Fried Dill Pickles with Buttermilk Dressing

Prep time: 45 minutes | Cook time: 8 minutes | Serves 6 to 8

Buttermilk Dressing:

¼ cup buttermilk

¼ cup chopped scallions

¾ cup mayonnaise

½ cup sour cream

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon chopped chives

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Fried Dill Pickles:

¾ cup all-purpose flour

1 (2-pound / 907-g) jar kosher dill pickles, cut into 4 spears, drained

2½ cups panko bread crumbs

2 eggs, beaten with 2 tablespoons water

Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Cooking spray

1. Combine the ingredients for the dressing in a bowl. Stir to mix well.
2. Wrap the bowl in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until ready to serve.
3. Pour the flour in a bowl and sprinkle with salt and ground black pepper. Stir to mix well. Put the bread crumbs in a separate bowl. Pour the beaten eggs in a third bowl.
4. Dredge the pickle spears in the flour, then into the eggs, and then into the panko to coat well. Shake the excess off.
5. Arrange the pickle spears in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spritz with cooking spray.
6. Put the air fryer basket on the baking pan and slide into Rack Position 2, select Air Fry, set temperature to 400ºF (205ºC) and set time to 8 minutes.
7. Flip the pickle spears halfway through the cooking time.
8. When cooking is complete, remove from the oven.
9. Serve the pickle spears with buttermilk dressing.