Air Fryer Pakora

Ingredients

• 2 cup Red onions (thinly sliced)
• 2 Green chilli (finely diced, adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp Ginger (grated or paste)
• 2 tbsp Cilantro (finely chopped)
• 1 cup Gram flour (Besan) (chickpea flour)
• 2 tbsp Rice flour
• 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
• 0.25 tsp Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
• 0.5 tsp Carom seeds (Ajwain)
• 0.25 tsp Asafoetida (Hing) (optional)
• 1 tsp Salt (adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp Oil (plus more for spraying)
• 0.5 tsp Chaat Masala (for sprinkling)
• Mint Cilantro Chutney (for serving)
• Tamarind chutney (for serving)
• Ketchup (for serving)

Steps

1. 1

   Peel and slice the red onions thinly.

2. 2

   Wash and finely chop the green chilli and cilantro.

3. 3

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced onions, green chili, ginger, and cilantro leaves. Add the gram flour (besan), rice flour, red chili powder, turmeric powder, carom seeds, hing, and salt.

4. 4

   Mix the ingredients using your hand, squeezing the onions with your fingers as you mix. Do not add any water at this stage, as the onions will release their own moisture. Continue squeezing until a clumpy dough forms.

5. 5

   Add 1 teaspoon of oil to the onion batter to help make the pakoras softer inside. Only if the mixture is too dry to hold together, add 1-2 tablespoons of water so the onions are well coated with the flour and spices.

6. 6

   Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Spray the basket with a little oil to prevent sticking.

7. 7

   Pick up small portions of the batter with your fingers and flatten them into a patty-like shape. Place them in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch or overcrowd the basket. Spray the tops with oil.

8. 8

   Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 12-14 minutes, flipping the pakoras halfway through (at about 9 minutes).

9. 9

   Once the pakoras are golden and crispy, remove them to a plate lined with paper towels.

10. 10

    Sprinkle with chaat masala and serve hot with mint cilantro chutney, tamarind chutney, or ketchup.

Notes

Batter consistency: The batter needs to be thick and not runny. Adding too much water will prevent the pakoras from becoming crisp. Freezing: You can freeze pakoras by cooling them completely, freezing them on a tray for 1-2 hours, and then transferring them to freezer-safe bags. Enjoy within 2 months. Oven Method: Bake for 25-30 minutes at 400°F (205°C) on a parchment-lined tray, spraying with oil and flipping halfway through.

Nutrition per serving

• appetizer
• snack
• Indian
• vegan
• gluten-free
• air-fried
• onion bhaji