The best air-fried fritters
These air-fried chickpea pakora fritters are so tasty! They are crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and dreamy in the middle. They are sweet, savory and full of warming Indian spices. These veggie fritters are inspired by delicious Indian pakoras. If you love pakoras you will love this healthy air-fried version.
What is a pakora?
An Indian pakora is a spiced, deep fried fritter made with various vegetables like potatoes and peas in a chickpea flour batter. They are truly delicious and crave-worthy nuggets of yum. However, due to their deep fried nature, they are not considered a healthy food. My air-fried pakora fritters are healthier than the original because in the process of air-frying only scant oil is used. I have also added chickpeas for protein and used sweet potatoes which are healthier than regular potatoes.
INGREDIENTS FOR AIR-FRIED CHICKPEA PAKORA FRITTERS
These pakora fritters are made with simple and humble ingredients that are easy to find. If your favorite market does not have chickpea flour, you can find it on amazon.
PAKORA INGREDIENTS
- chickpeas
- sweet potatoes
- garbanzo (gram) flour
- green onion
- cilantro
- bell pepper
- nutritional yeast
- fresh ginger
- salt
- frozen peas
- cayenne
- curry powder
- aquafaba
MINTED YOGURT SAUCE INGREDIENTS
- vegan plain yogurt
- lemon
- Persian cucumber
- mint
- salt
HOW TO MAKE AIR-FRIED CHICKPEA PAKORA FRITTERS
Making these air-fried chickpea pakora fritters is easy! You simply mix all the ingredients in a bowl, make small patties and then air-fry until crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.
- To a large bowl add chickpeas, sweet potatoes, garbanzo flour, green onion, cilantro, bell pepper, nutritional yeast, ginger, salt, frozen peas, cayenne, curry powder and reserved aquafaba.
- Mix well with hands until well combined and you can make into 10 sticky patties.
- Spray air fryer grate with avocado or olive oil. Carefully place the patties in the basket so they are not touching. You may have to do 2 batches to achieve this. Cook for 12 minutes at 400 degrees flipping once carefully at the halfway mark.
- Serve with minted yogurt sauce.
HOW TO MAKE MINTED YOGURT SAUCE
- To a bowl add plain vegan yogurt, lemon juice, cucumber, mint and salt. Mix until combined.
Tips for making the best air-fried fritters
- If the batter seems too wet to make patties, add more chickpea flour 1 tbsp at a time to the mix until it holds together. They will be sticky and fragile. You may let them set for 20 minutes to 3 hours in the refrigerator before air-frying if you want to make ahead of time.
- These are good for up to 5 days when wrapped and refrigerated. If you want to reheat, simply pop into the oven for 5 minutes rather than using the microwave. The microwave will only make fritters soggy.
- To make a meal out of these fritters you can make sliders or use in a pita sandwich like you would falafel. They are also very good on a salad.
Other delicious air-fryer recipes
Air-Fried Chickpea Pakora Fritters
Ingredients
Pakora
- 1 can chickpeas drained and mashed (reserve aquafaba)
- 2 sweet potatoes peeled and grated
- 1 cup garbonzo (gram) flour
- 1 green onion chopped
- 1 tbsp cilantro chopped
- 2 tbsp bell pepper chopped
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp fresh ginger chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup frozen peas
- ¼ tsp cayenne
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- ¼ cup aquafaba
Minted Yogurt Sauce
- 1 cup vegan plain cashew yogurt
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 Persian cucumber diced
- 1 tbsp mint chopped
- pinch salt
Instructions
For Pakora
- To a large bowl add chickpeas, sweet potatoes, garbanzo flour, green onion, cilantro, bell pepper, nutritional yeast, ginger, salt, frozen peas, cayenne, curry powder and reserved aquafaba.
- Mix well with hands until well combined and you can make into 10 sticky patties.
- Spray air fryer grate with avocado or olive oil. Carefully place the patties in the basket so they are not touching. You may have to do 2 batches to achieve this. Cook for 12 minutes at 400 degrees flipping once carefully at the halfway mark.
- Serve with minted yogurt sauce.
For Minted Yogurt Sauce
- To a bowl add plain vegan yogurt, lemon juice, cucumber, mint and salt. Mix until combined.