AirFryday: Crispy potatoes with bacon and rosemary
Bacon makes everything seem better. Potatoes have that effect too. So let's put them together and turn out what may be the most satisfying air fryer potato dish of them all.
There are memes going around saying air fryers are only good for cooking potatoes. This is wildly far from the truth, as my now scores of air fryer recipes for all sorts of things will attest.
But I'll give the claims some credence, in that potatoes are one of the most effective and popular air fryer dishes. In so many ways.
Here's a new way: paring spuds with bacon. This is a divine match. And I sneakily added in some fresh rosemary too, because this herb goes so well with potatoes and is an interesting aromatic for bacon too – if bacon needs any help in pleasing the human palate.
I used a little extra virgin olive oil in this dish too – I rarely use cooking oil spray now that I've got the hang of using an air fryer. A modest amount of actual oil does the job much better, as it coats the potatoes more thoroughly.
Tony's air fryer potatoes with bacon and rosemary
(Serves 2-4 as a side portion)
Ingredients
4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
3 Tbsp olive oil
4 rashers of streaky bacon, diced
4 rosemary sprigs
Salt and black pepper
Method
Peel the potatoes and quarter them.
Pick the rosemary needles off their stems and add them to a bowl. Pour in the olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Dice the bacon rashers and add.
Add the potatoes and toss and stir so that everything is coated with the oil.
Preheat the air fryer to 180°C.
When hot, spoon everything from the bowl into the air fryer basket.
Cook for 15 minutes at 180°C, shaking the basket quickly every few minutes and shutting the drawer again.
Turn the temperature up to 200°C and air-fry for 10 minutes more.
Shake the basket well, and cook for 10 minutes more at 200°C.
Finally, shake the basket again and give them one last 5-minute session, still at 200°C.
They need to be crisp and golden when done. Insert a skewer into a potato and check whether it is tender to the middle. If not, cook for a few minutes more.
Eat a potato and decide whether you're happy that they have enough salt, and adjust if necessary. DM
Tony Jackman is twice winner of the Galliova Food Writer of the year award, in 2021 and 2023.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
AirFryday: Crispy potatoes with bacon and rosemary
Bacon makes everything seem better. Potatoes have that effect too. So let's put them together and turn out what may be the most satisfying air fryer potato dish of them all. There are memes going around saying air fryers are only good for cooking potatoes. This is wildly far from the truth, as my now scores of air fryer recipes for all sorts of things will attest. But I'll give the claims some credence, in that potatoes are one of the most effective and popular air fryer dishes. In so many ways. Here's a new way: paring spuds with bacon. This is a divine match. And I sneakily added in some fresh rosemary too, because this herb goes so well with potatoes and is an interesting aromatic for bacon too – if bacon needs any help in pleasing the human palate. I used a little extra virgin olive oil in this dish too – I rarely use cooking oil spray now that I've got the hang of using an air fryer. A modest amount of actual oil does the job much better, as it coats the potatoes more thoroughly. Tony's air fryer potatoes with bacon and rosemary (Serves 2-4 as a side portion) Ingredients 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters 3 Tbsp olive oil 4 rashers of streaky bacon, diced 4 rosemary sprigs Salt and black pepper Method Peel the potatoes and quarter them. Pick the rosemary needles off their stems and add them to a bowl. Pour in the olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Dice the bacon rashers and add. Add the potatoes and toss and stir so that everything is coated with the oil. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C. When hot, spoon everything from the bowl into the air fryer basket. Cook for 15 minutes at 180°C, shaking the basket quickly every few minutes and shutting the drawer again. Turn the temperature up to 200°C and air-fry for 10 minutes more. Shake the basket well, and cook for 10 minutes more at 200°C. Finally, shake the basket again and give them one last 5-minute session, still at 200°C. They need to be crisp and golden when done. Insert a skewer into a potato and check whether it is tender to the middle. If not, cook for a few minutes more. Eat a potato and decide whether you're happy that they have enough salt, and adjust if necessary. DM Tony Jackman is twice winner of the Galliova Food Writer of the year award, in 2021 and 2023.
