Air Fryer Ikan Bilis Crispy — Crunchy Anchovies Snack

Perfectly crispy ikan bilis (dried anchovies) in the air fryer in under 10 minutes — no oil, no splatter, no burnt batch. Kak Zah uses these as a nasi lemak topping, a snack, and a rice porridge garnish. Once you air fry ikan bilis you will never pan-fry them again. Free recipe.

🥘 Ingredients

• 200g small dried anchovies (ikan bilis kecil — the small ones, not the big ones)
• 1 tsp cooking oil (optional — makes them slightly shinier)
• Pinch of salt (optional — ikan bilis is already salty)

👨‍🍳 Steps

1. Step 1 — Rinse: Rinse ikan bilis briefly under cold water (removes excess saltiness). Drain and pat COMPLETELY dry with paper towels. Spread on paper towel for 5 minutes.
2. Step 2 — Preheat: Preheat air fryer to 180°C for 3 minutes.
3. Step 3 — Optional Oil: Toss dried ikan bilis with 1 tsp oil if you want a slightly shinier, more even result. Can be skipped.
4. Step 4 — Air Fry: Place ikan bilis in a single layer in the basket (don't pile them up — spread them out). Air fry at 180°C for 4 minutes. Shake the basket vigorously. Air fry another 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy. Watch carefully in the last 2 minutes — they go from golden to burnt fast.
5. Step 5 — Cool: Remove and spread on paper towel immediately. They will continue to crisp as they cool. Do not cover — steam will soften them.
6. Step 6 — Store: Once completely cool, store in an airtight container. Stays crispy for 1 week.
7. Kak Zah's tip: Every air fryer is different. First batch, check at 6 minutes total. Adjust timing based on your machine. Thicker ikan bilis may need 10 minutes total.

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