20 Indian Air Fryer Recipes For A Nutritious And Excellent Taste Profile

If you’re anything like us then you might have a constant craving for Indian food. Whether this is butter chicken or a simple samosa, the craving is there. And whilst you could always order Indian food, it feels nice to be able to make it. Here we discuss about the Indian Air Fryer Recipes.

The only issue with making Indian food is that it can take quite a lot of time and effort. Sometimes this isn’t a practical option for you to do on a weeknight after work. 

When it comes to making foods we have been able to figure out ways to make the process quicker. We are huge fans of air fryers for this exact reason.

So what if we combined Indian food and the process of cooking in an air fryer? 

Well, that is exactly what we have done. We have collected a list of the 20 best Indian air fryer recipes for you to make at home. Now you can make Indian food at home and avoid deep frying. 

We have also answered a few questions relating to Indian food and air fryer techniques. 

Quick Table: 20 Best Indian Air Fryer Recipes

Recipes	Calories Per Serving	Preparation Time
Air Fryer Samosas	320	1 Hour 52 Mins
Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Kebabs	322	55 Mins
Spicy Bombay Potatoes	151	20 Mins
Air Fryer Crispy Paneer	159	10 Mins
Air Fryer Tandoori Fish Tikka	119	28 Mins
Air Fryer Onion Bhajis	40	35 Mins
Air Fryer Aloo Tikki	89	30 Mins
Air Fryer Pakoras	39	18 Mins
Dal Vada	19	27 Mins
Aloo Gobi	380	50 Mins
Air Fryer Lamb Kofta Kebabs	574	25 Mins
Bharwa Bhindi (Stuffed Okra)	406	30 Mins
Air Fryer Aloo Chaat	370	45 Mins
Air Fryer Naan Bread	177	2 Hours 50 Mins
Air Fryer Gulab Jamun	125	30 Mins
Air Fried Jalebi	150	45 Mins
Air Fry Pani Puri	329	20 Mins
Air Fryer Chicken Jalfrezi	496	25 Mins
Air Fryer Tandoori Paneer Naan Pizza	216	20 Mins
Air Fryer Masala Fries	128	30 Mins

1. Air Fryer Samosas

Samosas are such a popular appetizer in India. They are eaten on almost every occasion, whether that be a birthday or a wedding. However, they are normally deep-fried.

That is why this air fryer recipe for samosas is perfect for anyone who loves them. The dough is still perfectly crispy when cooked in the air fryer. The potato filling comes out hot and fluffy, just the way samosas should be.

Calories Per Serving: 320

Preparation Time: 1 Hour 52 Mins

2. Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Kebabs

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Another amazing Indian appetizer is chicken tikka kebabs. There is nothing better than having chicken tikka kebabs on a warm day. This recipe has the chicken marinated in yogurt, lime, and a bunch of spices.

These chicken tikka kebabs are put onto a skewer with some vegetables and cooked in the air fryer. It is a super simple recipe that is quick to make. 

Calories Per Serving: 322

Preparation Time: 55 Mins

3. Spicy Bombay Potatoes

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If you have ever been to an Indian restaurant you would have probably seen Bombay potatoes on the menu. These crispy but fluffy potatoes are covered in the best Indian spices such as coriander, cumin, turmeric, and red chili powder.

They pair perfectly as a side for any curry. The best thing is they can be cooked in many different ways including in the air fryer. 

Calories Per Serving: 151

Preparation Time: 20 Mins

RELATED: 20 Quick Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes

4. Air Fryer Crispy Paneer

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Paneer is a favorite cheese in India, it is so versatile. You might have seen it in a curry but our favorite way to eat it is when it is crispy. This crispy paneer recipe is a blessing in disguise as we can now enjoy a healthy version of fried crispy paneer.

These crispy paneer bites have a subtle hint of garlic which makes them ten times better. They also only take five minutes to cook in the air fryer. 

Calories Per Serving: 159

Preparation Time: 10 Mins

5. Air Fryer Tandoori Fish Tikka

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Most people will recognize any Indian food with the name tandoori. These tandoori fish tikkas are a great pescatarian version of the chicken tikka skewers.

You can use a range of fish for this recipe but the best ones are Mahi, Swordfish, Sole, and Salmon.

These tandoori fish tikkas have a rich and intense masala flavor and are extremely crispy. If you are someone who wants a crispy Indian appetizer, then you need to make this recipe.

Calories Per Serving: 119

Preparation Time: 28 Mins

6. Air Fryer Onion Bhajis

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Onion Bhajis are a classic Indian appetizer. They are crispy and full of flavor. Usually, they are deep or shallow fried but following this recipe you can make them in the air fryer.

Now you can enjoy this delicious Indian delicacy without the guilt of having a deep-fried dish. 

