
Top TV chef's 15-minute air fryer recipe for perfect midweek dinner
Poppy O'Toole, known as the 'Potato Queen' on social media, has shared a delicious mid-week meal recipe that's sure to get your taste buds tingling - and it only takes 15 minutes to make
TV chef and TikTok sensation Poppy O'Toole, also known as the 'Potato Queen', has delighted food enthusiasts with a tantalising mid-week meal recipe. Choosing what to whip up for dinner after a long day can be a hassle, but Poppy is simplifying things with her delicious and easy-to-follow recipes.
The Michelin-trained chef, who frequently appears on ITV's This Morning, has garnered an impressive 74.2 million likes on her TikTok page, where she posts her favourite carb-rich delights. Despite losing her job in 2020, Poppy has since skyrocketed to fame, even cooking alongside Jamie Oliver and featuring on his latest Channel 4 programme, Jamie's Air Fryer Meals.
Poppy, a self-confessed 'carbie', is famous for her quick and uncomplicated meals, often utilising an air fryer for most of her recipes.
In her most recent viral TikTok video, the social media star, known as Poppy Cooks, shows how to incorporate McCain's new Air Fryer Fries into dishes.
She prepares coconut prawns with bang bang sauce served on a bed of chips - a dish that takes merely 10 minutes to prepare and five minutes to cook.
Ingredients
150g raw king prawns
Three tablespoons of plain flour
One teaspoon of garlic granules
One teaspoon of onion granules
One teaspoon of cayenne pepper
One teaspoon of dried basil
Half a teaspoon of chilli flakes
Salt and pepper
Two eggs
75g of desiccated coconut
75g of panko breadcrumbs
75g of mayonnaise
One tablespoon of sweet chilli sauce
One teaspoon of hot chilli sauce
One lime, zested 1/2 juiced
200g of tenderstem broccoli
Two spring onions - sliced for garnish
One sliced red chill
250g of McCain Air Fryer Quick
Crispy French Fries
Method
Step 1: Start by preheating the air fryer to 200C. In a large bowl, mix the plain flour, salt and pepper. In a separate dish, combine the egg with the dried herbs and spices. Season the egg mixture well with salt and pepper then set it aside.
In another large bowl or dish, blend the panko breadcrumbs and desiccated coconut, reports the Express.
Step 2: Pop the prawns into the mixing bowl and cover them in flour before dipping them into the spiced egg mixture. Shake off any surplus egg and, using your mitts, transfer them to the bowl of panko and coconut. Press the coconut onto the prawns to ensure it sticks.
Step 3: Shift the prawns into the air fryer basket and spritz them with oil. Air fry for 4-5 minutes until the coconut and panko are toasted on the outside and the prawns are cooked, flipping them halfway through.
Step 4: Whilst the prawns are cooking, drizzle the tenderstem broccoli with oil, salt and pepper and air fry for five minutes.
Step 5: As you load the prawns into the air fryer, pour the McCain Air Fryer French Fries into the other basket and cook for five minutes, giving them a shake halfway through. This recipe is spot on as everything cooks at the same time!
Step 6: While everything is in the air fryer, mix the lime zest and juice, mayonnaise and chilli sauces in a small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Step 7: Serve up the prawns, tenderstem broccoli and the McCain Air Fryer French Fries with a generous dollop of the spicy bang bang mayo and a sprinkle of sliced spring onions and chopped chilli.
Poppy, discussing the recipe, stated: "I can't control my excitement because McCain has launched a new air fryer range, including these fries that take five minutes. The fries that not only taste fantastic (if I do say so myself) but also cook in a matter of minutes.
"To celebrate the launch, I created six unique recipes designed specifically for the air fryer, that can be whipped up in no time at all, guaranteed to elevate your weeknight dinners!" TikTok enthusiasts have lauded the recipe as "delicious" and "very cool".
