First, The Basics of Vrat Cooking
Before we start air-frying, a quick reminder on Vrat-friendly ingredients is helpful. Fasting foods are meant to be 'sattvic,' or pure and easy to digest. This typically means avoiding grains like wheat and rice, lentils, onions, and garlic. Instead,
meals revolve around ingredients like buckwheat flour (Kuttu ka atta), water chestnut flour (Singhara atta), amaranth (rajgira), and tapioca pearls (sabudana). For vegetables, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and taro root (arbi) are common staples. Rock salt, or sendha namak, replaces regular table salt. Your air fryer is the perfect partner for these ingredients, turning traditionally deep-fried items into healthier snacks.
Crispy Sabudana Vada, Minus the Guilt
Sabudana Vada is a beloved fasting snack, but it’s notorious for soaking up oil. The air fryer solves this beautifully. To make them, mix well-soaked and drained sabudana with boiled, mashed potatoes, coarsely crushed roasted peanuts, chopped green chillies, and sendha namak. The key to a good air-fried vada is getting the texture right; ensure the sabudana isn't too wet. Shape the mixture into flat patties. For the best results, some cooks suggest refrigerating or even freezing the patties for a few hours to help them hold their shape. Preheat your air fryer to around 180-200°C. Brush each vada with a little ghee or oil and place them in the basket in a single layer. Air fry for about 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through and brushing the other side with ghee to ensure they get golden and crispy all over.
Shakarkandi Chaat (Sweet Potato Cubes)
Sweet potato, or shakarkandi, is a fasting superfood—naturally sweet, filling, and packed with nutrients. Making a chaat with it is incredibly simple in an air fryer. Start by washing, peeling, and cutting sweet potatoes into bite-sized cubes. Toss them in a bowl with a little ghee, sendha namak, and black pepper powder. For even cooking, try to make the cubes a uniform size. Spread the seasoned cubes in a single layer in your preheated air fryer basket. Cook at about 180°C for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket a couple of times during cooking so they crisp up evenly. Once they are tender on the inside and slightly browned on the outside, transfer them to a bowl. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice, add roasted peanuts, and garnish with fresh coriander for a quick, healthy, and delicious chaat.
Kuttu ke Pakore (Buckwheat Fritters)
Pakoras are another Vrat favourite that traditionally requires deep frying. Using kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour), you can make a lighter version in the air fryer. Create a thick batter by mixing kuttu flour with water, sendha namak, cumin seeds, and chopped green chillies. You can add grated potatoes or crumbled paneer to the batter for more substance. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Brush the tops with a bit of ghee. Air fry at around 190°C for 12-15 minutes, flipping them midway through to get a delightful crunch. They are best served hot with a side of plain curd or a simple vrat-friendly chutney.
Farali Pattice (Stuffed Potato Patties)
A popular Gujarati fasting snack, farali pattice are potato patties with a flavourful stuffing. While traditionally deep-fried, they adapt well to the air fryer. The outer layer is made from mashed potatoes mixed with a binding agent like arrowroot flour and sendha namak. The classic filling is a mix of grated coconut, nuts like cashews and peanuts, raisins, and mild spices. To assemble, flatten a portion of the potato mixture in your palm, place a small amount of the filling in the center, and seal it into a ball or patty. Brush the pattice with oil or ghee and air fry at around 180°C (350°F) for 12-15 minutes, turning them halfway through, until they are golden and crisp on the outside.
