10 Great Air Fryer Hacks for Desi Households

Air fryers have revolutionised the way we prepare our favourite dishes, offering a healthier alternative to traditional deep-frying without compromising on that beloved crispy texture.

These versatile kitchen gadgets have rapidly gained popularity in Desi households across the UK, as they allow us to create everything from perfect samosas to tandoori chicken with a lot less oil and mess.

The compact nature of air fryers makes them suitable for modern kitchens where space is often at a premium, whilst still delivering delicious results that satisfy our cravings for authentic flavours.

Despite their growing popularity, many South Asian home cooks have yet to unlock the full potential of their air fryers when preparing traditional dishes.

By using a few clever hacks, you can elevate your air fryer from a simple cooking appliance to an essential tool for creating authentic Desi cuisine with less effort and better results.

Achieving Tandoori Chicken without a Tandoor

One of the greatest hacks for air fryer enthusiasts is replicating the intense heat of a traditional tandoor oven to achieve authentic tandoori chicken.

Start by creating a traditional marinade with yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, and your preferred tandoori masala.

For best results, make two shallow cuts in thicker portions of the chicken to ensure even cooking and better marinade penetration.

After marinating overnight, pat the chicken pieces dry before air frying to prevent excess moisture.

Cook at 180°C for 12 minutes, then increase to 200°C for the final 3 minutes to create that characteristic charred exterior.

This technique saves you from investing in a tandoor and delivers tender, flavourful chicken with an authentic smoky finish that will impress even the most discerning dinner guests.

Crispy Samosas without Deep-Frying

Achieving perfectly crisp samosas without litres of oil is perhaps one of the most game-changing benefits of an air fryer for Desi households.

The key thing is to lightly brush your samosas with oil rather than simply spraying them, paying special attention to the folded edges where crispness is most crucial.

Preheat your air fryer to 180°C for at least 3 minutes before adding your samosas to ensure immediate heat contact.

Arrange them in a single layer with small gaps between each piece to allow proper air circulation.

Halfway through cooking, carefully flip each samosa and brush the other side with a little more oil to ensure even browning.

This method delivers samosas with a satisfyingly crisp exterior and perfectly cooked filling that will make you question why you ever bothered with deep-frying in the first place.

Turning Masala Fries into a Gourmet Snack

Transforming humble potato chips into mouth-watering masala fries is a great hack that takes this snack to a whole new level.

Begin by soaking cut potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch, then pat them completely dry – this crucial step ensures maximum crispness.

Toss the dried potato strips with just one tablespoon of oil and air fry at 200°C for 20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare a masala mix with chaat masala, dried mango powder, red chilli powder and salt.

The genius hack comes next: while the fries are still hot, transfer them to a large paper bag containing your masala mix, fold the top, and shake vigorously.

The residual heat and oil from the fries will help the spices adhere perfectly, creating an evenly seasoned, restaurant-quality snack that pairs perfectly with evening chai.

Reviving Day-Old Rotis and Naans

Forget about soggy, microwaved roti and naan.

Your air fryer can bring yesterday’s rotis and naans back to life with superior results.

The trick is to lightly sprinkle water on both sides of the bread.

Place the flatbreads in your air fryer basket at 160°C for just 2-3 minutes.

For naan with butter or garlic, brush a small amount of ghee on the surface before reheating to refresh the flavour.

This air fryer hack reactivates the gluten structure in the bread while driving off excess moisture.

This results in soft, pliable rotis and naans with a freshly-made texture rather than the tough, leathery result that comes from microwave reheating.

Smoke-Free Cooking with Spicy Marinades

Many Desi recipes involve spicy marinades that can create smoke when cooking at high temperatures.

To prevent your kitchen from filling with smoke when preparing dishes like chicken tikka or tandoori fish, place a couple of tablespoons of water in the air fryer’s drip pan before cooking.

The water creates steam that captures smoke particles before they escape into your kitchen.

For particularly sticky marinades containing honey or jaggery, place a slice of bread in the bottom drawer to absorb excess dripping fat and prevent burning.

