6 Punjabi Air-Fried Snacks You Must Make This Weekend

Weekends are all about relaxing, having a fun time, and, obviously, eating great food. And what’s better than Punjabi snacks to munch on while you sit with your friends and family to watch a movie, play some board games, or just catch up? However, a common concern while eating Punjabi snacks is that they are often fried and add a lot of calories. 

But do you know the best part of this article? You get to explore some air-fried options which will give you the taste of Punjabi spices while also ensuring that you don’t derail from your calorie content consumption. So, set up your kitchen and whip up these air-fried snacks to have a fun-filled weekend.

Samosa Chaat

Samosa in itself is one of the most popular evening snacks in Northern India, but samosa chaat, which is too air fried, makes it much healthier. Instead of deep frying a samosa in oil, you can air fry it till its crust is crispy. Then, you can make a gravy-based chana (chickpea) to add to your samosa. Pour some generous amount of the sabzi, add imli (tamarind) chutney and dive into the goodness of Punjabi snacks.

Aloo Tikki

Aloo tikki is another popular street food in Punjab. You can make an aloo tiki by boiling some potatoes, mashing them with spices like salt, red chilli powder, amchur powder, garam masala, etc., and making a uniform mixture. Then, scoop out small portions, turn them into the shape of patties and let the air fryer do its job till the tikkis are crispy. You can then enjoy them with green and red chutney and also add some curd for an enhanced taste.

Chicken Tikka

Chicken tikka is the heart of almost every Punjabi household, and to make it on a weekend would be like icing on the cake. You can take some freshly chopped chicken pieces and marinate in a paste of curd and your favourite spices like turmeric powder, red chilli powder, garam masala, and salt to taste. After letting it sit for a while, air fry them and enjoy with green chutney.

Pokore

For a great weekend evening snack, you can make pakoras in your air fryer. You can start by chopping some vegetables like potatoes, onions, cauliflower, paneer, etc. Then, make a batter with besan (chickpea flour) mixed with your go-to spices. Finally, coat the vegetables in the batter and air fry them till they are crispy whilst enjoying them with chutneys or chilli sauce.

Fish Fry

If you want to make a healthy protein-rich evening snack, you can try making fish fry in your air fryer. To make fish fry, you can chop some fish and marinate the pieces in a batter made with besan, ginger and garlic paste, and spices like salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, etc. After letting them set, fry them in the air fryer, and you relish your snack with lemon wedges and chilli sauce.

Also Read: Whiskey Cocktails Perfect For Your Weekend

Masala Papad

Papad is a great accompaniment to meals in most Punjabi homes. If you are looking for a light snack option, you can make masala papad. To make it, you can take a plain or pre-flavoured papad and let it turn crunchy in your air fryer. Next, layer some chopped cucumber, tomatoes, onions and sprinkle with grated paneer, spices, and a squeeze of lemon. And that’s all you need to do to make masala papad.