Skip the skillet and make blistered shishito peppers in your air fryer. These mild and sweet Japanese peppers are ready to eat in 5 minutes. Air Fryer Shishito Peppers make a great appetizer or snack sprinkled with salt or served with your favorite dipping sauce.
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The first time I had shishito peppers was at an Izakaya restaurant. These casual Japanese establishments typically serve small plates for sharing that pair well with beer, sake, or cocktails.
When I first starting buying them, I used to saute them in olive oil in a cast iron pan until lightly blistered and charred. But later I discovered how quick and easy they are to make in an air fryer with a fraction of the oil.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- It only takes 5 minutes to cook the peppers.
- You only need a few spritzes of oil.
- It's a delicious snack, starter, or side dish.
Ingredients
The main ingredients you'll need to make this recipe are shishito peppers, cooking spray, and salt, preferably large flake. You may want to also have some fresh lemon or limes, tamari or soy sauce, and furikake on hand for serving.
Furikake is a Japanese seasoning typically made with nori seaweed, toasted sesame seeds, and salt. It's used to flavor rice, vegetables, and other dishes. However, some blends contain fish/seafood products and sugar, so be sure the check the label before purchasing.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete ingredients, measurements, and instructions.
Instructions
- Place the shishito peppers in the air fryer basket.
- Spritz with a little cooking spray and shake the basket to evenly distribute.
- Air fry, shaking half way through, until the peppers are blistered and lightly charred in areas.
- Place the peppers on a serving dish and generously sprinkle with salt.
Serving suggestions
While delicious eaten simply with a sprinkle of salt, you can also try one of these flavorful options:
- Serve with a dipping sauce made fresh lime juice and tamari.
- Sprinkle with Furikake seasoning.
- Squeeze a lemon or lime over the peppers before serving.
This recipe is perfect anytime you want a snack. It also pairs well with other vegan appetizers for parties. Or try it with other Japanese-inspired recipes like teriyaki baked tofu, silken tofu and avocado salad, and marinated asparagus.
Storing
Air fried shishito peppers should be enjoyed right away. The cooked peppers don't store well and will get mushy.
Recipe FAQs
Named after the resemblance of tip of the pepper to a lion's face, shishitos are sweet rather than spicy. However, every once in a while, you may find one that has a little kick.
When stored in a paper or plastic bag, these peppers will last up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
Once prepared in your air fryer or in a skillet, they should be enjoyed right away. They don't store well and will get mushy.
Pick one up by the stem, eat the pepper, including the seeds, and then discard the stem. Repeat.
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📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Shishito Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 dry pint shishito peppers, (about 20 peppers)
- cooking spray
- salt , to taste (large flake, if available)
Instructions
- Place the shishito peppers in the air fryer basket.1 dry pint shishito peppers
- Spritz with a little cooking spray and shake the basket to evenly distribute.cooking spray
- Air fry for 5 to 6 minutes at 390℉, shaking half way through, until the peppers are blistered and lightly charred in areas.
- Place the peppers on a serving dish and generously sprinkle with salt. Enjoy immediately.salt
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Notes
- Serve with a dipping sauce made of 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice combined with 1 teaspoon tamari.
- Sprinkle with Furikake seasoning. (Be sure the check the ingredients to make sure it's vegan since some blends contain fish/seafood products.)
- Squeeze a lemon or lime over the peppers before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
Lauren says
This is my first ever food review because this recipe makes the old way of doing these little peppers obsolete. This is 1,000x easier and healthier. I have always loved shishito peppers, but felt a little guilty using 2-3 tablespoons of oil to char them in. This is a few spritzes of PAM Olive Oil spray and they come out JUST AS GOOD. I will never do them another way. Thank you!
Amy Katz says
I am so happy you enjoyed the recipe, Lauren! I only make shishito peppers in my air fryer now, too.
Suee33 says
I love Shishito peppers, I grow them and still buy them. This is the best way to cook them, thank you for the idea!! This is so easy and so tasty, you give nothing up fixing them in the air fryer versus a pan or the grill. Easy, fast = GREAT!! Thanks too for the tips for finishing an eating, bought some vegan Yuzu Furikake to try on them!! Yummy!!
Amy Katz says
I'm so glad you like this method, too! That Yuzu Furikake sounds delicious!
Leslie says
Why didn’t I ever think of air frying shishitos before? It’s so easy this way. You don’t have to worry about them burning. I used some flake salt from Portland. So yummy.
Amy says
I'm so glad you enjoyed them, Leslie!