Crispy mathri, homemade green chutney in a bowl and a hot cup of masala chai. This is as much a part of the Diwali as diyas and sweets for many Indian families.
The traditional method of making mathri involves deep frying small sized spiced dough pieces in hot oil. The result is a flaky, crunchy snack that will keep for days if stored properly. What if you could make your favourite Diwali mathri without having to fill up a kadai with oil though?
Yes, it is possible to make Diwali Mathri in an air fryer without deep-frying. The air fryer moves the heated air around the dough, allowing it to be cooked on the outside to create a golden and crisp crust while significantly reducing the amount of oil needed compared to traditional deep frying. The trick is to prepare a robust dough, manage the temp and give it enough time to cook the mathri through.
Using a Haier Air Fryer cooking homemade festive snacks can be an easy part of your Diwali celebrations.
Why air-fried Mathri is worthy of being a part of your Diwali snack time menu
Typically, weddings start well in advance of the festival itself. Cleaning the house, preparing the decorations, making sweets and greeting visitors will be enough in some cases, and it is not possible to spend hours at a hot kadai.
For families that like homemade snacks but don’t want to prepare them in as much oil, air frying is an alternative.
What happens to Mathri when it is put in the air-fryer?
The main difference is the way it is cooked.
In traditional mathri, the dough is dipped in hot oil so that heat can be directly transferred to the dough. An air fryer is a device that circulates hot air and cooks the surface as well as slowly drying out moisture.
This results in a slightly different texture. Mathri is less flaky than deep fried mathri but if well prepared, it can give a satisfying crunch.
Other practical benefits are:
- Reduce cooking oil: Mathri could be made in the dough using oil/ghee without it being immersed in oil/ghee.
- Easy preparation: No need to keep an eye on a hot oil kadai.
- Adjustable temperature and time settings for controlled cooking, to control browning.
- Simpler batch preparation: Make multiple smaller portions to take care of other festive food preparation.
- Less surface oil on serving plates and storage containers: The air-fried mathri leaves less oil on the surface of serving plates and storage containers.
Keep in mind that air-fried mathri is not necessarily a low calorie dish. The flour, ghee and other ingredients still provide its nutritional value.
Learn how to make crispy Diwali Mathris in an Air-Fryer
The good news? Don’t have to create a totally fresh recipe.
Often just a few changes to the basic preparation are sufficient.
Ingredients for Homemade Air Fryer Mathri
About 20–25 small mathris (or about 10–12 small size mathris if the thickness is 2–2.5 cm) – depending on thickness:
- 2 cups of flour is refined wheat flour (maida).
- 3 tablespoons of ghee or cooking oil.
- 1 tsp Ajwain (carom seeds)
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper finely crushed.
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- Water, as required
- A small amount of oil/ghee to brush with
Alternatively, some of the maida can be substituted with whole wheat flour. But this can give a slightly more matted look.
Step 1: Make a Larger Dough Ball/Lump of Dough
In a mixing bowl, mix together maida, ajwain, black pepper and salt.
Add ghee and rub into flour with your fingers so that it looks like coarse breadcrumbs.
This is an important step, as it sounds.
The characteristic crumbly texture of the mathri is formed by the fat. If not added, the final snack can be too firm.
Gradually add water and knead into a firm dough. Cover and let sit for about 15-20 minutes.
Step 2: Form the Mathri
Add to the oil and water, then add the dough, divide into small pieces and roll them into little discs, about 3-5 mm thick.
Don’t roll them too thin. Mathri should be a bit like a papad and not be a body.
Make a few holes in each disc with a fork so that the discs do not puff too much during cooking.
Step 3: Preheat and Arrange
If required by the operating instructions, preheat your air fryer for 3–5 minutes at about 160°C.
Place the mathris in the same layer with a little air gap between them.
Apply some oil/ghee to their surfaces in a light manner.
Step 4: Air Fry Until Crisp
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and cook until crisp.
As a first approximation, cook at about 160°C for 12–18 minutes, flipping the mathris half way through.
Cooking times may vary with appliances, thickness and size of the dough.
Check periodically towards the end. All the mathris should be lightly golden in color, firm and without any uncooked dough in the middle.
Let them cool to room temperature. They can get harder when they are cold.
The Air fryer is an excellent choice for preparing holiday snacks
The Air fryer is a great option to make Christmas food prep easier.
Capacity and temperature control are factors that can make a difference when making snacks for family gatherings.
Haier India’s air fryers come in two sizes: one with a capacity of 5L, which can be used for regular cooking or even for the festive season, to prepare dishes with a touch of energy.
Haier IVORY Air Fryer (5L Capacity) (HAF-M503I)
Haier IVORY Air Fryer 5L Capacity (HAF-M503I) features mechanical controls that are easy to use and a 1500W heating system.
