AIR FRYER SHISHITO PEPPERS WITH LEMON HERB TAHINI DIP

This Air Fryer Shishito Peppers with Lemon Herb Tahini Dip recipe is a gourmet snack that can be made with very little effort and in only 10 minutes! Slightly spicy, roasted shishito peppers dipped in this light, fresh, nutrient rich, lemon herb tahini dip will make your tastes buds and body very happy.

Air Fryer Shishito Peppers with Lemon Herb Tahini Dip are made with fresh shishito peppers tossed in olive oil, sea salt, and peppers then roasted in the air fryer. The Lemon Herb Tahini Dressing is made with tahini, water, chickpeas, lemon, fresh dill and parsley, dried chives, garlic, Dijon mustard, nutritional yeast, sea salt, and fresh ground pepper.

Combine these two flavor bombs together…and you have your self a delicious plate of goodness that you can really write home about! Make this dish for an easy, healthy, tasty snack any day of the week or serve these up at your next gathering to impress and satisfy your guests.

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WHAT YOU WILL LOVE ABOUT THESE SHISHITO PEPPERS IN LEMON HERB TAHINI DIP

• SO EASY TO MAKE – These air fryer shishito peppers with lemon herb tahini dip are so incredibly easy to make. You can have this easy recipe prepped and ready to serve in under 10 minutes!
• LIGHT AND FRESH – Lighten up any day with this snack plate. Shishito peppers are naturally light and super low in calories. Paired with this fresh, nutrient rich, flavor loaded lemon herb tahini sauce…this recipe is a healthy flavorful match made in heaven!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE SHISHITO PEPPERS IN LEMON HERB TAHINI DIP

• SHISHITO PEPPERS
• OLIVE OIL – can substitute avocado oil or any high smoke point oil
• SEA SALT
• BLACK PEPPER – Fresh ground pepper is best
• TAHINI – Tahini is pureed toasted sesame seeds. It is thick in consistency, similar to a nut butter, making this a perfect ingredient to create a super creamy, vegan, caesar dressing. You can find Tahini in the nut butter section or the International section of the grocery store.
• CHICKPEAS OR WHITE BEANS – Use cooked chickpeas or white beans for this recipe. I personally used canned chickpeas.
• FRESH DILL AND PARLEY – Can add or substitute any fresh herb of your choice. Cilantro and mint would make excellent additions
• DRIED CHIVES – You can use fresh chives or scallions as well
• WATER
• LEMON JUICE
• LEMON ZEST – Lemon zest is the grated skin of a lemon. If you don’t have a grater, just slice of a super thin piece of the skin of the lemon. 
• NUTRITIONAL YEAST – Nutritional yeast, also known as nooch, is basically nature’s vegan cheese powder! Nutritional yeast is yeast made from living saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, which is the same yeast used to make bread. Nutritional yeast is a powdery, with large flakes and has a mustard-like color. Nutritional yeast has a unique, cheese-like flavor that can be described as savory and slightly nutty. This delicious, flavor boosting ingredient is very popular in vegan and dairy free cheese recipes and is often the key ingredient to create a dairy free, cheese-like flavor. You can find nutritional yeast in the seasoning or vegan section of most grocery stores. It’s always at Whole Foods and online as well.
• CAPERS – Capers help develop the fishy, salty flavor that is traditionally found in Caesar salad
• DIJON MUSTARD – can substitute any mustard
• GARLIC – Fresh garlic is best! But you can substitute garlic powder if needed.

HOW TO MAKE SHISHITO PEPPERS IN LEMON HERB TAHINI DIP

Making air fryer shishito peppers with lemon herb tahini dip is incredibly easy! Here’s how you do it…

AIR FRY THE SHISHITO PEPPERS

Preheat air fryer to 400ºF. If your air fryer does not have a preheat button, simply turn it on 5 minutes before using.

Wash and dry 8 oz of fresh shishito peppers.

Cut a small slit in each pepper. You do this to allow the hot air to vent during the cooking process, otherwise they will explode open.

Place the shishito peppers in a bowl and add 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/8 tsp sea salt, and 1/8 tsp fresh ground pepper. Mix until evenly coated.

Place seasoned shishito peppers on an air fryer tray. Spread out so they don’t overlap.

Air fry at 400ºF for 7 minutes. Flip at the half way mark. 

Shishito peppers will be ready when they are tender and slightly roasted.

**While shishito peppers are in the air fryer, move ahead and make the lemon herb tahini dressing

MAKE THE LEMON HERB TAHINI DIP

This Lemon Herb Tahini Dressing is so simple to make and can be prepped and ready in 2 minutes!

In a high speed blender or food processor, combine 1/4 cup tahini, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 cup canned chickpeas or white beans, 2 tbsp lemon juice, zest from half a lemon, 1 tsp Dijon mustard. 1 1/2 tsp capers, 1 tsp dried chives, 1 tbsp fresh dill, 1 tbsp fresh parsley, 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper, 1 clove garlic, and 1 tbsp of nutritional yeast. Blend until smooth.

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

When it comes to plating you have options. You can either place the lemon herb tahini sauce on the side, allowing you to dip the roasted shishito peppers. OR you can spread the lemon herb tahini sip on a plate and then place the roasted shishito peppers over top.

Serve and enjoy!

TIPS FOR MAKING SHISHITO PEPPERS IN LEMON HERB TAHINI DIP

• USE SOFT BEANS – You want to make sure your cooked chickpeas or white beans are super soft. I recommend using canned beans to make things simple. But if you use beans that you cooked from scratch, make sure they are soft so they blend into a smoother consistency. 
• TASTE TEST – Always taste test your dressings and adjust as needed. When you are using natural ingredients, like lemon juice and lemon zest, the flavor of each lemon will vary. So always taste test and add more of an ingredient if needed.
• PREHEAT THE AIR FRYER – Always preheat the air fryer before cooking. This will allow your ingredients to cook evenly and in the right amount of time. 
• CUT HOLES IN THE SHISHITO PEPPERS – Don’t forget to cut little slits in your peppers BEFORE cooking. This will allow the hot air to vent during the cooking process. If you skip this step, they will burst open when they get too hot.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

• ARE SHISHITO PEPPERS SPICY – Shishito peppers have a mild spice level for the most part. But their spicy level can vary and some are a bit more spicy than others.
• CAN I SUBSTITUTE DIFFERENT PEPPERS – Of course! The same cooking method will work for pretty much any pepper! You may just need to adjust the cooking time depending on size. Jalapeño peppers or mini sweet peppers would also work great as well.
• What can I substitute for tahini or beans – If you need to skip the tahini or beans, you can also make a super creamy dressing with vegan yogurt, silken tofu, or raw cashews.
• Can I use different herbs – Of course! Use as many herbs as you like! Cilantro, mint, and basil would also make great additions to this creamy dressing.
• Is this recipe vegan – Yes! This Lemon Herb Tahini Dressing is vegan / plant-based / dairy free / egg free / gluten free

WHAT TO SERVE WITH AIR FRYER SHISHITO PEPPERS AND LEMON HERB TAHINI DIP

This recipe is meant to be served as a snack or appetizer. Here are some more tasty, plant-based recipes that you may want to make to serve along side these shishito peppers and dip.

• EASY GARDEN BREADSTICKS AND BLACK GARLIC DIP (VEGAN RECIPE)
• CARROT LOX VEGAN DIP WITH BAGELS (VEGAN SMOKED SALMON
• AIR FRYER WATERMELON RADISH CUCUMBER SALAD WITH VEGAN FETA
• AIR FRYER GREEN BEANS WITH SPICY GOCHUJANG SAUCE