Super Crispy & Delicious Kurkuri Bhindi made in the Air Fryer is an easy appetizer or side made with basic Indian Spices, Gram Flour, Rice flour and Okra. Serve this as a snack with some mint chutney, and ketchup or serve the Kurkuri Bhindi along with Rotis and Rice as a side dish.
Okra is the star of this dish and of course one of my favourites. It is a highly flavourful and versatile vegetable. If you are an okra lover like me, you might enjoy these recipes too – Bhindi Masala , Okra Rice.
Kurkuri Bhindi is one dish that everyone would relish. Even if you are not a fan of Okra, you will fall in love with the flavours and texture of this easy Vegetarian appetizer. The crunchy taste of the okras tempts you to eat more and more. and It is a comfort dish with basic spices from an Indian Pantry and can also be customized to your taste and preference.
Traditionally, Bhindi Kurkuri is deep fried. Over the years, like how we have adapted to different forms of cooking, we have started using more air fryers instead of deep frying. I am not a fan of making every deep-fried recipe in the air fryer. But this is one recipe that didn’t disappoint me.
Why I love making Kurkuri Bhindi in the Air Fryer
There are lots of memories with this dish for me. The first time I tasted Kurkuri Bhindi was when I was in 8th Grade. It was served in our house warming ceremony and I fell in love with it. I remember every guest talking about how delicious the okras were. Later it became quite a popular dish and was often served at weddings and other special occasions.
My mom made them occasionally and she always deep-fried the okras. I am someone who enjoys deep-fried dishes but my husband is always conscious of the amount of oil he consumes. He insisted on buying an air fryer and soon after, I started trying out a lot of my favourite recipes in the air fryer. As I have mentioned in every recipe post, I have been impressed with the results of most of the air-fried dishes.
Kurkuri Bhindi is a favourite recipe of mine and I make it quite often. Air frying makes me feel less guilty about consuming them in large quantities every single week. The process of cooking the okras is simple and mess-free. The flavours, taste and texture remain the same as deep-fried okras which is what is most impressive.
Ingredients used to make Air Fryer Kurkuri Bhindi
Bhindi / Okra – Use fresh, tender okras for the best results.
Rice flour & Gram Flour – Both the ingredients help in binding the ingredients and give a crispy texture to the okras.
Spices – Turmeric powder, Kashmiri Red chilli powder, Garam Masala, Cumin Powder, Chaat Masala and Salt are the spices that I have used in this recipe.
Oil – Any neutral flavoured oil works well for this recipe.
Lemon Juice – Sqeeze in a bit of lemon juice for a tangy flavour.
How to make Kurkuri Bhindi in an Air Fryer
Wash and pat dry okra / bhindi with a dry kitchen towel. Ensure there is no moisture left in the okras.
Trim the ends of the okras and cut it lengthwise. I have cut it into 4 quarters.
Add all the spices, oil, gram flour, rice flour, salt and lemon juice.
Mix well and ensure all the okras are coated well with the flour mixture.
Let it rest for 15 minutes.
Brush the air fryer basket with little oil and pre heat for 5 minutes at 350F.
Place the okras in the basket without overcrowding. Air fry for 10 minutes. Open the air fryer basket after 5 minutes, give a shake and air fry for another 5 minutes. This is to ensure that the okras cook evenly on all sides.
If you want crispier okras, air fry for 2 more minutes at 370F.
Serve hot.
Other Air Fryer Recipes you may like
Serving Suggestions
You can serve this Crispy Kurkuri Bhindi as a side with Roti, Parathas or Rice. I enjoy eating this with simple Dal Khichdi or Rasam Rice. You can also serve this as an appetizer along with some chutney or sauce. These are great for snacking too! My kids enjoy eating the crispy Okras during their snack break as well.
Notes
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the okras in an oven. You can stick to the traditional method and deep fry the okras in oil too. Bhindi Kurkuri tastes delicious in all these methods of cooking.
Cooking time varies from air fryer to airfryer.
Ensure you wash and completely pat dry the okra with a paper towel before using them in this recipe.
Cut the okras into thin strips. The texture may not be crispy if the okras are thick.
Once you coat the okras with spices, let them rest for 15 mins. This step is very important for the okras to absorb the spices and flavours.
Do not overcrowd your air fryer. For even cooking, ensure there is enough space for the okras to get cooked. If you are making a large quantity, air fry in batches.
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Air Fryer Kurkuri Bhindi
Ingredients
- 350 gms Bhindi/Okra
- 1 & 1/2 tbsp Gram Flour
- 1 & 1/2 tbsp Rice Flour
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 tsp Kashmiri Chilli Powder
- 1 tsp Cumin Powder
- 1 tsp Chaat Masala
- 1 tsp Garam Masala
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Wash the okras. Drain all the water and pat dry with a kitchen towel completely. Ensure there is no moisture left in the okras.
- Trim the ends of the okras. Cut the okras into four quarters, lengthwise.
- Add the okas to a bowl. Add the flours, spices, oil, salt and lemon juice. Mix completely and ensure all okras are coated well with the masala mixture.
- Let the okras rest for 15 minutes.
- Brush the air fryer basket with oil and pre-heat at 350F for 5 minutes.
- Place the okras in the air fryer basket without overcrowding. If your air fryer basket cannot accommodate all the okras, cook in batches.
- Air fry at 350F for 10 minutes. At the end of 5 minutes, open the basket and give a shake. Air fry for the remaining 5 minutes.
- Cook for another 2 minutes at 370F for crispier okras. Serve hot with ketchup.