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Leader Live
23 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Countdown star Susie Dent to bring new tour to Wrexham
The Dictionary Corner favourite from Channel 4's Countdown will bring her latest show, Word Perfect, to Wrexham's William Aston Hall on Saturday, August 23. The show promises a lively exploration of the quirks, histories, and hidden stories behind everyday words and phrases. Ms Dent said: "The English language will never stop surprising and delighting me: it is as wayward as it is majestic, while the dictionary is as full of magic, drama and adventure as you will find anywhere. "I can't wait to walk down some more of its secret alleyways with the Word Perfect audiences, and to hear their own questions about our curious mother tongue." READ MORE: Musical talent and more from the Leader's photo records Ms Dent will share a fresh collection of tales and trivia from the ever-evolving world of language. Audiences can expect answers to questions such as why a group of crows is called a murder, whether the fruit or the colour orange came first, and whether regional dialects are truly disappearing. The new tour follows her previous 74-date show, The Secret Life Of Words, which ran from 2018 to 2024. Ms Dent is a writer and broadcaster best known for her long-running role on Countdown and its comedy spin-off 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. She was awarded an MBE in 2024, the same year she published her debut novel, Guilty by Definition. Ms Dent's upcoming titles, Words For Life and The Roots We Share: 100 Words That Bring Us Together, are set for release this autumn. For more information and to book tickets, visit


Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Channel 4 presenter issues key advice to people looking at homes now
Channel 4 presenter issues key advice to people looking at homes now There are a number of things to bear in mind when looking at a home, the Channel 4 presenter said The property expert is warning anyone looking at a new house or flat (Image: Getty ) Channel 4's Phil Spencer says be alert when viewing your next property. Warning people to think before they buy, the property expert said "before you fall for the decor" there are things on the inside you need to be aware of. Philip Spencer is best known as the co-presenter of Channel 4 property show Location, Location, Location with Kirstie Allsopp. He has also presented a number of other home-based TV shows. Speaking on TikTok on his business account, Move iQ, where he provides guidance for people across the UK, he urged people to look to see if previous homeowners are covering things up. Phil Spencer's warning to people buying a flat or house He suggested: "Start with damp and mould. So check your ceilings corners and skirting boards. Does it look like anything might have been painted to cover any water damage? Just have a bit of an eye out for that." In another warning, he urged people to look out for "structural issues such as cracks in the walls". He revealed his safety test for it, saying: "I always think if you can fit a 10p coin in one it might be serious. It doesn't necessarily mean it is serious but it's certainly something to be thinking about." If you can, you should also try testing the water pressure, he said. "Don't forget the water pressure. Article continues below Content cannot be displayed without consent "If you can and it's not rude, turn on the taps. Is it a decent flow for energy efficiency? I think it's worth looking beyond the EPC rating so you can do it yourself", he added, urging people to "check the windows, check the doors" You should also question whether or not the seals are tight or if they're letting in drafts." Potential owners should also "take note of light fittings plug sockets" such as how many there are, where they are located and whether or not they will work for your needs. If you're specifically viewing a flat, look outside, he suggested. Phil said: "When you're viewing a flat, very much check out the communal area areas. What are they like? Are they tidy? Are they well looked-after and cared for? "Listen for a noise from neighbours, try to visit at different times and take your time. I really do mean that. It's a big decision and you don't want to do in a hurry. Your dream home should feel good. It should stand up to scrutiny", he concluded. Moving home tips - including an 'essentials box' On his Move iQ website, the founder notes that when moving, it's ideal to pack an 'essentials box'. Unpacking after a move can take time, especially with so much to organise in a new home, Phil stressed. Because of this, items like toothbrushes, tea and coffee, phone chargers, and other daily essentials should be packed last so they can be unpacked first. To make things easier, each household member should have an essentials box or bag with their must-have items readily accessible. In another tip, he urged people to never overfill boxes just to keep your number of boxes down. He warned: "This is absolutely crucial, irrelevant of whether you're using a removals company or doing the move on your own. Boxes which are too heavy will become a hazard to anyone that carries them: the last thing you want is a visit to A&E on moving day. "You might have heard some moving house 'horror story', where things might have gone wrong on moving day. But boxes that are too heavy create the possibility of them being dropped, valuables being broken or frantic last minute repacking. Article continues below "It's a good idea to ensure your boxes aren't heavier than about 15kg, though some removals companies will sometimes specify a maximum weight limit. By this, we don't mean having a scale at hand to weigh every box you pack. "Once you've finished with a box, give it a lift and determine whether you think someone would be able to carry this up and down a flight of stairs. If the answer is no, it might be worth thinking about doing a bit of reorganising your boxes to spread the load."


