It’s that time of the year again when the IPL season is in full swing—back to back matches, teams competing for the trophy, leaving the audience at the edge of their seat. Hosting a crowd of enthusiasts at home might not always leave one with the time or opportunity to menu plan or pay too much attention to detail, especially when it comes to ensuring that there’s enough food to go around. In lieu of this, the thought of having to spend an endless amount of time in the kitchen or shelling out too much money to order in are detrimental to having a consistently good experience. Hence, using Usha’s Air Fryer is a great way to balance taste with nutrition, save time and effort as well as remain uncompromised on the kind of food being served. Coming up with ideas on short notice is less about how elaborate a spread is versus more about it being hearty and familiar. Food that doesn’t leave one feeling lethargic but enough to sustain until the next proper meal is possible to throw together with simple, approachable pantry ingredients.
Tofu Nuggets
Image Credits: Unsplash
These plant-based bites of firm, breaded tofu is ideal to serve as an appetiser alongside a dip or use as a foundation to build a sandwich. Consider using a seasoning blend that is robust as a way to offset the blandness or dust the nuggets with a lemon-pepper or peri peri mix when it is fresh out of the air fryer. Replace the tofu with paneer if preferred or opt for tempeh as a funkier tasting alternative. Leftover tofu nuggets can also be repurposed as part of an Asian-style Buddha bowl with rice, steamed vegetables and a creamy sriracha aioli.
Roti Chips
When rotis from lunch seem unassuming or not enough to rustle up a meal, cut them into triangles and toss them in olive oil and seasoning. Spread them out into an even layer in the air fryer and let them get toasty, crisp and ready to be enjoyed with salsa, hummus or guacamole. These shelf-stable snacks can also be made in large batches in a multitude of variations; consider repurposing theplas, beetroot or spinach chapatis and even laccha parathas into these crunchy and addictive chips that are low on sodium in comparison to a packet of store-bought ones.
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Garlic Cheese Toasties
Image Credits: Pexels
Bite-sized, loaded with cheese and layered with a generous amount of garlic butter, an air fryer enables an easier process in making multiple servings of the snack. The versatility of the canape means that in addition to its key elements, it can also be topped with other ingredients such as tomatoes, bell peppers or even sliced ham. Put a vegan spin to this by swapping out the cheese and butter for dairy-free alternatives like vegan mozzarella and cashew butter.
Corn Ribs
Having a few cobs of corn handy to spruce up into crunchy, chewy ribs are a great way to make food feel immersive without it being too messy. Toss the ribs in a dry seasoned mix of flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper before spraying it with some oil and placing within the air fryer compartments. Once golden-brown and crunchy on the outside, toss the ribs in a homemade spice blend for added flavour. Serve with a creamy dip and a dusting of parmesan cheese as well as chopped parsley.
Keema-Stuffed Mushrooms
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Riding high on the protein wave means including at least one snack option that takes care of individual nutritional requirements. Making a batch of these ahead of time and freezing them until they are ready to be air fried and served, makes this a viable, foolproof option to whip up when expecting guests to drop by any time. A filling of minced chicken or turkey works just as well as soya keema, when seasoned with aromatics and spices, spooned into the hollows of each fungi and topped with some shredded cheese. The result? Perfectly juicy morsels with a golden cheese crust that keeps your guests wanting more!