Craving Pani Puri or Gol Gappas? Wondering how to make it at home? With just 2 ingredients and 2 minutes in the air fryer, you can enjoy a delicious batch of Air Fryer Pani Puri. It’s quick, easy, and uses little to no oil.
I love hosting chaat parties, and Pani Puris are always a hit. At my recent Pani Puri party, my guests couldn’t believe these crispy puris were made in the air fryer!
I make 22 pani puris per batch, and in just two minutes and with only two ingredients, you can enjoy perfectly crispy shells with all your favourite fillings. It’s such a quick and easy way to bring the fun of Pani Puri to your kitchen. Have you tried making chaat papdi in the air fryer? They’re amazing too!
Jump to:
What is Pani Puri?
Wondering what it is? Pani Puri, also known as Puchka or Golgappa, is made of crisp, puffed puris filled with a potato mixture and served with spicy, tangy, minty water. I grew up enjoying these from Mumbai’s street vendors and at home, and they always bring back such nostalgic memories.
👩🏻🍳Sandhya's Top Tips
- Always preheat the air fryer before making pani puris or golgappas. This helps the puris fry evenly and get that perfect crispiness.
- After every two to three batches, let the air fryer preheat again until it reaches the right temperature before adding more puris.
- Don’t be tempted to overload the basket. Overfilling can make the puris puff up and touch the heating coil (trust me, I’ve tried it, and I won’t make that mistake again!
🎥Watch Video Air Fryer Pani Puri
📋Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Pani Puri Pellets: These ready-to-fry pellets are readily available at local Asian stores. In the UK, you can find brands like Jaimin, JCR, or Saras Gol Gappa raw pellets.
- Oil: Any neutral-flavoured oil works well; I prefer using Sunflower oil. You can also make with no oil, but I prefer the texture and flavour with.
⏲️How to Make Pani Puri in the Air Fryer?- Step by Step
Step 1. Place the pani puri raw pellets on a plate.
Step 2. Add oil and brush the pellets, so they are coated all over.
Step 3. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C for 2-3 minutes. Add the pani puri pellets to the air fryer basket.
👩🏻🍳Pro tip: (Some air fryers will prompt you to add food once they have reached the desired temperature like mine.)
Step 4. Air fry for 2 minutes. The puris will puff up and become crispy.
👩🏻🍳Pro Tip: Avoid the temptation to air fry for too long, as the crispy puri will taste burnt.
These are versatile and can be enjoyed for making pani puri, masala puri, dahi puri and more.
🧂Storing Air Fryer Pani puris
After air frying, let the puris cool at room temperature briefly. Then transfer them to an airtight container. Seal the container tightly until you are ready to use them. They will keep well for up to a week.
🍽How to Serve Air Fryer Pani Puri Like a Mumbai Street Vendor
You will need crispy air-fried puris, spicy pani (recipe below in recipe card), dates-tamarind chutney, and a mashed potato filling.
- Create a Hole: Gently make a small hole in the top of a puri using your thumb. Be careful not to break it.
- Stuff the Puri: Fill the puri with the mashed potato mixture, leaving some space for the pani.
- Dip in Pani: Dip the filled puri into the pani. Let any excess drip off or dip quickly for a burst of flavor.
- Eat Immediately: Pop the whole puri into your mouth to enjoy the mix of textures and flavors.
- Optional: For a slightly sweeter twist, add some tamarind chutney to your spicy pani before filling.
❓Recipe FAQs
Think of it like frying in oil. If you add the puris in cold oil, it will not fry until you have reached an ideal temperature for frying. Likewise, the same concept applies to the air fryer. Preheat for even cooking, crispiness and faster cooking.
Yes, air fryer pani puris can be prepared with no oil, making them a healthier alternative to traditionally fried puris. But I recommend adding 1 teaspoon oil per batch for a better taste.
It is because the pani puri is not fried at the right temperature and at a lower temperature than desired. Hence the pani puris are soft and sometimes deflate with time.
To keep air fryer pani puris fresh and crispy, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Avoid exposure to moisture, and they should retain their crispiness for a few days.
Reheating pani puris in the air fryer for a brief time (1-2 minutes) at a lower temperature may help restore some crispiness. Do not overheat and burn them.
More Indian Street Food Recipes
Ingredients
- 20 pani puri pellets
- 1 teaspoon oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 356F/ 180°C for 2-3 minutes. (Some air fryers will prompt you to add food once they have reached the desired temperature.) Place the pani puri raw pellets on a plate.
- Brush the pellets with oil, ensuring even coverage.
- Put the pellets into the air fryer basket and air fry for 2 minutes. The puris will puff up and become crispy.
- Enjoy homemade crispy pani puris.
Video
Notes
Sandhya's Top Tips
- Preheat the air fryer before making pani puris or golgappas for even, crispy puris.
- Let the fryer preheat again after every 2–3 batches.
- Avoid overfilling the basket—puris can puff up and touch the heating coil (learned that the hard way!).
Pani Recipe for Filling the Puri
This spicy, tangy, herb-infused water is perfect for Pani Puri. You can also enjoy it as a refreshing drink! Ingredients:- 2 cups mint leaves
- 1 cup coriander leaves
- 1-inch ginger, sliced
- 4–6 green chillies
- Salt, to taste
- 1 litre water
- 1 teaspoon rock salt
- 1 tablespoon roasted cumin powder
- 1½ teaspoon chaat masala
- 1 teaspoon amchur powder
- ½ cup dates-tamarind chutney
- Juice of 1 lemon
- In a blender, combine coriander, mint, ginger, and green chillies with a little water. Blend until smooth and pour into a large bowl.
- Add salt, 1 litre water, rock salt, roasted cumin powder, chaat masala, amchur powder, and lemon juice. Stir well.
- I like to add the dates-tamarind chutney for a balance of flavours—mix it in and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Taste the Pani and adjust spices if needed. Enjoy the burst of flavours in your Pani Puri!
Leave a Reply