Air Fryer Quick & Easy Mala Xiang Guo
Flavorful and Non-Sticky! An Easy and Fast Air Fryer Recipe for Mala Xiang Guo
What do you usually make with your air fryer? You might think of frozen foods, but it’s also excellent for cooking meats like pork belly or chicken. Today, I’m introducing a more special and appetite-stimulating air fryer dish: ‘Mala Xiang Guo.’ Simply add a little water to the air fryer basket to steam-cook vegetables and seafood, then toss with a simple Mala Xiang Guo sauce for a wonderful meal. This is an incredibly easy Mala Xiang Guo recipe that anyone can follow. Let’s get started!
Main Ingredients
- 300g fresh shrimp
- 150g chewy lobster fish balls
- 100g flavorful beef brisket slices (chadolbagi)
- 1 stalk fresh green onions
- 1 spicy Korean green chili pepper
- 8 dried Thai chili peppers (adjust to spice preference)
- 1/2 lotus root
- 1/2 zucchini
- 100g bok choy
- 1/2 pack enoki mushrooms
- 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Mala Xiang Guo Sauce
- 1 pack concentrated Mala Xiang Guo paste
- 4 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 pack concentrated Mala Xiang Guo paste
- 4 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, finely chop the green onions to use as a garnish. For the Korean green chili pepper, slice it in half and remove the seeds for a milder flavor, or keep them for extra heat. If you desire a spicier kick, feel free to use the dried Thai chili peppers.
Step 2
Peel the thoroughly washed lotus root and slice it into relatively thick rounds, about 0.7 cm thick. For the zucchini, cut it in half lengthwise, then slice it diagonally into 0.7 cm thick pieces. This thickness ensures a pleasant texture when cooked.
Step 3
Depending on their size, cut the bok choy into 2 or 4 pieces. For the enoki mushrooms, trim about 1 cm from the base and gently separate any clumps.
Step 4
Pour about 1 cup of water into the air fryer basket. This will help the ingredients cook without drying out and keep them moist.
Step 5
Arrange the shrimp evenly in the air fryer basket. Then, add all the prepared vegetables like lotus root, zucchini, bok choy, and enoki mushrooms on top. Finally, place the lobster fish balls on the very top.
Step 6
Cover the basket with aluminum foil and air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the foil and continue cooking for another 15 minutes, for a total of 30 minutes, allowing the ingredients to become tender.
Step 7
While the ingredients are cooking, let’s make the Mala Xiang Guo sauce. Heat a generous amount of cooking oil (4 Tbsp) in a pan and stir-fry the beef brisket slices until they are lightly browned. Once the beef is cooked, add the dried chilies to release their aroma. Then, stir in the Mala Xiang Guo paste and minced garlic, and sauté everything together. (Tip: Using pre-made stir-fry Mala Xiang Guo paste from an Asian market is convenient. Most brands taste quite similar, so choose one you like!)
Step 8
Transfer the cooked shrimp, vegetables, and fish balls from the air fryer directly into the pan with the prepared Mala sauce.
Step 9
Now, toss everything together to ensure the ingredients are well-coated with the sauce. Stir-fry for about 5 minutes until the flavors meld beautifully. Finish with a drizzle of sesame oil (1/2 Tbsp) for an extra layer of aroma. Your delicious Air Fryer Mala Xiang Guo is ready! Serve it attractively and garnish with the chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
Step 10
With Korean green chilies, dried Thai chilies, and Mala sauce, this dish packs a serious punch of spiciness! It’s perfect for those who love a fiery and satisfying meal that’s great for relieving stress.
Step 11
Today, we explored a unique Mala Xiang Guo recipe using the air fryer. Doesn’t that spicy and appetizing visual make your mouth water? Enjoy your delicious homemade meal today! 🙂