This simple air fryer hack allows you to enjoy all your favourite spicy, marinated dishes without setting off smoke alarms or dealing with lingering cooking odours throughout your home.

Effortless Cleaning after Sticky Curry Sauces

Cleaning an air fryer after preparing dishes with sticky curry sauces can be challenging, but this hack makes it remarkably simple.

Instead of soaking and scrubbing, fill your air fryer basket halfway with warm water and add a teaspoon of washing-up liquid along with a tablespoon of baking soda.

Run the air fryer at 160°C for 5 minutes, allowing the steam and soapy solution to loosen cooked-on food.

Unlike some popular social media cleaning methods that don’t deliver, this modified technique is particularly effective for loosening turmeric and tomato-based sauce residues common in Desi cooking.

After emptying the solution, a quick wipe with a soft cloth is usually all that’s needed to restore your air fryer to pristine condition without damaging the non-stick coating.

Creating Restaurant-Style Paneer Dishes

Achieving that perfect balance of crispy exterior and soft interior with paneer dishes is simple with this air fryer technique.

Cut paneer into even-sized cubes and soak in hot water for 10 minutes before marinating to prevent it from becoming rubbery.

After applying your chosen marinade, refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.

The game-changing hack is to lightly dust the marinated paneer with cornflour or rice flour before air frying, creating a thin protective layer that crisps beautifully while sealing in moisture.

Cook at 180°C for 8-10 minutes, gently turning halfway through.

This method yields paneer with a delightful texture contrast: crisp on the outside with a melt-in-your-mouth interior that rivals any restaurant offering.

Guilt-Free Indian Sweets

Creating healthier versions of traditional Indian sweets is possible with clever air fryer adaptations.

For instance, to make gulab jamun with much less oil, prepare the khoya dough as usual, shape into balls, and place them in the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up.

Preheat your air fryer to 180°C and lightly brush the dough balls with ghee before air frying for 8 minutes, turning halfway through.

Once golden brown, immediately soak in warm sugar syrup flavoured with cardamom and rose water.

Similarly, jalebi can be made by piping the fermented batter into spiral shapes on parchment paper, spraying with oil, and air frying until golden before soaking in syrup.

These techniques maintain the authentic taste and texture while reducing the fat content substantially compared to traditional deep-fried versions.

Batch Cooking for Family Gatherings

Air fryers can be invaluable for Desi family gatherings where large quantities of food are needed, but the key is proper batch management.

Rather than overloading your air fryer, cook in planned batches and use your oven’s warming drawer or a low temperature (around 80°C) to hold already cooked items while maintaining their crispness.

For items like pakoras or samosas, slightly undercook the first batches by 1-2 minutes.

Finish all the batches together with a final high-temperature blast just before serving.

Use separate, labelled trays for different items to stay organised.

This systematic approach allows you to prepare generous quantities of freshly-made, crispy appetisers without the stress and mess of last-minute deep-frying when guests are already arriving.

Using the 20-20-20 Rule

Adapting beloved family recipes for the air fryer becomes straightforward with the 20-20-20 rule.

Reduce the traditional cooking temperature by approximately 20°C, decrease the cooking time by about 20%, and use only 20% of the oil called for in the original recipe.

This formula works remarkably well for converting most traditional Desi recipes, from aloo tikki to battered bhajis.

For dishes that require a very specific texture, such as malai kofta or medu vada, make a small test batch first and adjust as needed.

Keep notes on your adjustments for future reference, creating your own personalised air fryer recipe book that preserves family favourites while making them healthier and more convenient to prepare.

The air fryer has earned its place in South Asian kitchens by offering a healthier, more convenient way to prepare our favourite dishes without compromising on taste or texture.

By implementing these 10 great air fryer hacks, you can transform everyday cooking tasks and make traditional recipes more accessible for busy weeknights.

From perfectly crisp samosas to tender tandoori chicken, the versatility of this appliance extends far beyond basic reheating or Western-style recipes.

As you experiment with these techniques, you’ll discover even more ways to adapt family recipes and create new traditions that combine the best of authentic flavours with modern, health-conscious cooking methods.