We all love going to our favorite restaurants and ordering the same meal we always do because we love it so much, but when you want to enjoy that great taste again, going out to eat more than once a week or even a month can become pricey.
What you need, rather than going to the Indian takeout down the road, are these best Indian air fryer recipes for your favorite takeaway made at home, and leave going out for a special occasion.
Is there anything better than curry in front of the TV on the sofa watching your new series, it doesn’t get much better than that I would think. Now you can enjoy your favorite dishes in the comfort of your home.
#1. Indian Air fryer Cauliflower Bites
When most people see food that is a bright yellow color they are skeptical, me on the other hand, I am wondering which spices and herbs did they combine to achieve that beautiful hue (although I might be biased because yellow is my favorite color).
But we know certain foods are not naturally a specific color, but that doesn’t mean we can’t change the color or flavor with great spices, and these Indian air fryer recipes prove that. Humble, simple cauliflower florets coated in an intense flavor-filled spice and then crisped up in the air fryer till golden.
What makes this dish different from others is that the ingredient (the cauliflower in this case) is cooked in the fryer in a foil parcel filled with the herbs and other flavors, this way the taste is absorbed into the veggie and it stays tender. Win-win.
A great addition to the dinner plate, on the buffet table, or even better as part of a crudité serving. There is an option suited for every occasion.
This delicious dish is the healthy version of the traditional Pakora we find at Indian restaurants, and what is great is that it cooks and is ready in under 20 minutes.
So, when the supper is in the oven and won’t be ready for another hour and the kids have just walked in the door after their sports practices and are starving, a quick batch of this is the perfect Indian convection oven recipe to hit the spot.
I initially tried this recipe because I saw I could substitute veggies for ones I had on hand or use leftover bits from the fridge and disguise them in a delicate yet crispy package, and the kids would eat it. They aren’t even aware that they are eating loads of vegetables and that is fine by me.
Serve it with a great dipping sauce and you have the perfect appetizer to complement the snack table.
My husband likes to have a snack to nibble on when he is watching the football and sometimes life is busy so I don’t always have time to make a big platter for him to pick and choose from, I did find this tasty wonder though while searching the net one evening and it went down a treat.
Okra is one of those love it or hate it vegetables and this one was a winner in our house, even the kids gave it a thumbs up.
And the best part about these easy air fryer Indian recipes is that I can cook the veggie from frozen. What a plus. So you could be running late, you may want to throw something together quickly when unexpected guests arrive, or you simply forgot to take out the dinner meal from the freezer the night before, then the air fryer will save the day.
Spice the frozen okra pieces in your masala or turmeric or curry spice (anything will do as long as you love it), pop them into the fryer, and leave them to cook for several minutes. They soften but don’t turn to mush and they crisp and firm up on the edges for a tasty bite each time, serve as is or with a dipping sauce if you prefer (the kids always insist on a dip).
The easiest dish you can make this week and you can get the chance to relive those great flavors you enjoy when eating out.
This is one of those healthy convection oven Indian recipes that is packed with flavor, color, and feel-good flavors. It has it all. And when you plate it up with al dente veg, fluffy rice, and a generous garnishing of coriander, you will soon see why the turmeric and chili help elevate this dish.
I also like to give a quick squeeze of lime just before serving to add a bit of freshness and lightness.
The one tip I will say I never skip out on is the marinating element. Whether I am making a stovetop curry or this gorgeous chicken leg air fryer version, I ensure I marinate the meat in spicy yogurt. It penetrates and smothers the meat as no other sauce can, and the bacteria in the yogurt helps to tenderize the chicken.
Once it is cooked feel free to brush the meat and fry for a little longer to get that burned, charred look and taste, and it adds a nice touch of color and texture to the final dish.
A firm favorite with the children and most likely why we eat this at least once a week and certainly more in the warmer summer months.
I love making this dish, the full dinner menu can be ready in just 30 minutes, and while the chicken is browning in the fryer I get on with the rest of the supper condiments and side dishes, and before you know it the meat is done.
