Craving something new? How about some flavorful Indian cuisine?
With these 20 air fryer recipes, you will discover cooking tasty meals is easier than ever!
Grab your air fryer and prepare for something special!
1. Hara Bhara Kabab
Hara bhara kebabs are vibrant and delicious potato patties with spinach and peas. They are amazing when served with a fresh yogurt dip or used to mop up every last drop of your dhal makhani.
For optimal crunch, be sure to coat your patties in breadcrumbs before air frying. I love how these are so easy to customize!
2. Air Fryer Pakoras
Pakoras are like the delicious, carb-loaded sibling of the onion bhaji. They are crafted with a similar spiced gram flour batter, but are loaded with cauliflower and potatoes instead of onions. It’s important to par-boil the potatoes a little to make sure everything bakes properly.
If you’re looking to experiment, try adding thinly sliced onions into the mix for a bhaji-pakora hybrid. I love this snack so much!
3. Samosa Chaat Phyllo Cups
Samosa chaat is a wonderful street food uniting samosas and spicy chickpea curry. This easy version is a fantastic appetizer combining all of those same great flavors in a bite-sized form. Phyllo adds an amazing crunch, and store-bought cups will accelerate the process.
Like any other samosa recipe, the mix is a flavorful blend of ginger, salt, coriander, garam masala, amchur, and mashed potatoes. This appetizer is a real winner!
4. Gobi Manchurian
This unreal cauliflower recipe is a hybrid between tandoori gobi and the sticky, sweet, and sour tastes of Chinese cuisine. You’ll pre-cook the cauliflower for a few minutes so it is nice and tender.
Then, it is covered in a gram flour batter. Finally, you will use the air fryer to make everything crispy before tossing it in a frying pan of sticky-sweet Manchurian sauce. The taste is out of this world!
5. Air Fryer Tandoori Gobi
You absolutely have to try these incredible cauliflower bites, even if you want to avoid carbs or gluten. Since a number of these dishes call for some of the same spices, buying a small bag of garam marsala can be beneficial.
Or, you could seek out an Indian spice mix that takes the guessing out of everything. I’m always looking for ways to make dishes simpler!
6. Tandoori Aloo
These crisp potatoes are similar to aloo gobi, but they are marinated in a yogurt and spice blend, making them tangy and delicious. Make sure that your marinade doesn’t have any salt.
Salt brings out moisture, which prevents the potatoes from becoming golden and crispy. Try not to crowd the basket either; they require space to properly cook. I love anything tandoori!
7. Spicy Bombay Potatoes
The spice blend is what makes bombay potatoes so special. They should be par-boiled before being dusted in a mix of cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chaat masala. The air fryer will crisp them up on the outside while keeping them so fluffy on the inside.
You can’t go wrong with this one! I am always looking for new ways to spice up potatoes.
8. Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori refers to a cooking style instead of the flavors. A tandoor is a clay oven that is used to cook everything from chicken to flatbreads, and it gives a lovely smokey flavor, much like a BBQ. Tandoori chicken is simply chicken marinated in yogurt and spices.
Mix yogurt, garlic, ginger, turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, and salt. This recipe is sure to be a winner! This is one of my favorite methods for cooking chicken.
9. Tandoori Paneer Naan Pizza
In my view, garlic naan makes a terrific pizza base. It’s already nicely flavored and the right thickness to hold a number of toppings. The vegetarian pizza features marinated paneer, but you could use chicken instead.
I appreciate the flavor of the cheese, but realize that not everyone keeps it stocked. Haloumi is a solid replacement. This pizza is simple and delicious!
10. Air Fryer Puri
Pani puri is a well-known Indian street food that is made with a simple pastry disc that puffs up as it cooks until it becomes hollow. Then, the vendor makes a hole and fills it with potatoes, onions, and peas.
Once you master the disc, try the recipe for pani puri stuffing. I like the idea of experimenting with new recipes.
11. Paneer Tikka
This dish is amazing for a meatless meal night, swapping chicken for Indian cheese. Paneer is an Indian cheese that is similar in appearance to tofu. It is often unsalted and will not melt like other cheeses, so it can be grilled like halloumi.
The marinade is a mix of spices and yogurt, making it creamy, tangy, and warm. I really appreciate having options for vegetarian meals.
12. Ivy Gourd Fry
Ivy gourds are in the pumpkin family and are the product of a tropical plant. They are similar in appearance to zucchinis, but have a bitter flavor to them.
I’ve never found these in the supermarket, even though I looked. I used zucchini instead, and they tasted terrific. This meal is so easy to tweak to your liking!
13. Air Fryer Aloo Gobi
This is a truly amazing side dish, and will liven up a number of suppers, even just a typical roast chicken. I appreciate that there are potatoes and cauliflower for a variety of flavor and texture.
Given that the cauliflower bakes faster, make sure to cube the potato smaller or par-boil until fork-tender. I like having both textures in one side!
14. Air Fryer Samosa
Samosas are pockets of pastry filled with veggies and spiced potatoes. These treats are typically deep-fried to get their crispiness, but now, the air fryer will handle everything without the extra fat.
For the most crispiness on the pastry, spray them with cooking spray. You could also use phyllo for the outside to add even more crisp. These are a great flavorful side!
15. 2-Ingredient Air Fryer Naan Bread
I adore naan bread for its fluffy but solid texture, buttery exterior, and ability to turn into a pizza in minutes. However, this recipe is a lifesaver when I run out of store-bought naan. All you need is Greek yogurt and self-raising flour.
These come out so tender, and you will not have to proof or boil them in water before baking. Be sure to use self-raising flour that already has a rising agent. This is a recipe you have to try!
16. Idli Fry
Idli are savory rice cakes generally eaten at breakfast. They are usually steamed and have rice and lentils. Make your own with this recipe and then pick something tasty to serve with it.
Once you’ve had them a couple of times, use the leftovers with the air fryer. These will be crazy-crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. This recipe offers a lower-carb alternative to fries.
17. Air Fryer Amchoor Potatoes
Amchoor is a dried mango powder made with green mangoes. It has a slightly fruity and sour flavor that make it an amazing spice for Indian dishes. You can find it online or in international stores.
The spice is so versatile that you don’t need anything else, but the mix of dried mango with cumin and cayenne makes a great warmth. You will have to experiment with this spice!
18. Air Fryer Kurkuri Bhindi
Okra isn’t the most flavorful veggie in my view, and I believe many people are turned off by its consistency. The air fryer can do wonders with this dish.
If you’re unable to find tender long okra, make sure to slice the thicker okra nice and thin so everything crisps up evenly. This is a simple and delicious snack!
19. Air Fryer Onion Bhajis
Onion bhajis make a super flavorful and simple appetizer thanks to the combination of thinly sliced onions and a spiced batter. The batter is crafted using a number of spices and sifted gram flour, which adds flavor.
Regular flour can be substituted, but will not provide the same taste. Chickpea flour is available in just about any store these days, or online. This appetizer is worth trying!