Chicken and asparagus vol-au-vents in the airfryer
No ratings yet
Crispy vol-au-vents filled with creamy chicken and asparagus are a Danish classic, one many people remember from confirmations and birthdays. The airfryer gives the puff pastry cases an ultra-crisp lift in just 2-3 minutes, while the creamy sauce is made in the pot with poached chicken breast and white asparagus.
Servings 4servings
Prep Time 15 minutesmins
Cook Time 30 minutesmins
Total Time 45 minutesmins
Equipment
1 Air fryer
1 Pot
1 Saucepan
1 Whisk
1 Sigte
1 Cutting board
1 Knife
Ingredients
Cooked chicken
400gchicken breast
6dlwater
1pcschicken stock cube
1pcsbay leaf
White sauce
50gbutter
50gplain flour
3dlchicken stockFrom cooking the chicken
2dlwhole milk
1dlwhipping cream
330gjarred white asparagusDrained
1tsplemon juice
1tspsalt
0.5tspwhite pepperFreshly ground
1pinchnutmegGrated
Vol-au-vent cases and garnish
8pcsvol-au-vent casesPuff pastry
2tbspparsleyFreshly chopped
Instructions
Preparation
Bring 6 dl water to the boil in a pot with 1 pcs chicken stock cube and 1 pcs bay leaf. Add 400 g chicken breast, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 12-14 minutes, until the core temperature reaches 75 °C.
Take the chicken out of the pot and let it cool for a couple of minutes. Strain the cooking liquid through a sieve and measure out 3 dl for the sauce.
Cut the chicken into bite-sized cubes. Drain 330 g jarred white asparagus and cut it into pieces about 3 cm long.
White sauce in the pot
Melt 50 g butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in 50 g plain flour and let the roux bubble for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add 3 dl chicken stock, 2 dl whole milk and 1 dl whipping cream a little at a time while whisking vigorously, so the sauce becomes completely smooth. Let it simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
Season the sauce with 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp salt, 0.5 tsp white pepper and 1 pinch nutmeg.
Fold the chicken cubes and asparagus pieces into the hot sauce and let it sit over low heat for 3-4 minutes, until everything is warmed through. Keep the sauce warm while the vol-au-vent cases are warmed.
Cooking in the airfryer
Preheat the airfryer to 180 °C.
Place 8 pcs vol-au-vent cases in the basket in a single layer and heat them for 2-3 minutes at 180 °C, until the pastry is golden and ultra-crisp. Keep an eye on them for the last 30 seconds, as puff pastry can burn quickly.
Serving
Place the warm vol-au-vent cases on plates, fill them with the hot sauce and sprinkle with 2 tbsp parsley. Serve immediately so the cases stay crisp.
Notes
Tips for the perfect result:
Always warm the vol-au-vent cases just before serving. The 2-3 minutes in the airfryer at 180 °C make the puff pastry noticeably crispier than the oven, and the cases stay crisp for longer under the hot filling.Extra crispy cases:
If the vol-au-vent cases have been sitting in the bag for a while, give them an extra 30 seconds at 190 °C. Only fill them once the sauce is completely ready, so the base doesn't have time to soak up moisture.Variation:
Replace the chicken breast with cooked meat from a boiling fowl for a deeper, more traditional flavour. For a vegetarian version, use sautéed mushrooms and green asparagus instead of chicken.Serving:
Serve with a simple green salad and a glass of dry white wine. The dish is known internationally as vol-au-vent.Portion size:
If your airfryer is smaller, you can warm the vol-au-vent cases in two batches. They only take a few minutes, and the sauce can easily be kept warm in the meantime.
Keyword: airfryer lunch, chicken and asparagus, crispy vol-au-vent cases, Danish classic in the airfryer, vol-au-vent cases in the airfryer, vol-au-vent in the airfryer
Shelf life: The sauce can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. The vol-au-vent cases are stored dry at room temperature.
Reheating: Reheat the sauce in a pot over low heat, stirring, and warm the vol-au-vent cases in the airfryer at 180 °C for 2-3 minutes, until crisp again.
Freezing: The sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw in the fridge overnight. The vol-au-vent cases cannot be frozen.