It has 3D Hot Air Circulation which circulates the hot air around food, and is suitable for cooking snacks that need uniform heat input.
Key features include:
- Capable of preparing food in batches, 5L baskets.
- 1500W heating element for efficient cooking.
- Simple time and temp setting knobs.
- Easy-to-clean detachable grill plate.
- Frying, baking, grilling and roasting functions.
- Ten recipe suggestions for preparing different dishes.
The manual controls are especially helpful for creating homemade Diwali mathri by playing with varying the dough thickness and cooking time.
The contemporary Indian kitchen also looks pretty with the ivory finish.
Haier BLACK Air Fryer 5L Capacity (HAF-D503B)
The Haier BLACK Air Fryer 5L Capacity (HAF-D503B) is also a good choice for those who prefer digital control.
It has a 1500W heating element, 3D Hot Air Circulation and 5L cooking basket.
It has the following distinguishing features:
- Touch controls to choose cooking settings (digital).
- Six pre programmed recipes.
- A transparent screen to view food without having to open the basket repeatedly.
- A detachable grill plate.
- Function for frying, baking, grilling and roasting.
The viewing window is useful when making mathri where it will be easy to see how it changes colour when cooking.
In addition, Haier air fryers are both covered by a 2-year warranty (applicable terms and conditions apply).
No mathri is not a specific recipe, but one can make it by a trial and error method of adjusting the cooking settings.
The small mistakes that can ruin Air Fried Mathri
With a good recipe in hand, some errors can lead to a less crisp and less even cooked mathri or it won’t be hard baked.
Using Too Much Water
Mathri is prepared using soft dough which can result in excessive puffing or lack of crumbly texture.
Be careful not to over hydrate the dough and keep it firm.
Overcrowding the Basket
The hot air does not reach the surfaces evenly when the mathris are stacked.
Instead, cook in small quantities. The 5L basket is a good size of space but the amount of ‘mathris’ will be determined by their size.
Over cooking at Very High temperatures
However, that’s not always a good thing, as warmer temps can lead to poorer results.
Mathri requires some time for cooking inside. Too high a temperature may cause the outside to brown before the centre is sufficiently cooked.
Packing Mathri While Warm
Warm mathri releases moisture within a closed container that can soften its texture.
Cool completely before storing.
Are You Ready to Make Air Fried Mathri Ahead of Diwali?
Credits: Haier India, Make Air Fried Mathri Ahead of Diwali
Absolutely. Mathri is a great idea to make for Diwali as the last minute effort in the kitchen is saved.
After the mathris have reached room temperature:
- Put them in a clean, dry, airtight container.
- Store out of direct sunlight and out of the way of moisture.
- Use dry hands or utensils when serving.
- Check for changes in smell, texture or visible spoilage before consuming.
The storage life varies according to ingredients, preparation hygiene and the environment. Don’t take for granted that homemade mathri is safe for a specific amount of time.
To make it as a gift for holidays, cook it in the days leading up to the gift giving date and package it appropriately with food.
Make Your Oldest Diwali Snacks New With Modern Cooking Techniques
Homemade mathri has a familiar festive flavor. Nothing beats that first crunchy bite, the aroma of ajwain and enjoying something made in your own kitchen.
Air frying is just one alternative to the tradition.
The Haier IVORY Air Fryer 5L Capacity (HAF-M503I) offers a convenient choice for families that value ease of cooking controls with its 3D Hot Air Circulation, 1500W heating power and large 5L basket.
For a few who like the extra convenience, the Haier BLACK Air Fryer 5L Capacity (HAF-D503B) adds digital touch controls and a viewing window.
From making single servings of chai for the evening to creating Diwali snack hampers, check out Haier India’s air fryer collection and see how everyday kitchen appliances can make festive cooking simpler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can mathri become crispy in an air fryer without deep-frying?
Yes. Properly prepared dough, moderate cooking temperatures and adequate air circulation can produce crispy mathri without deep-frying. The texture may differ slightly from traditionally fried mathri.
What temperature is suitable for cooking mathri in an air fryer?
Approximately 160°C is a reasonable starting point. Adjust the cooking time and temperature according to the thickness of the mathri and your air fryer’s instructions.
Do you need to add oil when making air fryer mathri?
You do not need oil for deep-frying, but adding some ghee or oil to the dough helps develop its crumbly texture. Light brushing may also improve surface browning.
Can you prepare whole wheat mathri in an air fryer?
Yes. Whole wheat flour can be used to prepare air-fried mathri, although the resulting texture may be denser than mathri made with refined wheat flour.
Which Haier air fryer is suitable for preparing Diwali snacks?
Both the Haier IVORY Air Fryer 5L Capacity (HAF-M503I) and Haier BLACK Air Fryer 5L Capacity (HAF-D503B) offer 5L baskets and 3D Hot Air Circulation. Choose according to your preference for mechanical knob controls or digital touch controls.