Global
Chilli-Lime Shrimp Fiesta Bowls
A vibrant, taco-inspired dinner featuring deliciously spiced shrimp paired with sweet corn and colorful bell peppers, all cooked in the air fryer for a quick and healthy meal.
Estimated. Worked out from the ingredients using the UK food composition tables, so treat it as a guide rather than a measurement. A typical recipe lands within about a quarter of the true figure. Makes about 4.
Ingredients
- 400g shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 lime (zested and juiced)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups corn, frozen or fresh
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 300g baby potatoes, halved
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
- 1 avocado, sliced (optional)
Cooking Steps
Preheat air fryer to 200°C (400°F).
In a bowl, toss the baby potatoes with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place them in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes, shaking halfway through.
While potatoes are cooking, in another bowl, combine shrimp, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, lime zest, lime juice, and remaining olive oil. Mix well to coat the shrimp evenly.
After 10 minutes of cooking the potatoes, add the shrimp to the basket with the potatoes and cook for 6 minutes, shaking once halfway through.
For the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the corn and bell peppers to the air fryer, mixing gently to combine with the shrimp and potatoes.
Once cooking time is up, let the shrimp rest for 2 minutes while you prepare to serve.
Plate the baby potatoes, corn, bell peppers, and shrimp. Garnish with fresh cilantro and sliced avocado if desired, and serve with lime wedges.
Optional Enhancements
- Chicken or tofu can replace shrimp
- Quinoa or rice instead of baby potatoes
- Zucchini or green beans can replace bell peppers
Plant & Growing Tips
Cilantro
- Sow seeds directly in cool weather, either in early spring or late summer/fall, as it bolts quickly in heat.
- Prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
- Can be grown successfully in pots on a windowsill or patio.
Bell Peppers
- Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost, or buy young plants.
- Plant in full sun and rich, well-drained soil, providing support for heavily laden plants.
- Ensure consistent watering, especially during flowering and fruit development.
Corn
- Sow seeds directly after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed, planting in blocks rather than single rows for better pollination.
- Requires full sun and rich, well-drained soil, with consistent moisture.
- Side-dress with compost or balanced fertilizer when plants are knee-high.
Natural Pest Control
- Aphids on cilantro can be washed off with a strong spray of water or treated with neem oil.
- Aphids and spider mites on bell peppers can be controlled with insecticidal soap or by introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs.
- Corn earworms can be deterred by applying a few drops of mineral oil to the silk at the tip of each ear once silks have begun to brown.
Harvest
Cilantro
- Snip outer leaves as needed for a cut-and-come-again harvest.
- Harvest frequently to delay bolting, which causes the plant to flower and leaves to become bitter.
Bell Peppers
- Harvest when fruits reach desired size and colour (green, red, yellow, orange), becoming firm and glossy.
- Leaving them on the plant longer will allow them to change colour and sweeten, but harvest before they soften.
Corn
- Harvest when silks turn brown and dry, and kernels are plump and milky when punctured with a fingernail.
- Pull ears downward and twist from the stalk to remove.
Storing & Freezing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 160°C (320°F) for 5 minutes.