Calories Per Serving: 40

Preparation Time: 35 Mins

7. Air Fryer Aloo Tikki 

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Indian appetizers are some of the most scrumptious dishes. Aloo Tikki is no exception. If you are someone who likes samosas and onion bhajis then you will love Aloo Tikki.

Aloo Tikki has a soft and fluffy middle with a crispy exterior. They are essentially potato patties that are usually fried, however, this recipe allows you to cook them in the air fryer. 

Calories Per Serving: 89

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

8. Air Fryer Pakoras

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A lot of Indian dishes have similar elements to them, so if you are someone who likes onion bhajis then you will definitely love pakoras. Pakoras are patties that have chunky cut vegetables in them.

Instead of being dipped in a batter, the vegetables are combined with flour and water making the vegetables stick together. They are crispy and absolutely delicious. 

Calories Per Serving: 39

Preparation Time: 18 Mins

9. Dal Vada

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Dal Vada is also known as lentil fritters. This is a fantastic Indian snack or appetizer. This recipe is vegan and gluten-free.

There is no flour involved in this recipe and all the ingredients are very basic. You will need to soak the lentils for around 6-8 hours before making this recipe. 

Calories Per Serving: 19

Preparation Time: 27 Mins

10. Aloo Gobi

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Aloo Gobi translates to potato cauliflower, which should give you a hint as to what is in this recipe. Aloo Gobi is a traditional Indian stir-fry-like dish that is usually cooked on a stovetop. It is usually served with a piece of naan bread or chapati.

What is great about making this in the air fryer is that the cauliflower doesn’t become mushy. 

Calories Per Serving: 380

Preparation Time: 50 Mins

11. Air Fryer Lamb Kofta Kebabs

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Lamb kofta kebabs are a really popular dish in India. With this recipe, you can make them in the air fryer and make the process of cooking them quicker.

This recipe makes juicy and flavorful lamb kofta kebabs that are perfect for a snack or as an appetizer.

If you are someone who enjoys lamb kebabs, you need to try this simple and fast way to cook them. 

Calories Per Serving: 574

Preparation Time: 25 Mins

12. Bharwa Bhindi (Stuffed Okra)

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Okra is a vegetable that is widely used in Indian cuisine. This recipe for stuffed okra or Bharwa Bhindi is a fun way of eating okra. The okra is stuffed with Indian spices such as turmeric, red chili powder, and garam masala powder.

The best thing about air frying this recipe is you can enjoy the stuffed okra guilt-free and still have a crispy snack. 

Calories Per Serving: 406

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

RELATED: Can You Use A Glass Bowl In An Airfryer?

13. Air Fryer Aloo Chaat

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Chaat is one of our favorite Indian dishes. It is such an addictive snack so we were super happy to come across this air fryer aloo chaat recipe.

This recipe has crunchy air-fried potatoes that are topped with chutney and yogurt. It is an incredibly refreshing dish that is perfect to eat as a snack or for lunch. 

Calories Per Serving: 370

Preparation Time: 45 Mins

14. Air Fryer Naan Bread

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We included all the Indian dishes you can eat as an appetizer or for dinner, so there was one thing we needed to include Naan bread.

A lot of Indian dishes require naan bread or chapati to eat with them, so it only makes sense to offer a way to cook it in the air fryer. Naan is supposed to be crispy but light on the inside and that is exactly what this naan bread recipe achieves.

Calories Per Serving: 177

Preparation Time: 2 Hours 50 Mins

15. Air Fryer Gulab Jamun

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We knew we had to include some traditional Indian sweets on this list and we thought we would start with one of the most popular Indian sweets, Gulab Jamun.

Gulab Jamun is an Indian sweet that has balls of dough, which are usually fried, soaked in a sweet syrup.

Each ball is light and fluffy. This recipe removes the need to fry them so they are slightly healthier than the original way of cooking them. 

Calories Per Serving: 125

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

16. Air Fried Jalebi

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Keeping with the theme of Indian sweets, Jalebi is an Indian dish you can find at most Indian food stalls.

They are usually a batter that has been fried until it is crispy and then they are dipped in a sweet syrup. Jalebi is an Indian traditional dessert that is very popular in India.

This recipe uses the air fryer instead of deep-frying them but you still get that crunchy sweet.

Calories Per Serving: 150

Preparation Time: 45 Mins

17. Air Fry Pani Puri

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Pani Puri is round fried hollow balls that are usually filled with a mixture of potatoes and chickpeas. Then they are filled with a Pani Puri liquid and are eaten in one go. They are crispy and bursting with flavor.

Though they are traditionally deep-fried, this recipe allows for the crispy shells to be made in the air fryer. 

