Air Fryer Vendakkai Varuval is a quick and simple Indian style recipe made with okra, that can be served as a side dish for rice or even as an appetizer. Making this crispy okra fry in air fryer means there is literally no worry about the bhindi turning soggy or being sticky. It is totally effort-free except for cutting the vegetable and it can be made with very less oil in no time at all. This is one of our most favorite ways to enjoy bhindi fry that is crispy, crunchy and delicious with rice & sambar, rasam or curd.
Key Ingredients
Vendakkai (Tamil) also known as Bhindi (Hindi) or Okra/ Ladies Finger is the main ingredient and it is best to choose tender, soft ones so that we get crispy and yet delicious bhindi fry. Spice Powders like Sambar Powder, Turmeric Powder and Salt are required. It is optional to use Sambar Powder and it can be replaced with Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder & Cumin Powder. Oil is essential to make this Vendakkai Varuval moist but also crispy. As we make this in Air Fryer, we just need 2 teaspoons of oil to make this bhindi fry. Curry Leaves are a great flavoring ingredient and I find it to be a must in this recipe. For full list of ingredients and exact measurements, check the recipe below.
Tips & Important Notes for Making Air Fryer Vendakkai Varuval
Making any vegetable fry in Air Fryer is very simple and easy if you know the time and temperature to cook. Air Fryer Bhindi Fry is a very quick and beginner-friendly recipe, below are some of the tips and notes to be followed.
Choosing tender and soft bhindi/okra makes a huge difference to the texture and taste of the fry. When you break the tip of the okra, it should snap clean – that shows that it is tender.Always wash the okra and pat it dry completely before making the fry. This ensures that there is not going to be any stickiness, although this is not a problem when using an air fryer.Cutting the vegetable diagonally also helps making it crispier than simply chopping it into small slices.Always shake the air fryer tray after half the cooking time and this helps determine if more or less time is needed to crisp it up.
Substitutions & Variations
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make this in a heavy pan on stove top. It needs more oil and time to get done for sure, but it should still work. Can you use an OTG/oven to make Bhindi fry? Yes, you can. Although the results are not exactly same since oven takes more time and tends to dry out the vegetable, it could still be worked upon. Check this Bhindi Kurkuri in Oven recipe for more details.
Serving Suggestions
Air Fryer Vendakkai Varuval is best served hot immediately with some hot rice, sambar, rasam or curd. Bhindi Fry is crispy and crunchy straight out of the air fryer. While it stays good for a few minutes but turns soft after some time. Cook this okra fry in the air fryer when it is ready to be served so that it can be crisp. It is not recommended to store it in fridge or freezer after cooking. However, bhindi/okra can be chopped a day in advance stored in an airtight container in fridge.
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Air Fryer Vendakkai Varuval Recipe with Step by Step Pictures
First preheat air fryer at 190°C for 10 mins. In a mixing bowl add 2 teaspoon oil, 1.5 teaspoon sambar powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder and salt as needed. Mix everything well together. Now add 250 grams of bhindi/okra chopped diagonally into inch long pieces. Mix well until the spices are coated well on the okra slices. Add a few fresh curry leaves roughly torn. Mix again. When the air fryer has preheated, place the prepared bhindi/okra on the air fryer tray. Set it at 190°C for 12 mins. After 6 mins, shake the air fryer tray a few times to turn around the bhindi slices. After 12 mins, it should be crispy and cooked. If not, continue cooking for another 2-3 mins. Serve hot with rice, sambar, rasam or curd.
Recipe Notes
Here is the homemade sambar powder recipe.Instead of sambar powder, replace it with 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder and ½ teaspoon coriander powder and ¼ teaspoon cumin powder.Adjust spices as per preference.If making this in stove top, use 1 to 1.5 tablespoon oil and cook in a heavy cast iron pan.
I would be delighted to know if you have tried this recipe, don’t forget to share your feedback and comments below. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me! I am also available on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter 🙂
