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There is something about a bowl of namkeen that makes it disappear faster than expected. Sitting down for "just a handful" quickly turns into reaching for another. Reduce your oil use without sacrificing that deliciously crispy, spicy flavour you've come to love. You can create crispy, oil-free snacks with common ingredients and a smart Usha air fryer, along with the tangy dips, chutneys and masala mixes that take these snacks to the next level.
From crunchy makhana to masala corn and crispy potato bites, here are six namkeen-inspired ideas to try the next time snack time rolls around.
1. Masala Makhana
Makhana is pretty much the perfect snack, and a little time in the air fryer can make it wonderfully crunchy. Toss the makhana in a little oil, salt, chilli powder, roasted cumin powder and chaat masala, and air-fry until crispy. Halfway through, shake the basket to evenly toast the pieces. You may add a freshly created spice mix for depth to the makhana or grind roasted coriander, cumin and dried chillies in the hand blender with the correct attachment. Cool fully before storing.
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2. Spicy Air-Fried Corn
Sweet corn gets a completely different personality when seasoned generously and crisped up. Toss boiled or steamed corn kernels with a little oil, chilli powder, black pepper, salt and chaat masala before air-frying until lightly crisp. Finish with lemon juice and coriander for that familiar street-food-style tang.
If you want a creamy accompaniment, blend coriander, mint, yoghurt and green chilli into a quick dip using Usha hand blender. The contrast between the hot, spicy corn and cool chutney makes this one particularly hard to stop eating.
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Your Kitchen Needs Usha’s Hand Blender, 
3. Crispy Chickpeas With Masala
If you want a crunchy snack, you can try air-fried chickpeas. Take boiled chickpeas and pat them dry, then toss them with a little oil, salt, chilli powder, cumin and chaat masala. Air-fry until crispy, shaking the basket a number of times for uniform cooking.
Add some variety to this snack by serving it with a roasted garlic and coriander dip. Indulge your namkeen desire with these crispy chickpeas; they'll keep you full till your next lunch.
4. Crispy Aloo Namkeen With Chaat Masala
Slice potatoes into very thin matchsticks rather than thick French-fry shapes. Soak them briefly in water to remove excess starch, then dry them thoroughly before tossing with a little oil, salt, chilli powder and chaat masala. Air-fry until golden and crisp, shaking the basket occasionally so the potato sticks cook evenly. Once they cool, toss them with a little more chaat masala for that familiar namkeen-style finish. Serve on their own or with a quick coriander-mint chutney made using the hand blender.
5. Crispy Poha Chivda
If you enjoy the crunch of chivda but want to try a low-oil variation, let your air fryer do the toasting. Air-fry the thin poha with a handful of peanuts, curry leaves, a little oil, turmeric, salt and chilli powder at a moderate temperature until crisp. Watch out for it since poha is light and may brown easily. When done, sprinkle with a little powdered sugar if you want a sweet-savoury contrast. Allow it to cool down fully and then store in an airtight jar to have a homemade snack available anytime you have a craving for namkeen.
6. Air-Fried Masala Peanuts
Masala peanuts are a favourite tea-time snack and can be made without deep-frying. Mix besan, chilli powder, turmeric, salt and a little water and spread it over the raw peanuts to make a light coating. Add a little oil to help the coating become crisp and air-fry in a single layer, stirring gently halfway through. Let it cool and sprinkle it with chaat masala. Serve with a fresh coriander or mint dip for a simple, crunchy snack.
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Next time you crave for snacks, skip the deep-frying and let your air fryer take a lighter route to the namkeen bowl.
