4.9 from 63 votes
Air Fryer Pakora
These air fryer pakoras use a thick batter of sliced red onions, gram flour, rice flour, and spices to form crisp, golden fried onion fritters. They achieve a balance of moist softness inside with a spiced crisp exterior without deep frying. Fresh ginger, green chili, cilantro, and traditional Indian spices provide vibrant flavors along with subtle heat from Kashmiri chili powder and ajwain seeds.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings:
4
Calories:
171 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
Indian
Ingredients
- 2 cup red onions thinly sliced
- 2 green chilli finely diced, adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated or paste
- 2 tablespoons cilantro finely chopped
- 1 cup gram flour aka besan
- 2 tablespoon rice flour
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder ground, aka Haldi powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ajwain seeds aka carom seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida optional, aka hing
- 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon neutral cooking oil plus for spraying, generic cooking oil
To serve
- 1/2 teaspoon chaat masala
- mint chutney contains cilantro
- tamarind chutney
- ketchup
Instructions
- Peel and slice the onion
- Wash and chop the green chilli and cilantro
- In a large mixing bowl, add the sliced onions, green chili, ginger, and cilantro leaves. Then add the chickpea flour (besan), rice flour, red chili powder, turmeric powder, carom seeds, hing and salt.
- mix using your hand. Squeeze the onions with your fingers while mixing. Don't add any water as a runny batter will not make crispy pakoras. Squeeze the onions until their moisture releases and a clumpy dough forms.
- Add 1 teaspoon of oil to the onion batter. This can help make the air fryer pakoras softer inside.Only if needed, add 1-2 tablespoons of water so the onions are well coated with the gram flour and spices.
Cup of Yum
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat your air fryer as per the instruction manual of the manufacturer (about 400°F for 5 minutes). Then, spray a little oil to prevent the pakoras from sticking to the surface.
- Pick some batter in your fingers, and flatten in a patty like shape. Then place it in the air fryer basket. Make sure the pakoras don't touch each other. Do not overcrowd. Spray some oil on top.
- Air fryer at 350°F for 12-14 minutes. Flip the pakoras at about 9 minutes.
- Once they are golden and crispy, take out on a plate lined with paper towel. Sprinkle some chaat masala. Serve hot and with mint cilantro chutney or ketchup.
Oven Method
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place spoonfuls of the batter on it. You want to make small to medium-sized pakoras rather so they bake uniformly.
- Then bake for 25-30 minutes at 400°F (205 °C). Spray with oil and flip the baking tray around at halfway mark and then continue to bake. Keep an eye on them to ensure sure they're baking properly and not burning.
Notes
- The batter must be thick and not watery to ensure the pakoras develop a crispy exterior in the air fryer.
- Cook in small batches to avoid overcrowding and to ensure even cooking and crisp texture.
- Spray oil on the pakoras or use perforated parchment paper to prevent sticking during air frying.
Nutrition Information
Calories
171kcal
(9%)
Carbohydrates
27g
(9%)
Protein
8g
(16%)
Fat
4g
(6%)
Saturated Fat
0.4g
(2%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Sodium
687mg
(29%)
Potassium
388mg
(8%)
Fiber
6g
(24%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
176IU
(4%)
Vitamin C
9mg
(10%)
Calcium
35mg
(4%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 171
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 171kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 9% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.4g | 2% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 687mg | 29% |
| Potassium | 388mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 176IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 35mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.