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How to make air fried scallop kebabs (kabobs)

Scallops are a type of seafood that is considered a delicacy similar to lobsters or crab. This is no surprise as they have a sweet, buttery, and nutty taste that yields an appetizing flavor. Apart from their scrumptious taste they are also healthy and nutritious.

Being high in protein, rich in minerals, and low in calories they make the ideal balanced meal when matched with vegetables. One of my simple and quick recipes is air fried scallop kebabs (kebobs).

Due to the air fryer’s circulating hot air, the scallops are crispy outside with soft centres which is cooked evenly. Also, little or no oil is required when cooking in the air fryer so it can be a healthier way to cook.

What makes this recipe so simple is the few ingredients and a couple of easy steps. That’s all that’s need and you will have a delicious meal ready in no time.

air fryer scallops

Things to note:

Air Fryer capacity and accessories: Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the kebabs in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Another thing to bear in mind is the shape and length of the air fryer. Before threading your kebabs, take one wooden skewer and measure its length against the air fryer basket.

For round baskets, it’s recommended to cut the skewers in half so that they can be easily spread out. As for square baskets, you can decide whether you want to cut the skewers in half or just to shorten them. Some multifunctional air fryers come with skewers as part of the accessories so that makes it more convenient. For example, air fryers with rotisserie are great for making kebabs as most of them come with skewers which is hooked into a rotating spinner so the food is grilled from all angles.

 

Scallops: The scallops used in this recipe are bay scallops which are usually smaller in size. You can opt to use sea scallops which are generally bigger therefore you may increase the time by a few minutes to make sure they are cooked through.

When purchasing scallops look for “dry” scallops which do not have any chemical additives. This is because they are pre-brined in solution that extracts the moisture. Therefore, the scallops are soft and tender when cooked compared to “wet” scallops that may turn out rubbery.

It is best to use fresh scallops however frozen ones can be used too. The main difference is that frozen scallops may be a little less tasty. If frozen, the thaw and pat them dry before cooking. Be sure to remove their tough side muscle, too. 

Skewers: Wooden skewers would need to be soaked in water for 10 minutes or more to prevent burning. In addition, if you are not shortening the skewers then you may want to use two skewers in one kebab to make it easier to turn over.

Serving Suggestions:

  1. Italian and Mediterranean pasta salads compliments’ the kebabs perfectly.
  2. Any type of cooked rice will add some carbs to the meal with convenience.
  3. Simple grilled flatbread and tartar sauce are great to make the meal lighter.
  4. Leafy greens and cherry tomato salads with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and olive oil are quick and easy sides.
  5. Roasted butternut squash/pumpkin or air fried garlic butternut squash/pumpkin.
large air fryer

Air Fried Scallop Kebabs

Claire Baker
These air fried scallop kebabs will be a great meal to serve at any occasion. It’s really simple and quick so you can have dinner on the table in no time! A big plus cooking them in the air fryer is that they will be evenly cooked. Even if you don’t flip them!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 2 people

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Wooden skewers or metal skewers that came with your air fryer
  • 2 Mixing bowls

Ingredients
  

  • 200 grams Scallop meat
  • 5 Button mushrooms
  • 1/2 Green capsicum (Bell pepper)
  • 8 Cherry tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian herbs (dried)
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Soak wooden skewers in water for 10 minutes. (This time is not included in the preparation time stated above).
  • Marinate scallop meat in salt, pepper, and olive oil. Set aside for 5 minutes.
  • Cut the vegetables into small cubes about 1 centimeter (0.39 inch) in width.
  • Mix the vegetables with garlic salt, Italian herbs, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
  • Thread the scallop meat and vegetables through the skewers. Alternate the scallop meat and vegetables on the skewers to get an appealing blend of colors. Leave a small space between the ingredients if you want them to be grilled in between.
  • Spray some oil or line the air fryer basket with parchment paper.
  • Place the scallop kebabs in a single layer inside the air fryer basket.
  • Put the basket with scallop kebabs into the air fryer.
  • Set your air fryer to 170 degrees Celsius (338 degrees Fahrenheit) for 12 minutes.
  • At 7 minutes, pull out the air fryer basket and flip the scallop kebabs if you want them to be crispy on both sides. Put the basket back into the air fryer for the remaining 5 minutes.
  • Use tongs to remove the scallop kebabs from the fryer.
  • Serve hot with your favorite sides or refer to our serving suggestions above for ideas
Keyword air fried, easy, healthy, quick, simple

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