Beans on toast, a staple of British comfort food, is getting a modern makeover thanks to the air fryer. A viral TikTok recipe by creator Elle Gibson has been praised for transforming the humble dish into a texture-driven experience.
The method involves hollowing out a slice of sourdough to create a well for the beans, topping it with a generous layer of cheese, and air-frying the lot until bubbling and golden. The result is thickened, caramelised beans, a crisp cheese lid, and toast that holds its structure rather than turning soggy.
Mimi Morley, senior recipe development manager at HelloFresh, said: 'We’ve seen some questionable hacks in our time, but this one has legs. By air-frying, you’re dehydrating the tomato sauce just enough to intensify the flavour, while achieving a level of structural integrity in the bread that stands up to the beans.'
Gibson described the dish as 'absolutely unreal', adding: 'It gets the most delicious crust over the cheese and beans. It’s gooey, it’s delish. Beans on toast supremacy!' The recipe has resonated with the millions of Britons now using air fryers, which have seen over 29 million Google searches in the past month.
To make the dish, scoop out a small well in a slice of sourdough, add baked beans, grate cheese over the top, season with salt and pepper, and air fry at 200°C for about eight minutes until golden. Serve with toppings such as togarashi, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco or chilli oil.
