India is popular for its diversity and its reflection is quite prominent in the Indian cuisine itself. The cuisine consists of a diverse array of snacks, each celebrating flavours, spices, and regional variations. However, traditional snacks are often high in calories due to deep-frying for that crunch. To employ a healthy solution to Indian snacks, the idea of air frying.
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Air frying, a cooking method that employs hot air circulation to cook food, reduces the need for excessive oil, minimising caloric intake without compromising on taste. In the context of Indian snacks, this translates to a culinary revolution involving a fusion of authenticity and health consciousness.
Indian snacks are worldwide popular for their intricate blend of spices, textures, and cultural significance. The air fryer, with its ability to achieve the perfect crispiness without submerging ingredients in oil, aligns seamlessly with the contemporary emphasis on healthier living. From crispy samosas to savoury pakoras, here are eight delicious Indian snacks you can easily make in the airfryer for a healthy twist.
Samosa:
Transforming the iconic Indian snack, samosas, into a healthier version is easy with an air fryer. The modern twist of air-frying replaces deep-frying, preserving the outer crunch and piping hot vegetable filling. Enjoy the same texture and experience without compromising on taste. If you're aiming for a healthier diet without sacrificing delicious samosas, this is the way to go.
Seekh Kabab:
Skewered and marinated minced meat, infused with aromatic spices, becomes succulent kebabs with a crispy exterior in the air fryer. Experience guilt-free snacking with the perfect blend of smoky flavours and tenderness. Elevate your snack game with these air fryer-made Seekh Kababs, crispy, flavourful, and a testament to the culinary magic achievable with modern kitchen technology.
Aloo Tikki:
Everyone's favourite street food, Aloo Tikki, served with spicy and mint chutney, can take a delightful twist when crafted in the air fryer. The air fryer ensures a perfect balance of textures—a crispy outer layer and a soft, flavourful inner layer with aromatic Indian spices.
Onion Pakora:
The popular Indian snack, onion pakora, undergoes a healthier transformation in the air fryer. Enjoy guilt-free indulgence with irresistible crunch and bold flavours. Each bite offers a symphony of textures—a crisp exterior yielding to a tender, spiced onion core. Elevate your snacking experience with this Air fryer rendition, celebrating the rich tapestry of Indian flavours.
Tandoori Chicken:
A delectable non-vegetarian snack in Indian cuisine, Tandoori Chicken, achieves a crispy exterior and succulent tenderness when cooked in the air fryer. Experience guilt-free, flavoursome delight with smoky notes and a perfect balance of spices. The air fryer recreates the iconic tandoor texture, making this snack a healthier, irresistible indulgence.
Namak Para:
Traditionally attaining its crispy texture through deep frying, Namak Para, a popular Indian snack, can achieve the same texture while staying healthy by air frying. Each piece remains crispy to the core, retaining the exact flavours of cumin and carom seeds.
Tandoori Paneer Naan Pizza:
Crafted for the air fryer, Tandoori Paneer Naan Pizza marries traditional Indian flavours with modern convenience. Tandoori-spiced paneer cubes on a crispy naan base achieve a perfect balance of smokiness and spice. The air fryer imparts a delightful crunch to the edges while preserving the pizza's moist interior, creating a quick, flavourful, and enticing snack.
Sabudana Vada:
Sabudana Vada, considered a healthy Indian snack due to its sabudana content, loses its health benefits when deep-fried. Air-frying retains the healthy qualities of sabudana while achieving the perfect crunch, preserving the traditional essence of the vada with a crispy outer layer.