Air-Fried Puris: A Step-By-Step Guide To Perfection

Puri is a small, round, fried bread made with whole wheat flour, puffed to a lightly crisp golden-brown perfection. It is a popular Indian dish and is usually deep-fried. However, you can also make it in an air fryer. To make puri in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients: wheat flour, suji/rava, sugar, salt, oil, and water. First, make a big wheat dough by adding all the ingredients. Then, make multiple smaller dough balls. Grease the rolling surface with oil and roll the dough into small, rounded Puris. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Oil the air fryer basket and put 2-3 Puris at a time in the preheated air fryer. Set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and air fry for 5 minutes. Your puri is now ready to be served!

Choosing the right flour

The type of flour you use will determine the texture and taste of your puri, so it's important to choose the right one. Here are some options to consider:

Whole Wheat Flour

This is the most commonly used flour for making puri. It gives the puri a nice golden-brown colour and a crispy texture. Whole wheat flour is easily available and is a good source of fibre and nutrients. When using whole wheat flour, make sure to knead the dough well to achieve a firm consistency. This will ensure that your puris don't turn out oily.

Semolina (Rava/Sooji)

Semolina is often added to the whole wheat flour to enhance the texture and taste of the puri. It gives the puri a crispy texture and helps it stay puffed up for a longer time. If you want to add semolina to your puri, use a ratio of 2 cups of wheat flour to 1 teaspoon of semolina. Mix the two together before adding the other ingredients.

Tapioca Starch

Tapioca starch can be used as an alternative to wheat flour for a gluten-free option. It gives the puri a crispy and light texture. When using tapioca starch, you might need to adjust the amount of liquid in your dough as it tends to absorb more moisture.

All-Purpose Flour (Maida)

All-purpose flour can also be used to make puri, but it is less commonly used than wheat flour. It will give the puri a softer and less crispy texture. If you want to use all-purpose flour, you might need to adjust the amount of liquid in your dough as it has different absorption properties compared to wheat flour.

Other Options

You can also experiment with different types of flour like rice flour or gluten-free alternatives. Keep in mind that the texture and taste of the puri may vary depending on the type of flour used.

Remember to adjust the measurements accordingly when using different types of flour, as they may have different absorption properties. Always follow the recipe instructions and make sure to knead the dough well for the best results.

Preparing the dough

To prepare the dough, start by mixing the dry ingredients, including the flour, suji/rava, sugar, and salt, in a large mixing bowl. Ensure that the ingredients are well combined. Next, slowly add the oil and mix it into the dry ingredients. You can use your fingertips to break up any lumps and ensure even distribution.

Once the oil is incorporated, gradually add the water to the mixture. Knead the dough with your hands, adding just enough water to form a soft and stretchy dough. The dough should be firm but not too hard, as this can affect the texture of the puris. Cover the dough and let it rest for about 10 minutes while you prepare the air fryer.

If you are using a stand mixer, attach the spiral dough hook and add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl. Start the mixer at a low speed and slowly add the water. Increase the speed to 3 and pause occasionally to check the consistency of the dough. Once the dough has formed, add the oil and let the mixer run for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.

With the dough ready, you can now move on to the next steps of shaping and air-frying the puris.

Shaping the puri

Firstly, knead the dough once more after it has rested. This step helps to ensure the dough is pliable and easy to work with. Next, make small round balls from the dough. The number of balls will depend on the amount of dough you are working with. For example, with 4 cups of dough, you can make roughly 25-30 small balls.

Once you have your dough balls, it's time to roll them out. Take one ball at a time and coat it lightly with dry flour. This step is optional, but it helps to prevent the dough from sticking to your work surface or rolling pin. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a thin, circular shape, aiming for a diameter of around 4 inches. Repeat this process until you have rolled out all your dough balls.

If you are not planning to cook the puris immediately, you can line them up on a parchment paper-lined tray to prevent them from drying out or sticking together. This way, you can roll out all the puris before frying them, making the cooking process faster.

Now, you are ready to place the puris into the air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may be able to cook 2-3 puris at a time. Be careful not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this can affect the cooking process and the puris may not puff up properly.

Finally, follow the cooking instructions for your air fryer, typically cooking the puris for around 5 minutes at 350-400°F, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking.

By following these steps, you will shape and cook perfectly puffed and crispy puris in your air fryer!

Air-frying the puri

First, preheat your air fryer. Most sources recommend preheating to 350°F for 7 minutes, but some suggest 400°F for 5 minutes, or even 360°F. One source recommends 150°C | 300°F for pani puri specifically.

Next, prepare your puri dough. Most recipes call for a combination of wheat flour, water, oil, and salt, with some adding sugar, semolina, or baking soda. Mix the ingredients, kneading them into a soft, stretchy dough. One source recommends letting the dough rest for 10 minutes before shaping.

Roll the dough into small balls, then flatten them into disc shapes. You can use a cookie cutter to get evenly sized discs. Some recipes suggest poking or flattening the dough to ensure it puffs up properly.

Lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil spray or by brushing it. Place 2-3 puri discs into the basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded, and spray or brush the tops with oil if desired. Close the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes, then flip the puri discs and cook for another 2 minutes. The puri should be puffed up with brown edges.

Remove the puri from the air fryer and transfer them to a cooling rack. Repeat the process with the remaining dough.

Your puri is now ready to be enjoyed! You can serve it with various fillings and dips, such as potato curry, chickpea curry, or a sweet pumpkin filling.

Serving the puri

Once you've cooked your puri, it's time to serve them! Puri is best enjoyed hot, as they will deflate over time. To help them stay puffed up for longer, line them up next to each other instead of stacking them.

Puri is a versatile fried bread that can be adapted to suit various tastes and flavours. For a basic puri, serve it with a spicy entree dish, such as batata bhaji, a spicy Indian potato curry with ginger and green chillies, or chole, an Indian chickpea curry in a tomato base with fresh ground spices. For a sweet option, try amrakhand, a creamy mango dessert with yogurt and mango pulp, or kheer, a luxurious rice pudding.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can spice up your dough to create "masala puri" or add pureed spinach to make "palak puri". For a sweet treat, try "dangar ghare", sweet puri made with pureed pumpkin, Indian jaggery, cardamom, and saffron.

Puri is a popular food at Indian festivals and is often served at weddings and roadside stalls. It is also commonly eaten on long train journeys in Maharashtra, India, where it is served with shrikhand and potato sabji.

Frequently asked questions