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Diwali is much more than decorating your house with fairy lights and making rangolis. The essence of a festival lies in the living room conversations when families and friends meet, taking time out from their busy schedules to exchange gifts and happy thoughts. And amidst the drawing room, the Diwali platter filled with traditional snacks and mithai often takes centre stage.
From rounds of chai paired with mathri, gujiya, laddoos, kaju katli, and more, it can be hard to monitor the calorie count. However, rather than stressing about your diet or missing out on festive indulgences, you can make the snacks healthier. Instead of deep-frying, you can use Usha’s air fryer to minimise the use of oil, and munch without the lingering guilt.
Chakli
Chakli, also known as murukku, is a quintessential Diwali addition to your thali. Whether you’re curating a gifting hamper or making snacks for yourself, don’t forget to make air-fried chaklis. You can simply make a dough with a blend of assorted flours, sesame seeds, jeera, and other spices. Once smooth, pipe it through a chakli maker and let Usha’s air fryer do its magic. In about ten to fifteen minutes, you’ll get crunchy chakli with minimal oil.
Mathri
Mathri, be it sweet or spiced, is the perfect tea-time accompaniment. To eliminate excess oil, you can air fry and still enjoy the same level of crispiness. Start by kneading dough with maida, warm water, and spices like ajwain, kasuri methi, hing, and salt. Then, roll out the dough into small disks and prick them with a fork. Air fry at 170°C for about fifteen minutes, and your healthier mathris will be ready to serve.
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Namakpara
Namakpara is another North Indian Diwali essential that is an impeccable add-on to mathris and shakapare. If you want to make a batch of namakpare at home, you can knead a similar dough like mathri with maida, salt, and ajwain. After rolling the dough, cut small diamond-shaped pieces and then air-fry them. The crunchy treats prepared using Usha’s air fryer will be a hit for gifting or serving to guests during Diwali celebrations.
Pokore
Whenever the topic is crispy, fried snacks, pakore cannot be missed. From rainy evenings to festive nights, pakoras are the go-to snack that you can make in Usha’s air fryer. Just chop some vegetables like potatoes, onions, and cauliflower, spinach, or even paneer, and make a batter by mixing besan and water. Season with your go-to spices and air-fry the pakore in batches till crispy. Serve at your Diwali gatherings with a side of imli and pudina chutney.
Corn Samosa
While the deep-fried aloo samosa is one of the most popular street foods, you can make it healthier by air frying and replacing the potato-based filling with corn and other assorted vegetables. Mix boiled sweet corn kernels, chopped cabbage, some onion, and carrots. Add a little cheese and seasoning, and your filling will be ready. Add a spoonful of the maida-based dough, seal, and air fry to perfection. Your healthier samosas will be ready to serve in less than fifteen minutes.