Chicken Tikka is and always has been a favorite order of my husband, and pretty much that is all he will eat when we go out, so to have it at home in comfort and without the hefty price tag was a dream come true in finding this recipe.
Indian air fryer recipes are a great way to try a new cuisine, get veggies into the family without them being any the wiser, and are much cleaner than the greasy version we have all tried.
You can add more chili flakes for an added kick to the dish, or omit it altogether if the kids are eating with them, simply season to your preference. It goes great with a garlicky cucumber-yogurt dip, some fresh onion, and tomato salsa, and all stuffed inside a fresh bap, dinner has never tasted or looked this good.
A must-try dish and a must-have recipe in your culinary collection.
During the summer we like to eat outside a lot, but when it is so nice outside the last thing you want to be doing is slaving away in the kitchen in front of the oven making dinner while the rest of the family is relaxing. Well, now you don’t have to.
Trying these easy air fryer Indian recipes will not only save you heaps of time you could be spending outdoors, but it only needs a few ingredients to create this stunning meal. The chicken is fork-tender (check it with a thermometer at around the 10-minute mark) and turn as needed.
Serve this with elegant raita on the side, some toasted pita pieces of bread, and fluffy rice for a magazine-worthy looking meal.
And if you bought a large batch of chicken on promotion at the store (I always bulk buy when I see a special), making a few batches of the chicken is great to freeze for later in the month or for a rainy day. It reheats well and tastes just as good. You could even slice the spicy cooked meat thinly and toss in a salad for the perfect light-hearted dish when the weather outside is unbearable and all you can muster are a few bites.
This has been the most versatile and dares I say, customizable, bread option I have ever found to make in the air fryer. I did not know that there were so many healthy convection oven Indian recipes available, and thankfully, I have discovered one of the easiest and tastiest.
People mostly use it as the basis for a savory meal or snack, and we have as well and it tastes awesome, but recently the kids have been eating it for breakfast with a generous spread of jam or marmalade, and feta cheese crumbles.
Fantastically divine.
So if you were ever looking for something different for a quick morning snack (or you simply ran out of cereal and milk) this filling treat will hit the spot. I love that it can be done in the air fryer because the rapid air circulation means it is done in no time at all and is crispy and light, but without all the grease and oiliness you get from the usual deep-fried version.
By far one of the top recipes in our family menu rotation and it is great for any time of the day, or for those in-between moments when you just want something delicious. The perfect sweet and savory meal option.
If you were looking for an effortless Indian convection oven recipe that has only a handful of ingredients and even fewer preparation steps then look no further.
This recipe is packed with flavor and goodness and is so kid-friendly it may well just become a new family favorite, and it is easy on the wallet too using inexpensive ingredients but combining them in such a beautiful way it tastes expensive.
The unique spice in the dish (and one that you may not have on hand but will be well worth the trip to the store to get some and for future meals) has a sweet and tangy mango flavor profile, yes, you heard right, not your typical potato seasoning.
Mix it with the rest of the ingredients to smother the spuds in a glossy, spicy coating and pop them into the air fryer for 15 minutes, giving them a check and a shake at the 10-minute mark.
You will have crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside potatoes in no time, and it goes beautifully with any time of food. You could even have it as a snack dish with a dipping sauce to keep the kid’s hunger pains at bay.
There are always times when you have guests arrive without calling (a regular occurrence at our house) and trying to find a tasty dish in a hurry can be daunting, but not anymore.
I always have some form of vegetables in the fridge or pantry on hand and this great collection of air fryer Indian recipes (my husband is going through an Indian cuisine phase, and I guess so is the rest of the family) has saved many a stressed moment.
The air fryer is the cleanest, and in my opinion, the quickest, method of cooking, blowing hot air, or the rapid air circulation as my hubby likes to say, makes the food crispy but not dry or tough, and everything is cooked in under 30 minutes.
So whipping up a quick batch of these Bhindi was a breeze, simply coat the slices in the sauce and pop them into the fryer to crisp.
