Beef Olives in the Air Fryer
Beef olives are thin slices of beef rolled around a savoury stuffing, a Scottish classic that usually needs a slow braise. Beef olives in air fryer baskets can be browned and then braised in a small foil-covered dish, ready in about 45 minutes at 160 °C. The recipe below makes them from scratch, and the variants cover shop-bought and frozen ones.
- Temperature
- 160°C
- Total time
- 1:15hr
- Prep
- 25min
- Servings
- 2
- Core temp
- 75°C
- Per serving
- 510kcal
Why the air fryer works for beef olives
Beef olives in air fryer baskets are not a traditional method, but the machine suits the dish better than you might expect. The slices are thin, so the outside browns quickly, and once the olives sit in a covered dish of gravy, the steady heat softens the beef without drying it. The kitchen stays cooler than with a long oven braise.
This is a recipe for a small air fryer batch of four olives. The dish has to fit the basket, so a 5 litre or larger machine works best. For a big family meal for six or more, the oven is easier. Beef olives are quite different from a hamburger or meatballs, as the whole slice of beef stays intact around the filling.
How to make beef olives in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Flatten the beef Lay the slices between two sheets of baking paper and beat with a rolling pin to about 5 mm thick. Season with salt and pepper.
- Make the stuffing Mix the sausage meat, onion, breadcrumbs, thyme and Worcestershire sauce. Divide into four and shape each into a short sausage.
- Roll and tie Place a portion of stuffing on each slice, roll up tightly and tie with kitchen string or secure with a cocktail stick. Rub the olives with the oil.
- Brown Preheat the air fryer to 200 °C. Cook the olives for , turning once, until browned all over.
- Braise Whisk the flour into the hot stock and pour it into a small ovenproof dish that fits the basket. Add the olives, cover tightly with foil and cook at 160 °C for . Remove the foil for the last to thicken the gravy.
- Check and rest Cut one open to check. The stuffing contains sausage meat, so the centre must reach 75 °C, steaming hot with no pink. Rest for , then remove the string and serve with the gravy.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Beef Olives | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade beef olivesAfter 8 min browning at 200 °C | 160 °C | 35 min |
| Chilled shop-bought olivesTurn halfway, follow the pack | 180 °C | 25–30 min |
| Frozen beef olivesCook from frozen | 180 °C | 30–35 min |
| Haggis-stuffed olivesSwap the sausage meat for haggis | 160 °C | 35 min |
| Reheating leftoversCover with foil | 160 °C | 6–8 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size of the food and the power of your air fryer. Cooked when the centre reaches 75 °C. See also cooking times and temperatures for all dishes.
Tips
- Buy the beef pre-sliced or ask the butcher. Very thin topside or frying steak makes rolling much easier.
- Do not overfill. Too much stuffing bursts out. About 50 g per olive is enough.
- Keep the gravy hot. Hot stock keeps the cooking going from the first minute and stops the beef toughening.
Serving
Serve the olives with buttery mashed potato, carrots and green beans, spooning the gravy over the top. For a Scottish supper, add neeps and tatties. Beef olives in air fryer batches make a good Sunday-style dinner for two.
Storing and reheating
Keep leftover olives in their gravy in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 160 °C for 6–8 minutes in a covered dish, until steaming hot all the way through (75 °C in the centre).
Variations
- Haggis and neep: Replace the sausage meat with 150 g haggis for a more Scottish flavour.
- Mushroom and bacon: Mix 80 g chopped mushrooms and 2 chopped rashers of bacon into the stuffing.
- Apple and sage: Add 1 tsp dried sage and 40 g grated apple to the sausage stuffing for a sweet note.
Troubleshooting
- The beef is tough
- The slices were too thick or the braise was too short. Beat them to 5 mm and keep the dish tightly covered so the beef steams in the gravy.
- The olives unroll
- Tie them firmly with string in two places, or use a cocktail stick. Leave the seam underneath when you place them in the basket.
- The gravy is thin
- Take off the foil for the last 5 minutes so some liquid evaporates. You can also stir in a teaspoon of cornflour mixed with water.
Frequently asked questions
How long do beef olives take in an air fryer?
Homemade olives need about 45 minutes in all, with 8 minutes browning at 200 °C and 35 minutes braising at 160 °C. Shop-bought chilled olives usually take 25–30 minutes at 180 °C.
Can you cook frozen beef olives in the air fryer?
Yes. Cook frozen beef olives at 180 °C for 30–35 minutes, turning halfway, until they are steaming hot all the way through (75 °C in the centre). Always follow the pack instructions for your brand.
Do beef olives contain olives?
No. The name comes from their shape, which looks like a large olive. The filling is a savoury stuffing such as sausage meat, breadcrumbs and herbs.
Is it better to cook beef olives in the oven?
A slow braise in the oven makes the beef more tender, but the air fryer is quicker and works well for thin slices cooked in gravy.
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