Air Fryer Pazham Pori (Banana Fritters)

Ingredients

• 3 ripe nendran or plantain bananas, halved lengthways
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp rice flour
• 1 tbsp sugar (optional)
• A pinch of turmeric, for colour (optional)
• A pinch of salt, oil spray

Steps

1. Whisk the flour, rice flour, sugar, turmeric and salt with just enough water to make a thick, clinging batter - much thicker than a normal pakora batter, since it has to survive the air fryer's fan instead of setting instantly in hot oil.
2. Line the air fryer basket with a sheet of perforated parchment paper and spray it lightly with oil.
3. Dip each banana half in the batter, coating it fully, and lay it on the parchment.
4. Spray the tops of the battered bananas generously with oil - this is doing the job the hot oil would normally do, forming a crust.
5. Preheat the air fryer to 175°C, then air fry for 6 minutes.
6. Carefully flip each piece with a thin spatula - the batter is delicate until it sets - and spray the other side with oil.
7. Air fry a further 5-7 minutes (11-13 minutes total) until deep golden and crisp.

Tip: Use perforated parchment paper underneath and a thicker-than-usual batter - without both, the wet batter simply blows off the banana and drips through the basket grate.

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Nutrition (per serving)

Estimated from standard ingredient data — actual values vary by brand and exact quantities used.

Serving & Storage