While the austere fast of karwa chauth extends until moonrise, enabling women to eat their first meal of the day at dinnertime, it is always recommended to begin by prioritising hydration and consuming gut-friendly preparations. With simplicity at its heart, eating a meal that also includes elements which are indulgent but easy on the grease. Made possible with Usha’s Air Fryer, the ability to translate traditional favourites into contemporary classics that are delicious as they are oil-free or made with minimal fat. Moreover, creating a balance between hearty treats and healthy preparations allows a meal to feel truly festive in every sense - making even post-fasting rituals feel like something one should look forward to.
Mixed Vegetable Pakora
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The crunchy texture of pakoras are a feature to most festive meals in the form of farsan - where they can be eaten as an accompaniment to a simple preparation of dal-chawal or relished alongside an assortment of chutneys. Dollop the thick pakora batter on to parchment paper with gaps to prevent them from sticking to one another, and place in an air fryer for 5-7 minutes, once preheated. A great way to ensure serving them hot is to partially cook them until they can hold their form and place them in the air fryer for a second round of browning just before they are ready to serve.
Dahi Bade
Fluffy badas or vadas that are typically fried before being dunked into warm water to make sumptuous portions of dahi bade can easily be replicated without the hassle of having to dispose off cooking oil by replacing it with their air fried version. Ensure that the batter for the vadas are slightly thicker in consistency before spooning them on to a greased parchment sheet and spray them with oil to give them the perfect golden-brown doneness.
Malpua
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The decadent sweet delicacy, which involves frying the bite-sized pancakes in ghee can be swapped for the air fryer by pouring a ladleful of batter on to a ghee-greased circular contraption that fits into the device. Flip the malpuas halfway through cooking to evenly brown both sides and give the rims a crisp, lacy contrast. Soak them briefly in cooked sugar syrup before garnishing with chopped pistachios and serving warm with a side of cold rabdi.
Chana Dal Farre
The steamed, lentil-stuffed dumplings from Uttar Pradesh are also enjoyed in a version where they are slightly crisped and tossed in a tempering of mustard seeds and spices. Take the shorter route by slicing them into bite-sized morsels and air frying them briefly before tossing them in a mixture of red chilli powder, mustard seeds, curry leaves and plenty of fresh coriander before serving with a delicious tomato chutney on the side. The crisp exterior encasing the soft interior is a textural delight to enjoy even as a leftover snack, the day following karwa chauth.
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Achari Paneer Tikka
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Including a protein component in the post-fasting meal is crucial to prevent over-consumption of calories and what better way than to put a delicious achari twist to chunks of paneer. Toss the cubes in a pickle-based marinade and skewer it with vegetables such as bell peppers and tomatoes before letting them get slightly toasty in the air fryer. Increase the temperature setting slightly to enable browning, as a way of giving them the perfectly charred look; serve with green chutney and a shredded cabbage salad.