Share
Navratri brings families together to celebrate devotion, rituals, and food prepared within specific dietary boundaries. During this period, grains, onion, garlic, and regular salt are set aside, and vrat-friendly ingredients like buckwheat flour, water chestnut flour, potatoes, paneer, and certain fruits are used in their place. While deep-fried snacks have always been popular at festive gatherings, many homes are now adopting healthier ways of cooking that do not compromise on taste or texture. An Usha air fryer allows you to prepare crisp and festive starters with very little oil, making the process easier and quicker. By experimenting with a mix of traditional and slightly innovative recipes, you can offer your guests a spread that feels refreshing while still adhering to fasting rules.
Air Fried Makhana And Sweetcorn Patties
Makhana or fox nuts are often roasted as a light vrat snack, but combining them with boiled sweetcorn and potatoes creates a more interesting starter. The mixture can be flavoured with sendha namak, green chillies, and coriander leaves before being shaped into small discs. When air fried, the patties develop a delicate crust while staying soft inside. These are light enough to enjoy at the beginning of a meal and different from the usual sabudana preparations.
Raw Banana Croquettes With Singhara Flour
Raw bananas are frequently used in vrat cooking, often boiled and mashed into cutlets. To give them a twist, the mixture can be rolled into croquette shapes and coated in singhara flour before going into the air fryer. The result is a crisp outer layer with a tender filling that tastes hearty without being heavy. A yoghurt and coriander dip balances the flavours, and serving them in croquette form makes them look refined on a festive platter.
Paneer And Amaranth Seed Balls
Amaranth seeds or rajgira are a common fasting grain substitute, often used in ladoos or rotis. For starters, you can combine crushed roasted rajgira with paneer, potatoes, and mild spices, and roll them into small balls. Air frying helps them hold shape while giving a nutty aroma from the rajgira. They pair beautifully with fresh chutneys and provide a protein-rich, vrat-friendly snack that feels new and festive.
Air Fried Colocasia Chips With Rock Salt
Colocasia or arbi is a versatile vegetable often eaten boiled during fasts. By slicing it thinly, seasoning it with rock salt and pepper, and air frying it until crisp, you get a lighter alternative to fried potato chips. The slightly earthy taste of arbi makes these chips unique, and serving them with a yoghurt dip creates a balance of textures. This dish can be served in small bowls as a crunchy bite before the main meal.
If you don’t have Usha’s Air Fryer, Shop Now 
.
Apple Chaat Skewers In The Air Fryer
Instead of fruit salads or fritters, apples can be cut into chunks, skewered, and brushed with honey and a little sendha namak. Air frying caramelises the surface while keeping the inside juicy. Once cooked, the skewers can be dusted with roasted cumin powder and a squeeze of lemon juice. The sweet-savoury balance works beautifully at a gathering, giving guests something light, colourful, and very different from the usual vrat starters.
Pumpkin And Peanut Cutlets
Pumpkin is a fasting-friendly vegetable that often gets overlooked. When combined with roasted peanuts and potatoes, it can be shaped into cutlets with a naturally sweet and nutty flavour. Air frying enhances the taste while keeping oil to a minimum. These cutlets feel fresh on the table, and the use of pumpkin adds variety to the spread. Serving them with a coriander and mint chutney keeps the flavour lively and ensures they remain in line with vrat rules.