Calories Per Serving: 329

Preparation Time: 20 Mins

18. Air Fryer Chicken Jalfrezi 

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Chicken Jalfrezi is a popular Indian curry that most of us who have had an Indian takeaway are familiar with. This chicken Jalfrezi is easy to make as the chicken and vegetables are cooked in the air fryer.

This speeds up the process of cooking this delectable chicken curry.

Calories Per Serving: 496

Preparation Time: 25 Mins

19. Air Fryer Tandoori Paneer Naan Pizza

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Whilst this might not be the most traditional Indian recipe, it is a good one. Naan bread is such a versatile food you can eat it with hummus or as a pizza. This recipe has Tandoori paneer as a topping, giving that Indian flavor. 

Calories Per Serving: 216

Preparation Time: 20 Mins

20. Air Fryer Masala Fries

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Another non-traditional Indian recipe is Masala fries. Masala fries are an amazingly tasty side dish or snack to accompany other Indian dishes.

These fries are cooked in an air fryer until they are crispy. They are topped with spices and masala to make them tangy but spicy. 

Calories Per Serving: 128

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cooking Food In The Air Fryer Healthy?

As a society, we are always looking for quicker and healthier ways to cook our food. Air-fryers are often promoted as a healthier alternative for cooking some foods.

This of course completely depends on the method of cooking you were going to use before. 

If the food you were going to cook was meant to be deep-fried, then yes cooking in the air fryer is healthier for you. Anything deep-fried isn’t the healthiest option so using an air-fryer that requires no oil is much better and healthier for you. 

However, if the food you are cooking was meant to be cooked in the oven then the air fryer isn’t much healthier for you.

Unless you need to put oil on your food, then switching from an oven to an air fryer doesn’t make much of a difference in terms of how healthy it is. 

The main reason air fryers are considered to be a healthier cooking option is because they do not require you to use oil.

So if the food you are cooking requires oil during the cooking process but using an air fryer removes the need for oil, then yes the air fryer is a healthier cooking option. 

Is Indian Food Unhealthy? 

Indian food has acquired a bad reputation of being quite unhealthy for you.

This is usually due to the fact that most people think of having an Indian takeaway when they want Indian food, or they think of the type of food an Indian takeaway serves as traditional Indian food. 

Well, traditional Indian food is not unhealthy for you.

When you buy Indian food from a restaurant or an Indian takeaway, this food contains a higher amount of calories than Indian food cooked at home. This is because there is more oil, sugar, butter, or cream present in this. 

However, when you make traditional Indian food, there are fewer unhealthy ingredients used. Also, the portion sizes of Indian takeaways are completely different.

Whilst out at an Indian restaurant you might eat a whole naan, but when you cook it at home most would eat half or a quarter of a naan. 

If we are being honest, too much of any food is unhealthy. You need to have balanced meals. So of course, if you are eating butter chicken every few days, this would be deemed as unhealthy as opposed to having traditional Indian dal. 

What Are The Main Spices Used In Indian Food?

Indian food is known for using a lot of spices. Most people often confuse this with Indian food being spicy, but when we are talking about spices we mean herbs and spices combined.

If you want to recreate Indian food at home, here are the ten most important spices to have stocked in your pantry. 

Cinnamon Sticks – Whilst many believe that cinnamon sticks are a dessert spice, they are used in a lot of savory meat dishes in India.

Coriander Seeds – These are indispensable when it comes to Indian food and you can buy them ground up. 

Cardamon – This has an intense flavor as well as multiple health benefits to eating it. 

Cumin Seeds – Also known as Jeera, cumin is a staple spice and is present in most Indian dishes. 

Cayenne Pepper – It is no surprise that Indian food is full of hot spices, cayenne pepper is in a lot of Indian curries. 

Fenugreek – These seeds are earthy and have a slightly bitter taste to them, they are used in a lot of potato dishes.  

Dried Red Chili – Red chili flakes have a range of heats, but they are what makes most Indian dishes spicy. 

Turmeric Powder – Known for being bright orange, this powder adds color to a lot of Indian dishes. It is what causes Indian food to stain your clothes and hands. 

Asafetida – This is the spice that enhances all the other spices. A pinch of this goes a long way. 

Brown Mustard Seeds – These seeds pair well with the other spices, especially if you toast them together. 

If you have these spices stocked in your pantry then you will be prepared to cook any basic Indian dish.

Final Thoughts

That brings us to the end of our list looking at the 20 best Indian air fryer recipes. Most of these recipes are a healthier alternative for Indian foods as you don’t have to fry them in oil.

They are also a quicker method of cooking, as using the air fryer can reduce cooking time. 

We hope we have been able to help you find a recipe that satisfies your Indian food cravings. It is time to say goodbye to ordering Indian food and say hello to making it at home.

After all, with the air fryer, cooking Indian food just got easier. 

We hope you enjoy the Indian food you make and have fun whilst making it!