Air Fryer Taro Fries / Crispy Arbi

These Taro Fries (Crispy Arbi) made in Air Fryer is so easy, delicious. They are a great variation in taste and nutrition to potato french fries.

Arbi Fry is a popular dish in India.  However as the name suggests it is fried, which means too much oil.  I have posted a recipe for Arbi Fry here.  Now that I have the air fryer, I wanted to try cooking Arbi (Taro) in it without using much oil.  And sure enough, it came out great.  It is not the exact same taste as frying it in a whole lot of oil, but trust me it is very tasty, and certainly less calories and less work!

I saw recipes where people first boiled the taro and then air fried it to get a crispy texture.  I like 1-step processes better 🙂  So I decided to try with just directly air frying taro.  The result is a yummy appetizer.  Enjoy with a mint chutney and you will get hooked to your air fryer.

What is Taro?

I know many people have never heard of this vegetable, so here is a little information about taro.

Taro root comes from the taro plant, which is native to Southeast Asia and India and is a staple in diets there as well as Africa, China, the Caribbean, and Hawaii (heard of poi?). Taro, also called as Malanga is a Cuban staple for starch. 

In India, Taro is known by many names - Arbi in North India, Chamadumpa in Andra and Cheppankizhangu in Tamil.

Both the big green leaves of the plant and the root itself can be consumed when cooked. In their raw form, both are toxic.

There are lots of varieties of taro, from small to large and from white-fleshed to purple-flecked ones. I used the smaller white fleshed variety for this recipe. It is used and prepared much like a potato, as it's equally starchy and similar in flavor.

Compared to a white potato, it has three times the amount of fiber, and is also a rich source of potassium, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Taro fries, anyone?

Taro nutrition

As a starchy vegetable, the taro root contains more carbs than other types of vegetables.  While this might make you think twice about adding taro root to your diet, when it comes to carb choice, quality matters. And as a source of fiber plus essential vitamins and minerals, taro root makes a healthy carb choice.

Taro is high in Fiber.  A 1-cup serving of cooked taro contains 6.7 g of fiber, meeting approximately 25 percent of your daily fiber needs.  Cooked taro is also high in vitamin E with 3.87 mg in a 1-cup serving.  Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin best known for its antioxidant activity

Taro is high in calories, every 100 grams contains 112 calories.  Not something you want to consume in high quantities if you are trying to lose weight.

How to Peel & Cut Taro?

The first step is to peel & cut the taro root.  Okay, this is the most tedious part in this recipe.  I used a peeler to peel.  Do not wash taro after peeling, else it will get slimy and will be hard to hold or cut it.  If needed, you can wipe them clean with a paper towel.  

Slice as evenly as you can, similar to french fries.  You want to use a sharp knife to make it easier to slice it. If you are new to taro, it is recommended to wear gloves when peeling or cutting it (remember, they are toxic in raw form.  This is not to scare you.  I don't wear gloves and have been eating this vegetable since I was a kid).

How to cook Taro Fries in Air Fryer?

Add all the cut taro root to a bowl and add some oil and spices to it.

Add the spices - salt, cayenne or red chili, some turmeric.  I also add some chaat masala or dry mango powder to get a tangy flavor.  If you don't have these, just add lime juice or lime juice powder.  You can use or skip the spices based on your liking.  Just seasoning with salt and pepper also works great with taro fries.  Toss to coat evenly.

Place in air fryer and cook for 20 minutes on 360°F (180°C).  Toss them half way through.  Below left picture shows the taro fries at 10 minutes when I was tossing them and the right side at 20 minutes.

Taro Fries are ready.  We love to eat these as a side with lentils and roti/naan or as an appetizer with ketchup or a cilantro chutney.

If you like this recipe, check out the Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Paneer Puff Pastry recipe.