Don't throw out your broccoli stalks! Turn leftover broccoli stems into fries instead. These delicious broccoli fries are coated in panko and seasonings for crunch. Cooking the broccoli in an air fryer makes these fries crispy, with barely any oil. (Vegan, Gluten Free option)
Prep broccoli: Peel the broccoli stems to remove the tough outer skin. Cut into ¼-inch (0.6 cm) wide fries (about 3-inches/8 cm long). Transfer fries to a medium bowl.
Coat fries: Drizzle olive oil over fries and toss to coat. Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Toss to coat. Sprinkle in panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan. Toss to coat.
Bake in air fryer: Arrange the fries in a single layer (see note 2). Spray with oil. Bake at 400°F (200°C) in an air fryer (no need to preheat) for 8 minutes or until golden brown (see note 3). Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with extra Parmsan (optional). Serve hot with dipping sauce, if using.
Notes
Parmesan cheese:The cheese will stick best if its finely grated (either using a microplane or the small holes on a box grater). If vegan, use store bought vegan Parmesan (ideally shaker-style—otherwise, if using larger shreds, first pulse them in a food processor or blender to form small powdery crumbles).
Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket: Arrange the fries in a single layer with space around each fry (no fries overlapping or touching), so that the air can properly circulate around each fry to help crisp them. If doubling the recipe, or if you're using a small capacity air fryer, you may need to bake the fries in two batches.
Air fryer bake time: Baking time will vary if you cut your fries larger/smaller. If your fries aren't yet golden-brown, pop them in the air fryer for another 1-3 minutes, but watch carefully so they don't burn!