Served with a chili sauce for a nice bite or a simple dipping mayo and you are all good to go. A few fried pieces of bread to pick at, how easy is that. Simple, tasty, and most importantly, fuss-free.
I could eat a massive bowl of these all to myself, they are simply delicious. Sitting outside with a dipping sauce, a cool cocktail, and ambient music, my other half and I could spend hours enjoying time together and snacking on these without a care in the world.
We almost always make a double or triple batch of the mixture because once you begin you can’t seem to stop, the flavor profile is so well-balanced, and the kids have no idea they are even eating onions which they would usually run from.
The moisture from the onions that are excreted absorbs the spices while it sits and marinates and once you add the flour to form the dough I start to get excited because this is where the magic happens. Form into balls and place in the fryer, you can opt to spray the fryer beforehand with cooking oil to give it that extra bit of crunch while cooking.
Feel free to leave out the chilies if you want to serve these to the kids, or serve with a chili dip for the adults to add some heat to each mouthful. Everyone can enjoy these one way or the other.
The ultimate in feel-good comfort food. You may not have thought it before (I am guilty of this myself) but the Indian cuisine is so humble yet when you eat the dishes you are blown away. Every meal is filled with beauty, and seamlessly well-balanced spices and flavors you didn’t think could go together, and yet melt harmoniously for a tasty dish.
These potato patties prove that, if you considered the potato a mediocre veggie used only to bulk up recipes or fill a gap on the plate, a basic starch can make you feel so good and you can make this without breaking the bank.
Little patties formed and fried till crispy on the exterior and light in the middle, piled high onto a plate with a side sauce make for a great appetizer. And you could even whip up a batch of these for the next school event when asked to bring a dish, just be ready for everyone to ask you for the recipe because they will be the first to finish.
Great tasting food that is so easy to pull together.
My husband always requests this for his work lunch box, and while I do make a batch for him a few times a month (and hide it at the back of the fridge), they usually don’t last that long. These tacos are great because they can be topped with anything your heart desires, and you can be sure they will taste amazing.
I pack around 20 of these fritters in and then a choice of both sweet and savory toppings for him to enjoy because we all know when the work week seems to be taking forever to get to the weekend, a great tasting meal can help you get through the hump.
You could also serve a large platter of these at your next family gathering with an assortment of toppings and garnishes from ground beef and salsa, to diced chicken in a curry mayo with coriander. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water, and once you taste these you will understand why.
Great for friends and family to pick up and pop into their mouths.
And I usually make a plain platter for the kids with a trio of sauces for them to dip into, because let’s be honest, kids don’t appreciate the toppings and effort that goes into making the dish look magazine-worthy, but they will appreciate the taste.
The whole family can dig into these, and it works for all taste preferences.
There is nothing easier than a big bowl of beautifully spiced chicken pieces piled high and a few forks to keep the kids happy and quiet.
Often when we have a celebration or the family is over for the weekend the food takes a back seat to the conversation and catch-ups (of course), but this means the kids begin to get restless and irritated.
So, knowing this from personal experience with my kids I always make sure I have a big batch of these spiced and marinated bites on hand ready to throw into the fryer, and I can make them before the guests arrive and cook them as the day goes on. And they are ready in 20 minutes.
Quick and easy, deliciously simple, and they are always a crowd-pleaser, even with the fussy kids (and we all know there will always be one in the group).
The perfect dish to get the children to eat veggies without them realizing it, and this recipe is customizable to the ingredients you have in the fridge if you don’t have these exact ones on hand. I particularly love the green color it brings to the table which comes from spinach or broccoli, but you could also opt to use kale if you want to get some added cruciferous leafy greens into the diet.
You do need to blend the leafy greens to get them smooth and remove the stalks, then add them to a bowl with the cooked, soft potatoes, spices, and flour and form into flattened balls.
Place them evenly in a single layer in the fryer and leave for 10 minutes to crisp the edges.
We usually have a big bowl of these on the dining table for the family to dig into as they wish during the meal as they can be quite filling when eaten with the rest of the meal.
