This Buddha Purnima observes not just the rituals and prayers, but also the food making it pure for the body and the soul. On such days, one is supposed to practice kindness, moderation, and health. Instead of heavy oil, a healthier alternative to cooking, one that follows the day’s values around non-violence and self-discipline, can be practiced.
An air fryer makes cooking golden-brown vegetarian snacks so much easier. Samosas, tikkis, and even soft, fluffy, oil-free dhoklas can all be made without deep frying.
Vegetarian fare is equally scrumptious when prepared without oil using modern hot air technology, just guilt-free and minus the grease.
Why Go Oil-Free on Buddha Purnima?
Buddha Purnima is not just an occasion for rituals but also demands focus on mental discipline. As far as kindness is concerned, heavy food like deep-fried snacks tends to contradict the barebone diet many go for on this day.
Switching to Oil-Less Cooking Methods:
- Reduces the number of calories consumed
- Prevents feeling bloated and greasy
- Maintains good health of the digestive system
- Sattvic dhyana values are honored
- Eliminates the common post-festival feeling of regret: “The snack was good, but now I’m heavy and sluggish for no reason.”
5 Nutritious, Vegetarian, Oil-Free Dishes to Try
Here are five nutritious, vegetarian, oil-free dishes that can be prepared with the powerful Haier Air Fryer. All of them align with Satvik cooking principles and provide taste, nutrition, and texture without compromise.
1. Air-Fried Sabudana Vada
Sabudana vadas are a popular snack during fasting periods. They are traditionally deep-fried, but air frying makes them perfectly crisp with much less oil.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of soaked sabudana (tapioca pearls)
- 2 boiled potatoes (mashed)
- ½ cup of crushed peanuts
- 1 chopped green chilli (optional)
- Sendha namak (rock salt) to taste
- 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- Fresh coriander leaves, chopped (1–2 tbsp)
Preparing Method:
- Combine all ingredients and mix until you get a consistent dough.
- Form the mixture into flat round patties.
- Preheat the air fryer to 180°C for three minutes.
- Place the formed patties on the grill plate of the 5L basket.
- Air fry for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway through for even browning.
Why It Works:
The 3D Hot Air Circulation system cooks the exterior to crispness while keeping the inside soft, achieving the ideal texture for vadas without deep-frying.
2. Sweet Potato Chaat (Air-Fried)
Wholesome and traditional, air fryer sweet potato chaat keeps all the flavour with none of the frying.
Ingredients:
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (peeled and sliced)
- Sendha salt to taste
- Lemon juice
- Roasted cumin powder
- Chopped coriander
- Pomegranate (optional)
Method:
- Toss the sweet potato slices with some salt.
- Air fry at 190°C for 15–18 minutes till golden and crisp.
- Mix with lemon juice, some jeera powder, and garnish as desired.
Ideal:
These work best when you place the sweet potato in the air fryer after closing the door so you can peek without interrupting the process.
The glass lid allows you to see the food during the entire cooking process, unlike other models which have wooden covers.
3. Air-Fried Spinach and Corn Tikkis
Tikkis without oil? Yes, please! Taste-wise, these curried patties work marvellously with a sweet, tangy masala dip. They are good enough to eat by themselves, making them ideal anytime snacks.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of spinach (blanched and sliced)
- ½ cup sweet corn (boiled)
- 2 boiled potatoes (mashed)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Rock salt to taste
- 1 tbsp arrowroot powder
Method:
- Collect all the components into a single bowl and merge them thoroughly.
- Mold into flat, round cakes.
- Preheat air fryer to 180°C.
- Put them on the grate and fry for around 10–12 minutes at this temperature.
- Like before, check through the viewing window and turn them halfway through.
Tech Tip:
The 1500W high power enables the air-circulation system. The outside crisps beautifully while the inside stays moist.
4. Dhokla (Steamed Version) Air Fryer Adaptation
While steaming is the typical cooking method for dhokla, it can now be baked through with your air fryer.
Required Materials:
- 1 cup of besan (gram flour)
- 1 tbsp suji (semolina)
- 1 tsp Eno fruit salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- Rock salt to taste
- Lemon juice and green chilli for optional garnishing
Method:
- Combine all dry ingredients, adding water until a batter-like consistency is reached.
- Right before cooking, incorporate Eno and mix gently.
- Pour into a greased cake tin that fits into the fryer basket.
- Air fry at 160°C for 15–18 minutes.
- Upon cooking, add coriander and green chilli for garnishing.
The 5L large capacity basket can accommodate a small tin, which enables steaming and bypasses the need to bake conventionally.
5. No-Oil Coconut Ladoo (Baked)
A straightforward sweet that uses the air fryer’s baking abilities, devoid of ghee and oil.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of fresh grated coconut
- ½ cup of jaggery (shredded)
- ¼ tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tbsp water if necessary
Method:
- Combine fresh jaggery and coconut into a bowl.
- Mold into small-sized round balls and place into silicone molds or parchment cups.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes at 150°C.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving.
Smart Touch:
With the digital control panel, tap the pre-set recipe mode, and the air fryer automatically manages the temperature and timing.
Why Air Frying Works Best for Satvik Cooking
Buddha Purnima is traditionally carried out with austerity and minimalism. In this regard, air frying:
- Refrains from using oil, ghee, or butter
- Maintains nutrition while preserving taste
- Lessens the effort while enhancing the outcome
Oil-free preparation is possible for any course, from snacks to desserts. There is no need to babysit a sizzling pan, or worry about smoke, grease, oil splatter, and the dreaded cleanup. With 12 built-in recipes and an easy-to-use interface, the device makes fasting and prayer days more efficient, both in time and effort.
Final Thoughts
As rituals go, Buddha Purnima has a date many want to commemorate. However, this is a day to fully cleanse the body and mind to remove negative factors, including purification of thoughts aided by fasting or selective eating. This year, use the day as a long-awaited catalyst for change: from hot and greasy to delightfully balanced, toward a healed body.
The feeling of achievement after nearly giving up something as oily as temptation doesn’t need to feel discouraging or herculean.For those discovering the true importance of the festival, here is a tip worth taking home: with an air fryer from Haier India, you celebrate the flavor of the food while still cooking in a health-minded manner. It doesn’t simply cook, it brings empowerment and enhancement to every dish, step by step, recipe by recipe, from oil-soaked snacks to your first oil-free favourites.