This air fryer bhindi is a wonderful side dish that you can serve with rice. You can even enjoy these air fryer okra chips as a snack when you’re craving something savory and crispy. This recipe is healthier than its deep-fried counterpart, so it’s a great snack option!
Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
What is bhindi?
Bhindi has many names. In English, it’s known as okra or lady’s fingers. In Tamil, it’s known as vendakka whereas, in Hindi, it’s known as bhindi.
This vegetable has a bad rep for being slimy, but when prepared with care and patience, it is wonderfully delicious!
Why make bhindi in air fryer?
Fried bhindi is a great side dish to serve with rice, or you can even enjoy it as a savory snack.
Here’s why you should air fry bhindi instead of deep-frying:
1. It’s healthier
When you air fry bhindi, you use less oil compared to deep-frying. You can make air fryer bhindi for loved ones who are health conscious.
2. It’s hassle-free
When you deep-fry something, you usually need to stand by the stove, babysitting the frying pot. With air frying, you don’t need to do this. You can set the timer and step away from the air fryer to do other things. I usually use this time to wash up any dishes I have in the sink.
3. It’s less messy
Deep-frying can be a messy business! When you fry something, oil is bound to splatter onto the walls and the floor, leaving your kitchen feeling greasy.
With an air fryer, you don’t have this problem. Any oil splatters or drips are contained to the inside of the air fryer. This helps to minimize any cleanup.
How to make crispy okra chips in air fryer?
Here are some tips to make crispy air fryer bhindi:
- Once you wash the bhindi, pat them dry with a paper towel. Wet bhindi isn’t going to crisp up!
- Add oil and corn starch to the bhindi before air frying. This makes the bhindi nice and crisp.
- Avoid overcrowding your air fryer. Space out the bhindi and try not to overlap them. This will result in the crispiest air fryer bhindi.
How to prevent bhindi from becoming slimy?
The last thing you want is for your bhindi to become slimy.
Here’s how you can prevent this from happening: Keep your bhindi dry!
Pat them dry with a paper towel. When cutting the bhindi, make sure your chopping board and knife are also dry to prevent transferring the moisture to your bhindi. From my experience, wet bhindi always gets pretty slimy!
Ingredients for air fried bhindi
Bhindi
This recipe uses around 16 -18 pieces of bhindi and can serve 2 people.
Once you wash the bhindi, make sure to pat them dry!
Spices
This yummy side dish gets its flavor from a variety of ground spices, namely cumin powder, turmeric, and chili powder.
Olive oil
This recipe uses 1 tablespoon of oil, which is far less than what you’d use when deep-frying.
Make sure that each piece of bhindi is coated well with oil and the ground spices, so they turn out crispy and flavorful.
Corn starch
This recipe also uses corn starch, which makes the air fryer bhindi nice and crispy!
How to make crispy bhindi in air fryer?
This air fryer bhindi recipe is super easy to make! Here’s a step-by-step guide to whip up these quick and healthy okra chips:
1. Wash the bhindi.
Make sure to pat them dry with paper towels. Not to sound overly dramatic, but moisture is the enemy here! Wet bhindi gets slimy, so dry them thoroughly.
2. Preheat the air fryer.
To do this, set your air fryer at 190°C/370°F and switch on for 3 – 5 minutes.
3. Cut the bhindi.
Cut each bhindi in half and then, cut each half lengthwise. This will result in okra slices that are about 2-inches or so long.
4. Combine all the ingredients for air fryer okra chips.
Add the cut bhindi into a bowl along with the other ingredients and give everything a good mix.
5. Air fry the bhindi.
Grease the air fryer basket with an oil mister to prevent sticking. Put the bhindi in the air fryer and cook for 10 – 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until cooked through and golden brown.
6. Finally, serve crispy air fryer bhindi.
Serve as a side dish with rice and curry, or enjoy on its own as a snack.
And that’s how you make okra chips in an air fryer!
How to serve air fryer bhindi?
Crispy bhindi in airfryer can be served as a side dish with rice and a gravy-based dish.
Here are some gravy based dishes that pair nicely with crispy bhindi:
Alternatively, you can also enjoy these crispy okra chips in air fryer as a savory snack. They’re a healthy, low-carb alternative to potato chips.
How to store leftovers?
You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
When you want to eat the leftover okra chips, preheat your air fryer at 190°C/370° and pop them in for about 3 – 5 minutes until heated through and crisp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are okra chips healthy?
Okra chips are a great source of soluble fibers and have various health benefits. Air fryer okra chips are especially healthy as they use less oil compared to deep fried chips.
Can I put okra in air fryer?
Yes, you can. Cut them into long strips, add oil and seasoning before air frying to get crispy, delicious okra chips! Air fried okra chips requires less oil than deep fried, making it a healthy and tasty snack option.
How do I keep my bhindi from getting slimy?
Keep your bhindi dry. Once you wash them, pat them dry with paper towels. When cutting the bhindi, make sure your chopping board and knife are dry as well to prevent any transfer of moisture. Wet bhindi will get slimy!
Can you air fry frozen okra?
Yes, you can. You can air fry both frozen plain and unbreaded okra. There’s no need to thaw them before air frying. The air fryer does the thawing and frying to golden brown, crispy perfection for you!
How long does it take to cook frozen okra in an air fryer?
It takes about 15 minutes. Make sure to preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes before cooking. This is important because the high heat will quickly evaporate the moisture in the frozen okra, ensuring that becomes crispy instead of mushy.
Should I thaw frozen okra before air frying?
No, there’s no need to thaw the frozen okra before air frying. Just pop them into a preheated air fryer straight out of the freezer, and cook for about 15 minutes.
Crispy Air Fryer Bhindi
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 150g bhindi (16 – 18 pieces)
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp coarse black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash the bhindi and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Preheat the air fryer to 190°C/370°F for 5 minutes.
- Cut each bhindi in half and then, cut each half lengthwise.
- Add the cut bhindi into a bowl along with the other ingredients and give everything a good mix.
- Grease the air fryer basket with an oil mister to prevent sticking. Put the bhindi in the air fryer and cook for 10 – 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until cooked through and golden brown.
- Serve as a side dish with rice and curry, or enjoy on its own as a snack.
Conclusion
So if you’re looking for a quick and easy side to serve with your meal, this okra chips recipe using air fryer is definitely a must-try. Air fryer bhindi is crispy, flavorful, and a healthier option compared to deep-fried bhindi.
Plus, this makes a killer snack when you’re craving something savory and crispy. Goodbye potato chips, hello crispy okra chips!
