Name: Air Fryer Plantain Chips (Kerala Banana Chips)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 Plantain; 1 Tbsp coconut oil; 1 Tsp Turmeric; Salt to taste; 1 Tsp Turmeric; 2 Cup Water

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Air fryer Plantain Chips - Crispy Homemade Plantain Chips is incredibly delicious and healthy. Made with just 4 ingredients, these healthy plantain chips are air fried, crispy, simply addictive and moreish ! (Vegan, Gluten Free, Paleo Friendly)

I can confidently say these are one of the best!!

⁠I have grown up having plenty of these Kerala banana chips to accompany traditional palakkad meals like Vegetable Molagootal and Archavittu Onion Sambar regularly. Not just for meals, they are delicious for snacking with Coffee or Masala Tea.

Even today, when someone visits us from Kerala or Coimbatore( in Tamil Nadu), I get treated to a few boxes of these trademark Kerala Banana chips. We used stock them for a few months like treasure and enjoy them in reserve.

But not any more! Ever since I have been air frying these chips for a few years now, we enjoy these homemade banana chips regularly - its so easy to make!

👩🏻‍🍳Pro Tips For Making The Best Air Fryer Plantain Chips

Use coconut oil – For the real taste of Kerala, use coconut oil for tossing the chips. That’s exactly what the chips shop vendors in Kerala use!
Don’t skip the soaking step – It’s essential for removing starch.
Slice thin – Use a mandolin slicer to cut the plantain into thin slices. The thinner the slices, the crispier they’ll be and the quicker they’ll cook.
Air fry in two steps – First, dehydrate the slices to make sure they’re evenly dried out (no wet or shiny spots). Second, increase the temperature to crisp up the plantain chips.
Flip while air frying – Some slices may stick together or stay wet, so turn them around for even cooking.
Pile them up – Instead of arranging slices in a single layer, stack them in the basket. Surprising, I know! But since the chips tend to fly around anyway, piling works just fine and also gives you a good portion ready more quickly.
Keep an eye near the end – Plantain chips can go from perfectly cooked to burnt very fast, so watch them carefully.
Cool before serving – Let them rest for a bit after cooking. They crisp up even more as they cool.

What is Plantain Chips / Kerala Banana Chips?

Kerala Banana Chips are crispy thin chips, made with unripe plantain (also known as nendran bananas )and coconut oil. They are deep fried to perfection to make the most delicious Kerala Banana wafer chips.

Banana Chips is also called ethakka upperi in Malayalam language natively spoken in Kerala, India. It's popular snack in Kerala and is also served in Onam Sadhya.

Why make Plantain Chips at home?

You only need 4 Ingredients!
Homemade Banana Chips / Plantain Chips does not have any artificial preservatives. So you know the ingredients that are going into it.
You can choose how to make it - Air fry, Bake or Deep fry!
You are not spending fortune buying plantain chips from the stores. I must admit these are a lot cheaper in India than in UK or else where.
Perfect for picnics, parties and even lunch box snack.
These are air fried and not deep fried, so you can enjoy them guilt free!
Suitable for Vegan & Gluten Free Diet
Picky eaters really love it too!

Air frying Time for Plantain Chips

Air frying time for Plantain Chips depends upon the model of the air fryer. I was using Philips Viva Airfryer and Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air fryer. Now I use Air fryer 6 in Vortex Plus.

How thin or thick the chips are sliced. If the chips are cut thick, air frying time will be more.
Do you overlap the chips on top over each other in the basket or arrange them in a single layer. I have made these chips with both the methods and they work great.

When you arrange the chips in a single layer, cooking time required will be lesser than the mentioned time. You also have to take it into account that this will only give you a smaller portion at a time.

When you arrange the chips over lapping each other in the air fryer basket, it requires you to monitor every few minutes and turn them around. But you can also make twice the amount of chips in single go.

Ingredients you will need

Plantain are also from the Banana family. Use Green unripe Plantain also called as nendran banana or ethakka to make chips.
Coconut Oil - Any oil will typically work. But Kerala chips are fried in coconut oil instead of any other oil, so I prefer using coconut oil to recreate chips thats quite close to heart.
Turmeric - Adds a hint of yellow color to chips.
Salt - Just for flavouring!

How to make Homemade Plantain Chips Step -Step

Peel the Plantain - Slice the ends and then peel the plantain with a peeler or knife. Save the skin for making a delicious thoran side dish. making 2- 3 slits down the length will help in peeling them apart easily.

Soak the peeled plantain -Transfer the peeled plantain into a mixing bowl filled with water & turmeric. Allow it soak for at least 30 minutes. This step will remove any additional starch from the plantain banana. Pat dry with a kitchen towel.

Slice Thin - Slice thinly the Plantain with a mandolin slicer ( my preferred choice ) or knife.

Toss with oil & seasoning - Toss the plantain chips slices to a small bowl with coconut oil & turmeric . Sprinkle with salt.

AIR FRY PLANTAIN CHIPS IN PHILIPS VIVA & INSTANT POT DUO CRISP AIRFRYER

How to Air fry in Philips Viva -

Arrange the sliced plantain / sliced green banana into the air fryer basket either overlapping each other like below or in a single row. Select the Time and Temperature to 300F/ 150 C and 10 minutes. Press Start. Flip and turn the plantain chips around every 5 minutes, so that they evenly dry out. This initial de hydrating time depends on how much your plantain chips have wet and shiny spots .All the chips need to evenly dry out. If you feel the chips are still wet underside or in the middle, fry for another 2 - 3 minutes ( checking in between ) as needed. You may need 10 -12 minutes of initial Air frying time over all.

Now Increase the temperature to 350F/ 180C and cook for 2-3 minutes, checking every 1 minute in between. If you seen some of the chips are ready, remove them and continue to cook.

How to Air fry Plantain Chips in Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air fryer -

To make Instant Pot Plantain chips, Place the inner stainless steel pot into the Instant Pot cooker base.Insert the air fryer basket with basket base and gently brush with oil.

Arrange the sliced plantain / sliced green banana into the air fryer basket either overlapping each other or in a single row like below.

Place the Air fryer Lid on the cooker base. Select the AIRFRY programme. Adjust the +/- keys to adjust the Time and Temperature to 300 F/ 150 C and 10 minutes. Press Start. You may need 10 -12 minutes of initial Air frying time depending upon how much your plantain chips have wet and shiny spots .All the chips need to evenly dry out. If you feel the chips are still wet underside or in the middle, fry for another 2 minutes ( checking in between ).

Now Increase the temperature to 350F/ 180C and cook for 2-3 minutes, checking every 1 minute in between. If you seen some of the chips are ready, remove them and continue to cook.

Cool to Crisp - Allow the chips to cook a bit as they will crisp further.

Season and serve - Sprinkle a little more salt if you prefer and serve.

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