You could also serve them as an appetizer with a sweet cranberry jam (I love the sweet and savory combination, each elevates the other), and they are great to snack foods to have in the fridge (they keep fresh for up to 3 days in a sealed, air tight container).
They also freeze particularly well (in their raw state before frying) so you could double or triple the recipe and portion some out for the freezer to keep for a rainy day.
Gorgeously light and fluffy dough balls soaked in sweet syrup are my idea of heaven, and I would never have thought they were so quick and easy to make, the whole preparation taking only 30 minutes. It is no wonder I have had a regular portion of these available for breakfast and afternoon treats the last few days.
I love that the balls are so airy and then the sauce seeps into them filling them with goodness and sweetness, and they taste just as good without any sauce (my little one prefers to dip the plain dough balls into a chocolate sauce) or even with a generous dusting of icing sugar.
They make for a great base for a dessert station and can be decorated to your taste, even skewered with fruit and a drizzle of chocolate sauce or sugar, and you could make a tasty fondue station for the kids to enjoy (outside with plenty of serviettes because it can get messy).
Who knew that flour and milk (and a few other bits) could create such a versatile and tasty meal? A winner in our home and around the dining table with friends.
When you read this title and were intrigued then you are not alone, yes, there is an Indian version of salmon, and it is amazing.
And if you wanted an effortless meal that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen cooking, then this impressive dish is the one for you. Rubbed with flavorful Indian spices to infuse into the flesh of the fish, and then air-fried till flaky and essentially falling apart, this is a magazine-worthy meal that will leave the mother-in-law speechless and impressed (and we know this is no easy feat).
Serve it with a bowl of saffron-flavored rice sprinkled with coriander and red onion, fresh salsa on the side with some homemade flatbread, and a generous squeeze of lime, the family won’t know what has hit them.
A filling meal that is great for the summer season when you want something light but hearty, and is done in 10 minutes, a winning recipe you must try this month.
Yes, the name is a mouthful, but so is the dish, and rightly so, this recipe packs a punch.
This is the recipe you want when the weather outside is horrible, the week has been long and tiring, and you just want a meal that makes everything right in the world again. And curry is the way to go.
I can eat curry every week if the family would allow it, but this one, in particular, has been a regular visitor at the dinner table, and when served with naan bread perfect for dipping into the creamy sauce as you tuck into the meal, it doesn’t get much better and tastier than this.
These golden balls of potato, grated paneer, cashews, and spices are filling and feel-good bites of love, air fried till golden and beautiful, and then smothered in the creamy curry sauce that is a true crowd-pleaser.
Depending on the size of the balls the cooking time may vary so keep an eye on them and turn them frequently till they are a deep golden color on all sides. Be sure to make a double portion of the mix because the family will love this and you can count on them looking for a second helping.
When you taste these mini bites of goodness you will be blown away.
They are essentially mini balls with a hole cracked into the top of them, delicately crisp, and stuffed with a filling of your choice, and to top it all off, you dip the filled balls into the flavored water and then into your mouth. This sounds too good to be true but is so simple to make.
All you need to figure out is which decision filling you want to put into these crispy clouds, or you could even have a choice of a few to keep things interesting, and then enjoy a fabulous tasting dish.
You could also opt to make your dough pastry from scratch but the store-bought versions are equally tasty and light and let you focus on the gorgeous fillings.
There is no excuse why you can’t have great-tasting food all the time, with a little effort and imagination, and most importantly good quality ingredients, mealtimes will be a pleasure.
We all love a good takeout, so trying these Indian air fryer recipes for your favorite takeaway made at home allows you to enjoy your best dishes more often, and at a fraction of the cost. And if you love this great recipe collection then be sure to head to our blog for even more recipes and creations.
Every day can be a day for great-tasting food, and when it is so quick and easy to make, meal prep will be a breeze.
Born and raised in South Africa and being immersed in the rich culture, Candace soon found a passion for all things food related. Exploring and experiencing new flavors and taste profiles she pursued her career as a qualified chef in silver service specialized in fine dining.
