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!! Let’s indulge in some guilt free snacking. 😋😋😋⁠

⁠I have grown up having plenty of these Kerala banana chips alongside my meals regularly. These chips are a great accompaniment to South Indian meal or even for binge snacking. Even today, when someone visits us from Kerala or Coimbatore ( in Tamil Nadu), I get treated to a few boxes of these trademark Banana chips. We 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 while, we have been having indulging in these homemade banana chips regularly.

AIR FRYER I USE – I have made these Air fryer Banana Chips in my Philips Viva & Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air fryer. Let me tell you cooking time in both the air fryer’s is the same.

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.

Frying the Chips in coconut oil gives you the real taste of Kerala! I really meant it.

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?

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

I make Plantain Chip in my Philips Viva Airfryer & Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air fryer. Both of them are fabulous gadgets that I adore.

Air frying time for Plantain Chips will vary depending on a couple of factors.

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. e.

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 by 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.

Pro Tips to making the Best Air fryer Plantain Chips

Do not Skip the Soaking Step.

Slice the Plantain thin using mandolin slicer. Thinner the slices, the crispier the chips will be and quicker the chips will cook.

Air frying the Plantain Chips works in 2 steps – First step is dehydrating the plantain to make sure they are evenly dried out. There are no wet and shiny spots. Second Step is Crisping the plantain chips. Increase the temperature to crisp out all the chips.

It is important to flip the chips around while air frying as some of them will be wet and may be stuck to each other.

Pile the Chips on top of each other, instead of arranging them separately. Don’t be surprised by this, because the chips do tend to fly around in the air fryer basket while air frying. So I really do not see a point in arranging them separately. Piling on top of each other will also give you a good portion of the chips ready quicker than arranging in a single layer.

Arranging the Chips in a single layer – Air frying time will vary if you are arranging the chips in a single layer. So adjust accordingly.

Watch the Chips very carefully neared the end of cooking time – It is really quick for them to go from cooked to burnt.

Allow the Chips to cool down a bit before serving. They Crisp up a little more as they cool.

HAVE YOU MADE THIS RECIPE ?

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AIR FRYER PLANTAIN CHIPS RECIPE BELOW