Crispy Dried Kelp Chips (Air Fryer Method)
Making Delicious Dried Kelp Chips with Minimal Oil Using an Air Fryer
Do you ever wonder what to do with the leftover kelp after making broth? I bought 1kg of kelp, and was surprised by the quantity! This surplus allowed me to create these wonderfully crispy and flavorful dried kelp chips. Stored in the kimchi refrigerator, it seemed like it would take ages to use it all for broth alone, so I transformed it into a delightful snack. Using an air fryer means you can enjoy these chips healthily with significantly less oil.
Ingredients
- Dried Kelp (Kombu)
- Cooking Oil
- Sugar
- Sesame Seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, take out the amount of dried kelp you want to use for making chips. You might notice a white, powdery substance on the kelp; this is salt. While it’s fine to use it as is for broth, it’s essential to wipe this salt off when making chips to avoid a overly salty taste.
Step 2
Use a damp kitchen towel or paper towel to gently wipe away the salt from the surface of the kelp. Skipping this step will result in excessively salty chips that are difficult to enjoy. Therefore, thorough wiping is crucial.
Step 3
Cut the clean kelp into bite-sized pieces using scissors. This makes them easier to handle and eat. Aim for pieces that are comfortable to pop into your mouth.
Step 4
Pan-frying kelp typically requires a lot of oil. However, using an air fryer allows you to achieve a wonderful crispiness with just a small amount of oil. You can put the kelp in a plastic bag, drizzle with a little oil, and shake to coat evenly. Alternatively, as I did, you can use an oil spray bottle to lightly mist the kelp spread on a tray. The amount of oil used is minimal, less than 1 tablespoon, depending on the quantity of kelp.
Step 5
Put on disposable gloves and gently toss the kelp to ensure the oil is evenly distributed. This coating helps achieve a crispier texture and better flavor when cooked.
Step 6
Arrange the oiled kelp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Let’s start by cooking at 180°C (350°F) for 8 minutes. We’ll monitor the process and adjust the time as needed. Since you can’t see inside the air fryer clearly, it’s best to start with a shorter time and increase it based on how the kelp is cooking.
Step 7
After 8 minutes at 180°C, I heard the kelp puffing and sizzling inside the air fryer. Upon tasting, it wasn’t quite crispy enough. To achieve the desired crispiness, I decided to cook it for a little longer.
Step 8
I added an extra 3 minutes of cooking time, bringing the total to 11 minutes. Through this trial, I learned that approximately 10 minutes at 180°C should be sufficient for perfectly crispy chips next time. The light kelp pieces puffed up nicely and became wonderfully crispy after 11 minutes.
Step 9
Place the crispy fried kelp into a large bowl or a plastic bag. Add the sugar and sesame seeds, then shake the bag or toss gently to coat. Your delicious kelp chips are ready! Note that while sesame seeds adhere well when pan-frying with oil, they might not stick as easily when using an air fryer due to the minimal oil. However, coating them with sugar first will help them stick.
