doubles as dessert.
This burek-style cheese spiral swaps phyllo for rice paper, which crisps in the air fryer with no butter brushing between layers. Dipping the sheets in beaten egg rather than plain water is the key move: the egg softens the paper just enough to roll and helps it blister into a crackly golden shell. Crumbled feta is bound with an egg and shredded mozzarella so the filling stays put as the spiral cooks. Overlap two or three softened sheets into one long base, roll the filling into a log, coil it, and scatter sesame seeds over the top. Fifteen minutes at 180°C (350°F) takes it to golden and crisp.
These handheld breakfast cups start with a scramble baked in the air fryer: cottage cheese and four eggs mixed with a drizzle of olive oil, cooked at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes. The curds carry moisture through the eggs, so the bake stays tender instead of drying out. While it cooks, trim each tortilla around a small bowl and glue the cut flaps into a cup shape with a flour-and-water paste; no toothpicks needed. Season the eggs, spoon them into the cups, top with grated mozzarella, and air-fry for 5 more minutes. They are ready when the tortilla edge feels crisp and the cheese has melted.
Think of this as a quick quiche with a tortilla standing in for pastry. Pressed into a silicone mold, the tortilla crisps underneath while the eggs bake, so the finished pie lifts out and slices cleanly. Layer fresh spinach, diced ham and crumbled feta on the base. Pour over three beaten eggs with a pinch of salt, then scatter halved cherry tomatoes on top. Air fry at 170°C (325°F) for 30–35 minutes. The moderate heat keeps the eggs tender; the pie is done when the centre feels just set, with no jiggle. Any cooked meat can stand in for the ham.