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While compromising on taste can be inevitable during the festive season, it does not always have to mean taking the unhealthy route - especially with foods that make an appearance every year. Blending traditional flavours into modern bites not only mean changing the form in which they are presented but also that they can be upgraded to cut out any elements that could potentially make them too heavy on the stomach or tend to contribute to weight gain. Greasy foods, which are a feature of every celebratory spread, can still be made with as much textural and taste integrity if made using Usha’s Air Fryer, whose multi-functionality and convenience makes it easy to use as well as ideal to cook with during Diwali.
Masala Fries
Image Credits: Pexels
What’s a party without French fries? And what better way to put a spin on them if not with a savoury-spicy blend of some chaat masala, garlic powder, red chilli powder and kala namak! Prep the potatoes ahead of time by stashing a large batch in the freezer or simply use store-bought fries by adding them in a single layer into the air fryer, spraying some oil on top. Allow them to cook first at a lower temperature for 5-6 minutes, before increasing the temperature and cooking them until crisp for an additional 2 minutes. Toss them into the spice blend when still hot before serving with a sriracha aioli, chutney sour cream or the classic ketchup.
Pav Bhaji Puffs
A great way to make street food feel approachable and party ready is to simply transfer the medium in which they’re typically associated. These flaky, buttery puff pastries filled with the pav bhaji masala bring together the best of both worlds. Brush each pastry shell with some ghee or egg wash to give it a golden-brown finish before placing it in the air fryer and allowing them to fluff up and turn crunchy on the outside. Best eaten as is, one can also serve them with some garlic chutney or pickled onions, as an accompaniment.
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Chinese Bhel
Image Credits: CURRY N WOK
The popular street food classic which is known for its textural diversity courtesy of the medley that is crunchy noodles, shredded vegetables and a fiery sauce, usually involves frying cooked noodles until they are browned and sure to not disintegrate when combined with the schezwan sauce. Oil the noodles lightly before strewing them in the air fryer to crisp up in batches and simply combine them with as many ingredients of choice to make the most delicious version of the beloved snack. Variate by swapping the chilli chutney with an umami-loaded miso-sambal mixture or even a lighter dressing made using fresh citrus a la orange chicken.
Shrikhand Cannoli
One of the virtues of an air fryer is its time-saving ability for when one does not have the capacity to patiently bake or deep fry things - like the shells of a cannoli, in this case. Simply air fry the rolled dough cigars until they develop a desirable crunch and make the creamy shrikhand filling ahead of time. When ready to serve, simply pipe the filling into the shells and stud each end with chopped nuts for festive adornment. Experiment with flavoured shrikhand recipes by adding fresh fruit purees to the classic, for added depth.
Gulab Jamun Churros
Image Credits: Unsplash
Repurpose store-bought gulab jamun mix by making a slightly sticky dough that is easily pipable, to make crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside churros. Dip the air-fried churros briefly into a cardamom-infused syrup before serving them with a rich chocolate ganache or vanilla whipped cream. To make the most out of one packet of gulab jamun mix, ensure that the churros are bite-sized - also as a way of ensuring that guests get a chance to sample multiple snacks and sweets, instead of filling themselves up on bigger portions.
