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Air Fryer Pakora

The crispy and golden Air Fryer Pakoras are cooked to perfection! These Air fried onion bhaji are made with sliced onions, gram flour (besan) and spices. These crunchy flavorful fritters are a perfect snack with a cup of masala chai!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 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 (besan)
  • 2 tablespoon rice flour
  • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
  • 1/2 teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain)
  • 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida (hing) optional
  • 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon oil plus for spraying
To serve
  • 1/2 teaspoon chaat masala
  • mint cilantro chutney
  • tamarind chutney
  • ketchup

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Peel and slice the onion
  2. Wash and chop the green chilli and cilantro
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
Air Fryer Method
    Cup of Yum
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Air fryer at 350°F for 12-14 minutes. Flip the pakoras at about 9 minutes.
  4. 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
  1. 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.
  2. 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

  • Batter consistency: The batter needs to be thick and not runny. We need just enough moisture in the batter to achieve crispy pakoras. The pakoras will not be as crispy if there is too much water.
  • Cooking Tips: To minimize overcrowding and uneven cooking, air fry only a few pakoras at a time. Don't forget to spray oil before placing the pakodas inside the air fryer. You can alternatively also use parchment paper with holes to prevent the pakoras from sticking to the air fryer basket.

Nutrition Information

Calories 171kcal (9%) Carbohydrates 27g (9%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 4g (6%) Saturated Fat 0.4g (2%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Sodium 687mg (29%) Potassium 388mg (11%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 176IU (4%) Vitamin C 9mg (10%) Calcium 35mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

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.