Air Fryer Chicken Breast with Garlic and Lemon

Name: Air Fryer Chicken Breast with Garlic and Lemon
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 500 g (1.1 lb) chicken breast; 3 garlic cloves; 1 lemon; 2 tablespoons olive oil; to taste salt; to taste black pepper; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika

A quick and healthy dish, perfect for a light dinner. Tender chicken breast flavored with garlic and lemon, cooked perfectly in the air fryer.

Time: 20 min2 servingsDifficulty: Easy180°CChicken

Steps

1
Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (350°F).
2
Season the chicken breast with salt, pepper, and paprika.
3
Finely chop the garlic and squeeze the lemon juice.
4
In a bowl, mix the olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice.
5
Brush the chicken pieces with this mixture, coating well.
6
Place the chicken breast in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
7
Cook for 15 minutes, turning the pieces halfway through.
8
Check the internal temperature of the meat: it should reach 75°C (165°F).
9
Let it rest for 2 minutes before serving.

Shopping list

Chicken breast, Garlic, Lemon, Olive oil, Salt, Black pepper, Paprika

Recipe story

This modern Air Fryer Chicken Breast with Garlic and Lemon recipe draws inspiration from Mediterranean culinary traditions, where garlic was considered a remedy and a talisman against evil, and lemon, brought by Levantine merchants, symbolized freshness and refinement. In the past, at the royal courts of France, lemon-based dishes were a sign of social status. The combination of garlic and lemon is typical of Greek cuisine, found in the famous 'kotopoulo lemonato'. The air fryer adds a modern twist while preserving the essence of traditional flavors.

Ingredient Secrets

Black pepper

Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.

Sea salt

Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.

Paprika

Paprika, a emblematic spice brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus from the New World. Although associated with Hungarian cuisine, its origins are in Central America, where it was used by the Aztecs.

Garlic

Native to Central Asia, garlic was already known in ancient Egypt, where it was given to slaves to boost their strength. In ancient Greece, athletes consumed it before competitions, and in Rome, legionaries considered it essential for courage. During the Middle Ages, it was used to ward off vampires and the plague.

Olive oil

Originating in the Mediterranean basin, olive oil was already produced in ancient Crete 5,000 years ago. In ancient Greece, it was considered a gift from Athena and used in lamps, cosmetics, and religious ceremonies. The Romans spread it throughout the empire, and in the Middle Ages, monasteries preserved the tradition of its production.

Cloves

Cloves, the dried buds of the exotic Syzygium aromaticum tree, were one of the most prized spices of the ancient world, often called 'aromatic gold'. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the clove trade, bringing them from the Maluku Islands, the only place they grew, and selling them at exorbitant prices in Europe.

Lemon

The lemon is an ancient hybrid between citron and bitter orange, likely originating in northern India or China. In the Middle Ages, lemons were so valuable that they were given as gifts to kings. Fun fact: during the Gold Rush, British sailors were given lemons to prevent scurvy, leading to the nickname 'limey'.