Daily Maverick
6 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Lekker Brekker Monday: Melty cheese & onion toasties in your air fryer
Leave the sandwich maker in the cupboard and heat up the air fryer for these crisp and golden toasted sarmies. An air fryer turns out perfect toasted sandwiches, if you follow a few simple rules. I made cheese and onion sandwiches – very simple, using shop-bought bread. Use a fancier loaf if you prefer. The onions are sliced and fried in butter in a pan to draw out their sweet aromatic flavours. It's important to grate the cheese finely. Here are my tips: Preheat the air fryer; Use lots of grated cheese to make a satisfyingly cheesy sandwich; Use a cheese that melts well, such as Cheddar, Emmental, Gouda or Mozzarella. A nice stringy 'pull' makes for a better sandwich; Once assembled with the top slice of bread in place, push the sandwich down firmly with your palm; Spray the sandwiches on both sides with cooking oil spray before putting them in the air fryer; Cook the sandwiches in the air fryer long enough for the top and bottom of the toast to be well browned and for the cheese to have melted. It took about 8 minutes at 200°C in my air fryer. Turn half way; and Use 1 cup of cheese or more (when grated) per two sandwiches. Tony's melty cheese & onion toasties in your air fryer (Makes 4 toasted sandwiches) Ingredients 8 slices of white or brown shop-bought bread Butter or canola margarine to spread on the insides of the bread 1 medium onion, sliced 2 Tbsp butter for frying the onions 2 cups grated cheese (I used Cheddar) Salt and black pepper Herbs of your choice (oregano, thyme, marjoram or snipped chives) Spice of your choice (cayenne pepper, paprika, nutmeg, ground coriander) Cooking oil spray A sprig of herb for garnish Method Preheat the air fryer to 200°C. Butter the bread on the insides. Fry the sliced onion in butter and spoon it on four of the buttered slices. Grate the cheese and place it on top of the four slices. Sprinkle salt and black pepper on top. Sprinkle on any spice and scatter any herb leaves of your choice. Place the remaining four slices of bread on top, and press the sandwiches down very firmly with your palm. This is important as it is what keeps the toasted sandwiches intact; without it, the top slice may not 'stick'. Spray the top and bottom slices generously with cooking oil spray. Place in the air fryer and cook at 200°C until you can see that the top slices are crisp and golden. Turn carefully and repeat until the other side looks just as good. Plate them up, with a garnish of herb leaves. DM
The South African
03-06-2025
- The South African
Samuel L. Jackson celebrates wife LaTanya's Broadway success
Samuel L. Jackson recently threw a sparkling celebration in honour of his wife, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, following her Tony Award nomination. The star-studded cocktail party, thrown by Samuel L. Jackson, took place at the chic Whitby Hotel in New York City drawing an impressive crowd of friends and industry heavyweights. These included director Spike Lee, Tonya Lewis Lee, and Sotheby's real estate expert Spencer Means, according to Page Six. LaTanya, 75, was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her compelling performance as Claudine Jasper in the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Purpose . The play explores the complex dynamics of the Jasper family as they confront issues of faith, political legacy, and familial duty. It has garnered six Tony nominations in total, highlighting its critical acclaim. Samuel L. Jackson, 76, took to the microphone to praise his wife's extraordinary talent and their nearly 45-year marriage. He fondly reflected on how LaTanya inspires him and helps make him a better person. The atmosphere was warm and lively, with LaTanya playfully interrupting his speech, joking, 'See, he had to make it about him!' This witty exchange highlighted her ongoing theme about wives flourishing alongside their accomplished husband. The couple's daughter, Zoe, also joined the celebration, delivering a brief but heartfelt tribute before passing the mic to her mother. Among the guests were celebrated actress Angela Bassett and her daughter Bronwyn, fashion journalist and Purpose playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. LaTanya Richardson Jackson's journey to this nomination is nothing short of remarkable. She previously earned a Tony nod in 2014 for her role in A Raisin in the Sun . Despite her success, LaTanya remains humble. She once revealed she didn't initially tell Samuel L. Jackson about the nomination because she was caught up in other matters. She joked that she has '500 jobs' and that the nomination felt like 'hitting the lottery' in a fiercely competitive Broadway season. The Jacksons exemplify a partnership built on mutual respect and support, inspiring not only in Hollywood but globally. Samuel L. Jackson's heartfelt Instagram post congratulating LaTanya echoed this sentiment: 'WHEN DIAMONDS MEET, TONYS HAPPEN' — a fitting tribute to a powerhouse couple. As the 2025 Tony Awards approach on 8 June, all eyes will be on LaTanya Richardson Jackson. This celebration was a testament to passion, purpose, and the power of partnership. Cheers to LaTanya — a true star shining bright on the Broadway stage and beyond. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
