Suet Dumplings In Air Fryer

Let’s make suet dumplings in air fryer and load them up with your next stew or casserole.

Atora suet dumplings are made for cooking in the air fryer during the colder months, plus you can make ahead and freeze for another day.

Suet Dumplings For Stew

Today is a great day, because I am talking about how to make yummy suet dumplings for stew in the air fryer.

I am a dumplings addict, and, in my world, dumplings are the best part of a comforting bowl of stew.

Growing up in northern England and more specifically Yorkshire, means that homemade suet dumplings was always on the menu.

Normally with a bowl of hearty beef stew and sometimes lamb stew. Or even better when you had mince with suet dumplings.

But what I really wanted to do, was to take an old school classic like suet dumplings and make them in the air fryer.

The plan was for the dumplings to have a wonderful crunch, be cooked perfectly in the middle and load into a bowl of stew.

What Are Suet Dumplings?

I imagine many American readers, sat their scrolling on their phones intrigued by what exactly suet dumplings (also known as British dumplings or English dumplings) are, that us Brits eat with our beef stew.

Well, the same can be said for Brits when they land on an American recipe for biscuits and gravy.

Suet dumplings are very similar to the American biscuits. We use a packet mix which is called shredded beef suet and add in a few quick ingredients.

Another good comparison is the love for Jiffy Cornbread mix that you can also mix and use in the air fryer (check out our air fryer cornbread recipe)

In a similar way to American biscuits the dumpling mix recipe is made into dough balls and then you can cook it in the air fryer, or store in the fridge or freezer for later.

What Is In The Atora Dumplings Recipe?

Atora – shredded suet is made from beef drippings and gives a wonderful beef flavour to our dumplings and make the most delicious old school dumplings that I have ever tried.

It is also the same shredded suet that is used in many old school British dessert puddings.

Can You Make Dumplings With Plain Flour?

Yes, you can make dumplings with plain flour. But do note, that self raising flour, that is recommended, helps them rise. So, if you go with plain flour, you will be making much smaller flatter dumplings.

Can You Cook Dumplings In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you sure can cook dumplings in the air fryer and you will love them. Dumplings are incredibly fluffy and crispy and then you can add them to your stew you have made. Perfect for if you want dumplings as a side dish or you want more structure to the dumplings when you add them to your stew.

Can You Cook Stew In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you cook stew in the air fryer. But it’s up there with air fryer popcorn and air fryer soup. Whilst you might do it as a one off because its trendy, there are better ways to cook them than the air fryer.

Rather than making the stew in the air fryer which is then hard to clean up afterwards, I would much rather use the slow cooker for the stew, or the instant pot such as our instant pot beef stew and dumplings and then let the air fryer do what it does best and that is make dough amazing.

Can You Cook Dumplings Separately From The Stew?

Yes, you sure can cook the dumplings separately from the stew. When I was young, I was just learning to cook and was always worried that the dumplings wouldn’t be ready on time.

So, when I was making dumplings for stew I would cook them separately and they tasted delicious.

How Much Atora For Dumplings?

In our suet dumplings recipe, we are using 100g of atora suet. This is enough to make 8 medium sized stew dough balls.

Though of course, you can go smaller and have 1 box of atora suet, spreading between two lots of dumplings.

Why Are My Suet Dumplings Not Fluffy?

The reason your suet dumplings are not fluffy is because of the kneading process. Its important that you spend at least 3 minutes kneading your dough, to help make them fluffy as they cook.

Though, I find I do this without thinking as I am bringing the dumplings dough together.

Dumplings In Ninja Foodi

You can also make suet dumplings in the Ninja Foodi. I have one myself and you can also choose between air frying and pressure cooking and slow cooking as the Ninja Foodi does it all.

Ninja Foodi Stew & Dumplings – either follow our instant pot beef stew and dumplings or adapt our slow cooker lamb stew and dumplings.

Ninja Foodi Mince & Dumplings – Or if you love old fashioned mince and dumplings follow this slow cooker recipe and use the slow cooker setting.

Suet Dumpling Ingredients

Suet – It wouldn’t be a recipe for suet dumplings without the suet. We used 100g of Atora in this recipe.  

Flour – If you want amazing fluffy dumpling dough that when cooked rises perfectly then its self raising flour all the way.

Cheese – You will probably be surprised to spot that I add cheese to dumplings. Well, these English dumplings get the wow factor thanks to 55g/2oz grated cheese. Also note, to make the best dumplings with suet, its all about using the cheese to bring the ingredients together to make the perfect dough.

Seasoning – Then let’s add some amazing flavour to those dumplings, shall we? We recommend a generous seasoning of salt and pepper along with some dried parsley and thyme.

Water – Then you use water to bring the dough together. A little at a time because you don’t want to end up with an overly wet dough.

Can You Recommend An Air Fryer?

I often get asked which air fryers I recommend and which one I use. In 95% of our air fryer recipes, we use either the Philips Air Fryer XL or the Cosori XL because they are the best ones, we have found out of many air fryers we have tried over the years. You can click on the links above and read up on them. But if you would rather have a dual air fryer we recommend this Ninja Dual (make sure you order the right one as not all are good) or the Philips Dual.

How To Make Dumplings With Suet?

• Bowl. Place everything into a bowl and mix with a wooden spoon. Then add in a little water at a time, stirring with a spoon as you mix.
• Knead. Bring the dough together with your hands and then knead with floured hands on a chopping board or clean worktop.
• Separate. You will now have suet dumplings mix and if you want perfect sized, I recommend placing the dough on weighing scales and then weighing it out into 8 perfect dough balls. Then roll into balls ready for air frying.
• Cook. Air fry dumplings for 10 minutes at 180c/360f or 8 minutes if then transferring to finish cooking in your stew.

Now that is how simple it is to make dumplings in air fryer the traditional British way with suet and now it’s your turn!

How Long To Cook Dumplings In Air Fryer?

Dumplings in air fryer, aka suet dumplings take JUST 10 minutes. This is for medium-large sized atora suet dumplings.

If you plan to add the dumplings to your stew to finish cooking, then opt to air fry for 8 minutes and then they can finish off in the stew.

Can You Freeze Suet Dumplings?

Yes, you can freeze suet dumplings. You can also make your dumplings ahead of time for later.

Let’s imagine you are cooking a stew in the slow cooker and plan to make dumplings separately in the air fryer because you want crispy suet dumplings.

Well, you can put your slow cooker on in the morning, make the dumplings at the same time and then transfer them to a Tupperware and then they are ready for later.

Here is how we make the dough balls for stew and then pack them up for later.

Listen To Suet Dumplings in Air Fryer

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Sam & Doms Top Tips For Success

When making dumplings with suet its all about having patience and not adding too much water too soon. A slow dribble of water until you have the perfect smooth dough.

Then kneading the dough with your hands to make sure your end result is dumplings in the air fryer that are very fluffy and yummy.

More Air Fryer Old Fashioned Recipes

Plus, if you love stew here are a few more: instant pot beef stew and dumplings, slow cooker pork stew, slow cooker irish stew with Guinness, and slow cooker game casserole.

This recipe for suet dumplings is an updated post and last updated in 2020.

Learn all about dumplings with atora below, note you can print it out with or without photos, adjust servings, or click between metric and imperial depending on where you are in the world.

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