Air Fryer Chapati: A Quick, Healthy Alternative?

Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance for those who want to enjoy fried foods without the guilt. Traditionally, chapati is cooked on a tawa or griddle, but some people are curious about whether it can be made in an air fryer. It turns out that you can make chapati in an air fryer, and it's a super simple hack that turns frozen parathas into crispy, flaky puris. To make chapati in an air fryer, you start by preheating the air fryer. Then, you cook the chapati for a few minutes on each side until it puffs up and turns flaky. You can also make naan, tandoori roti, and puri in an air fryer.

Pre-heat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the chapati-making process. It ensures your chapati cooks evenly and efficiently. Here is a step-by-step guide to preheating your air fryer for making chapatis:

Firstly, ensure your air fryer is clean and ready to use. Plug it in and turn it on. Set the temperature to 350°F (some recipes suggest 180°C) and let it heat up for around 7 minutes. This is the ideal temperature for cooking chapatis, as it will ensure they cook through without burning.

You can line the air fryer basket with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleaning easier. This is an optional step, but it can be helpful, especially if you are cooking multiple batches.

While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your chapati dough. Roll the dough into small balls and then use a rolling pin to flatten them into thin, disc-shaped chapati. You can also use a round cookie cutter to create a uniform shape and size.

Once the air fryer has preheated, you can place the chapati into the basket and begin cooking. For best results, cook the chapati for around 3 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until it is browned and cooked to your desired level of doneness.

Preheating your air fryer is a simple but crucial step in the chapati-making process, ensuring your chapati cooks evenly and efficiently. By following these steps, you'll be able to enjoy perfectly cooked, delicious chapati made right in your air fryer.

Prepare the dough

Preparing the dough

To prepare the dough for chapati, you will need flour, water, and a pinch of salt. You can also add oil to make the dough softer and easier to work with.

Start by adding the flour and salt to a large bowl and mixing well. If you are using oil, add it now and mix thoroughly. Break up any lumps by rubbing the flour between your palms.

Next, slowly add warm water to the mixture and knead until you have a soft, stretchy dough. You may not need to use all the water, so add it gradually until you achieve the desired consistency.

Once the dough is ready, cover the bowl and let it rest for about 10 minutes. This will give the gluten in the flour time to relax, making the dough easier to roll out later.

After the dough has rested, you can start shaping it into small balls. Use a rolling pin to flatten each ball into a disc shape, aiming for a thickness of about 1/8 inch. If you want to add a twist to your chapati, you can try using a combination of wheat flour, semolina, tapioca starch, and baking soda, or experiment with adding spices to the dough.

Roll out the chapati

To make chapati in an air fryer, you'll first need to prepare the dough. Combine 1 cup of atta or whole-wheat flour with 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a large bowl and mix well. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and rub the flour between your palms to break up any lumps. Gradually add 1/4 cup of warm water and knead until you have a soft, stretchy dough. Cover the dough and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Once your dough is ready, it's time to roll out the chapati:

• Lightly flour your work surface.
• Divide the dough into equal portions, rolling each piece into a ball.
• Use a rolling pin to flatten each ball into a disc. The chapati should be a little thicker than usual and slightly larger in diameter than your air fryer basket. Aim for a thickness of about 1/8 of an inch.
• If you want to add a flavourful twist to your chapati, brush the surface of each disc with olive oil and sprinkle with spices such as coriander, mint, ajwain seeds or kalonji seeds.

Now your chapatis are ready to be cooked! Preheat your air fryer to 350°F for 3-7 minutes. You can cook the chapatis straight on the air fryer basket or line it with parchment paper first. Place one chapati inside and cook for 3 minutes, then flip and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until it is puffed up with browned edges. Repeat this process for each chapati, serving them hot as they're ready.

Cook the chapati

To cook a chapati in an air fryer, start by kneading flour with water. Next, make balls with the dough, a little bigger than the usual size for chapatis. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough balls into flatbreads, making them a little thicker than usual. Preheat your air fryer for 3 minutes. Cook the chapati on a normal tawa or griddle at a low flame from both sides. Then, air-fry the chapati for 5 minutes. Finally, grease the chapati with butter and serve hot.

If you are using frozen parathas, preheat the air fryer to 180 degrees Celsius. Peel off the plastic from the frozen chapati and put it in the air fryer. To prevent the chapati from flying up and hitting the heating element, place something heavy on top of it, such as a mini springform pan. Alternatively, if you have a grilling tray accessory, use that instead. Cook the frozen chapati for about 3 minutes, opening the air fryer drawer halfway through to flip it over.

If you are making the chapati dough from scratch, add 1 cup of atta or whole-wheat flour (sifted), 1 tablespoon of oil (any variety), 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 cup of warm water to a large bowl. Mix well, breaking up any lumps by rubbing the flour between your palms. Knead the dough, adding small amounts of warm water as needed, until it is soft and stretchy. Cover and let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 minutes. Clean the air fryer basket and line it with parchment paper. Divide the dough into small balls and roll them out into thin, disc-shaped rotis. Place the discs on the air fryer basket and cook for 3 minutes. Flip the rotis and cook for an additional 2 minutes. The chapatis will puff up and become brown around the edges. Transfer them to a cooling rack and serve hot.

Grease the chapati

To grease a chapati, you can use butter or oil. If you are using butter, simply spread it on the chapati after cooking. If you are using oil, you have the option to grease the dough before cooking or the chapati after cooking.

To grease the dough, divide it into 8 equal pieces after kneading and letting it rise. Use a rolling pin to flatten each piece of dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Spray or brush each side with olive oil and cook in the air fryer for around 6 minutes, flipping after 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown.

If you are greasing the chapati after cooking, cook the dough without oil according to your chapati recipe. Once cooked, spread butter on the chapati or spray or brush each side with olive oil.

Frequently asked questions