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What’s a good party without some nibbles to match! Given the sense of health consciousness that has seeped amongst the masses, festive season bingeing with a conscience means that one gets to sample an array of things without the guilt of over-indulging. Between making a choice of eating sugar-laden treats or fried ones, it’s always tricky territory for those who wish to watch themselves and not give into temptation. Enter - Usha’s Air Fryer - which enables making a wide range of delicacies without the addition of excessive oil usage. What’s even better is that hosts get to take a peek and check up on the food to ensure that it is properly browned, without risking burning anything or undercooking their snacks. That said, the lesser calories associated with some timeless party favourites mean that one does not compromise on the taste or richness, but only eliminates the need for calorie-density.
Hariyali Paneer Tikka
Image Credits: Bhageecha
For a domestic kitchen setting, achieving the charred crust on soft marinated chunks of paneer tikka usually involves pan frying cottage cheese. However, making batches of the paneer tikka in the air fryer means getting a medley of crisp and soft textures in each bite, with the herb-forward flavours taking centrestage. Serve the tikka alongside freshly made flatbread, kachumber salad and mint chutney for a DIY snack that is filling and loaded with protein.
Cheese-Sabudana Bombs
Chewy sago pearls enrobing cubes of melted cheese is a delightful nibble to serve during a Dusshera gathering for those who might be observing a fast. Replace the cheese with paneer or ricotta and flavour it with green chillies and cumin for a fasting-friendly option that can be savoured by all the guests. Make bite-sized pucks and spray it with some oil or ghee before placing them in the air fryer for 7-9 minutes, until they turn golden-brown on the outside, before serving it with a coconut-based chutney or a spicy relish.
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Garelu
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
The Andhra-style medu vadas are a delicious option that most guests would be surprised to learn, are air-fried. Pipe the urad dal batter on to pieces of butter paper or parchment paper before sprinkling a few drops of oil and placing them in the air fryer. Once they hold their shape, flip them on to the other side for even colouring and crunch. Best served with sambar, the garelu can also be crusted with sesame seeds for added crispness when studded into the batter.
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Peanut Bhujia
The Gujarati-style ‘chakna’ makes for a great nibble to serve alongside mocktails or other festive beverages, while guests mingle and make conversation. Coat roasted peanuts in a spiced gram flour mixture that is thick and lump-free, before scooping into the air fryer and letting them crisp up. Break the chunks into smaller pieces which are easy for picking on, or even make a bhel-adjacent delicacy by combining it with chopped cucumber, tomatoes, coriander and chutneys - as a dish that also doubles up as chaat.
Mirchi Vada
Image Credits: Flickr
Whether you prefer your mirchi vadas fiery and simplistic or stuffed with a potato mixture, the Rajasthani specialty makes every festive party feel complete. Traditional recipes involve deep-frying the seasonal chillies whereas the contemporary version simply requires them to be air-fried - first at a lower temperature to cook the vadas, and then at a slightly higher temperature to crisp and brown them. Serve them with a tangy tomato chutney and watch them disappear off the plate!
