This Air Fryer Okra recipe is the classic Indian Bhindi Masala curry taken to the next level, made low-calorie. This recipe uses very little oil compared to the traditional Bhindi Fry, and is a great meal to whip up and serve any day of the week.
Team it up with some classic roti or paratha, a Kachumber salad, and a glass of Masala buttermilk to make it filling and wholesome.
Growing up in an Indian household meant enjoying a hearty, filling lunch. It would almost always be a dry curry featuring a veggie of some sort (Eggplant Bharta-my favorite!), a dal, some rice and rotis, a salad (like Kakdi chi Koshimbir) and some buttermilk or mango Lassi to chug it all down.
And Bhindi aka okra would almost always be on the menu at least once a week. This time, I really wanted to recreate a low-calorie version of my staple Bhindi Masala, and I did!
Jump to:
What's So Great About the Recipe?
The recipe is super quick and easy. All you'll need is some Indian pantry staples and 10 minutes of hands-on kitchen time to make this Indian okra curry.
It's vegan, gluten-free and tastes absolutely wicked- just like my chickpea Tikka Masala.
Recipe Ingredients
Okra: Use fresh or frozen okra- whatever you have at hand. Just remember that if you're using frozen okra, you don't need to thaw them- just add them to the Air Fryer right away.
Seasonings: I used a mix of red chili powder, salt and black pepper. You can use turmeric or even a dash of garam masala powder if you want to.
Onion: For that savory flavor. Red onion is best!
Asafoetida: Just a pinch, for that classic Indian curry flavor. Skip it if you want to make the dish gluten free.
Oil: Just a bit, to help the okra crisp up. Use lemon infused olive oil if you want a bit of a citrusy, tangy flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
This chili powder features a bold blend of quality ingredients including chili pepper, oregano and garlic; this chili powder has a bright red, fiery appearance, consistent texture and classic chili pepper flavor.
Substitutions & Variations
- Experiment with different seasonings to adjust the flavors of the Bhindi Masala. I love sprinkling some of my homemade chaat masala seasoning on it towards the end. Cumin powder and coriander powder are two other good additions that are an absolute classic used in Indian cooking.
- Authentic Bhindi Fry usually has potatoes added in as well. If you want to use potatoes, make sure you chop them in small chunks- similar to the size of the okra, and add them to the Air Fryer about 2-3 minutes before you add the okra. This will help them soften and cook perfectly.
- You can also add some chopped tomatoes if you want to!
How to Make Air Fryer Bhindi Masala
Step 1: Wash and pat dry the okra.
Step 2: Chop off the top and bottom and cut the okra into bite sized chunks.
Step 3: Add them to a bowl along with the chopped onions and seasonings. Drizzle oil and toss well to ensure everything is coated.
Step 4: Transfer to the Air Fryer basket in a single layer.
Step 5: Air fry for about 15 minutes or until the okra is slightly crispy and cooked through.
💭Top Tip
Shake the Air Fryer basket a couple of times during the 15 minute cooking time to ensure the okra are nicely cooked and crisp on all the sides.
How to Store Leftover Air Fryer Okra
Store the leftover Bhindi Masala in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. You can reheat it in a pan over medium heat (with a splash of water to keep it from burning) or in the microwave.
I wouldn't recommend air frying it to reheat it, as it can end up burning the okra.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- Avoid overcrowding the Air Fryer basket with too much okra. This will cause them to steam and turn soggy.
- Make sure you pat dry the okra and remove all moisture before you season it. This will help the okra get nice and crispy.
- I chose to chop the okra into bite sized chunks. You can also cut slice them throughout their length or cut them diagonally if you want to. Just remember to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- You can also drizzle some lemon juice (or lime juice) over the okra during the final few minutes of cooking to add a nice citrusy tang. I did the same when I made my Air Fryer cauliflower steaks.
How to Serve Air Fryer Okra Masala
Serve the Air Fryer Okra Masala with a simple lasooni dal tadka, some steamed rice or rotis. I love having a nice condiment on the side too, and I almost always turn to my classic cucumber mint Raita, Dahi Boondi or mix veg Raita.
Sometimes, when I have some of my garlic turmeric rice leftover, I serve it with this Bhindi Masala and some crunchy Masala Papad on the side.
Recipe FAQs
To make the Air Fryer okra extra crispy, add a teaspoon of gram flour or cornflour along with the seasonings. This coating will lend the okra that extra crunch factor.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this Air Fryer Bhindi Masala or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Air Fryer Okra (Bhindi Masala)
Ingredients
- 250 g okra
- 1 red onion
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 pinch asafoetida
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry the okra.
- Chop off the top and bottom and cut the okra into bite sized chunks.
- Add them to a bowl along with the chopped onions and seasonings. Drizzle oil and toss well to ensure everything is coated.
- Transfer to the Air Fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for about 15 minutes or until the okra is slightly crispy and cooked through.
Notes
- Shake the Air Fryer basket a couple of times during the 15 minute cooking time to ensure the okra are nicely cooked and crisp on all the sides.
- Avoid overcrowding the Air Fryer basket with too much okra. This will cause them to steam and turn soggy.
- Make sure you pat dry the okra and remove all moisture before you season it. This will help the okra get nice and crispy.
- I chose to chop the okra into bite sized chunks. You can also cut slice them throughout their length or cut them diagonally if you want to. Just remember to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- You can also drizzle some lemon juice (or lime juice) over the okra during the final few minutes of cooking to add a nice citrusy tang. I did the same when I made my Air Fryer cauliflower steaks.