NBC News
4 hours ago
- NBC News
Accusations of plagiarism, AI use and author bullying: 'BookTok' rocked by recent scandals
A scandal over allegations of plagiarism is rocking the book community on TikTok, becoming the latest drama to unfold in a pocket of the internet that was once considered a safer space from online toxicity. 'Beverly,' a romance novel by indie author Laura J. Robert, had picked up recent buzz on the social media platform, where readers and authors often discuss the latest titles and give recommendations. But several creators removed their videos praising Robert's book after allegations emerged that it was a rip-off of the indie author R.J. Lewis' 'Obsessed,' which was published in 2016. Both books have plots that follow a lead female character and her romance with her childhood friend. Some people posted excerpts of Lewis' words juxtaposed with Robert's, identifying what they described as similarities. Others accused Robert of using artificial intelligence to tweak and lengthen Lewis' book to create her own version. A handful of people speculated the authors could be the same person — because Robert's initials are Lewis' initials backward — and that the controversy could all be a PR stunt. NBC News was unable to reach Robert on Friday. Lewis declined to comment further. On BookTok, some have cited the somewhat niche controversy as yet another example of the community's shift away from lighthearted content around new releases. 'Does anyone miss just having a silly, goofy, fun time, having a bit of a laugh?' Lola Oluremi, a BookTok creator, said in a recent video discussing 'Beverly' and 'Obsessed.' 'I feel like every time I log onto BookTok now, it's something.' The online space, which has been credited for inspiring a fresh wave of interest in literature, hasn't been devoid of drama in the past. But this month, the 'Beverly' accusations followed two other separate situations that had caused some division among BookTokers online. Author Ali Hazelwood, who is behind popular novels such as 'The Love Hypothesis,' left Instagram purportedly after she was 'bullied' for a comment she made during a panel discussion at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books in April. Hazelwood weighed in on who she thought Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist of Suzanne Collins' 'Hunger Games' books, should have ended up with romantically, saying it should have been her childhood friend Gale, rather than her fellow tribute, Peeta. 'He's a terrible, mean, selfish person,' Hazelwood said of the character Peeta, a baker's son from District 12 who was reaped alongside Katniss in the books. The clip of Hazelwood's remarks was widely circulated and blasted online by people who accused her of having a bad take. Hazelwood didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Since she went dark online, several BookTokers have come to her defense, reflecting on how the community has seemingly become more prone to getting lost in meaningless discourse. 'The way y'all have lost the plot over a fictional bread boy has left me genuinely questioning the mental health of the book community,' Shelley Fleuridor, the YouTuber behind the channel 'Book Chats with Shelley,' said in a recent video delving into the Hazelwood backlash. 'We need to talk about what's happening to this community and why some of you genuinely need to be placed in a reading timeout immediately, maybe permanently.' Also this past month, Victoria Aveyard, the author of the 'Red Queen' books, sparked a wave of backlash and speculation on BookTok after she post a video alluding to another author's using generative AI in a novel without naming the purported writer. She said she didn't name the person because she didn't want to get sued. 'Using GenAI to come up with characters, plots and story ideas isn't writing. It's theft,' Aveyard said. 'Using GenAI doesn't make you a writer. It makes you a thief.' She said generative AI has been trained on copyrighted material that 'has been stolen from artists without license or compensation.' Some subsequent posts from users accuse Aveyard of being a 'mean girl' obsessed with 'drama.' In other videos, some try to guess which author she was referring to. Meanwhile, a handful of authors have also been posting videos of their writing and editing processes to prove their work isn't made with AI. With 'Beverly,' it remains unclear whether there will be consequences for Robert beyond online fallout. Robert's social media pages and her author website were no longer online Friday. 'Beverly' has also been removed from Amazon. The title remains on GoodReads, where several people have posted comments about the plagiarism accusations and given the book a one-star review. Lewis posted about the plagiarism allegations on Instagram this week, calling the situation an indie author's 'worst nightmare.' "I'm an author who does not have a big online presence and thank all who have reached out to bring this to my attention as I don't have much visibility on the social media space," she wrote. She said she has contacted Amazon to raise a copyright infringement case and hopes 'that people in the booktok space realize this author is stealing content and profiting from it.'