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    Home » Recipes » Vegetables

    Taro Fries (Air Fryer, Oven, Stovetop)

    January 27, 2023 . By Meeta Arora . 7 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    Air Fryer Taro Fries / Crispy Arbi
    Air Fryer Taro Fries / Crispy Arbi

    These Taro Fries (Crispy Arbi) are so easy to make, crispy and delicious. They are a great variation in taste and nutrition to potato french fries. Make them in the air fryer, oven or stovetop.

    Taro Fries with a dip

    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.

    Jump to:
    • What is Taro?
    • Taro nutrition
    • How to Peel & Cut Taro?
    • Season Taro Fries
    • How to cook Taro Fries?
    • Deep Frying Method
    • Oven Method
    • How to Serve?
    • More Air Fryer Recipes
    • Taro Fries (Air Fryer, Oven & Stovetop)

    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 Fries in a bowl with a green dip / chutney

    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.

    If you love roasting veggies in the air fryer, check out this collection for 25+ Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes.

    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.  

    peeled and sliced taro on a cutting board

    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).

    Sliced taro fries (Arbi)

    Season Taro Fries

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

    Taro fries covered with spices and oil

    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.

    How to cook Taro Fries?

    I will be showing 3 ways to cook these taro fries - in the air fryer, oven or deep fried on the stovetop.

    All of these methods work and result in perfectly cooked, crispy taro. So pick based on your convenience.

    Air Fryer Method

    seasoned taro fries in the air fryer

    Place the seasoned taro in air fryer and cook for 15-17 minutes on 380°F.  Toss them half way through.

    Baked taro / Arbi fry in air fryer

    Deep Frying Method

    Heat oil in a large pan or deep fryer on medium-high flame. You can use any neutral tasting oil with a high smoking point. Heat the oil to 400F.

    Put the cut and seasoned taro in the pan, and cook until it is golden and crispy. It will take about 8-10 minutes on medium flame. Keep stirring at regular intervals.

    Oven Method

    Preheat oven to 400°F.

    Transfer the seasoned taro fries to a baking sheet. Make sure to put them in a single layer, so they cook evenly.

    Bake for 25-30 minutes until the fries start turning golden on the outside. Flip them at 15 minutes.

    Taro Fries are ready to be enjoyed.

    How to Serve?

    Serve them as an appetizer with ketchup or a cilantro chutney.

    They also go well as a side with burgers or pizza.

    In India, they are served as a side with lentils and roti/naan.

    Taro fries in a white bowl with a creamy dip
    Download free copy of air fryer cooking time chart

    More Air Fryer Recipes

    • Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Plantains
    • Air Fryer Turnips
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    Tried this recipe?Give a rating by clicking the ★ below
    Taro fries in a bowl with a cilantro dip

    Taro Fries (Air Fryer, Oven & Stovetop)

    Meeta Arora
    These Taro Fries (Crispy Arbi) are so easy to make, crispy and delicious. They are a great variation in taste and nutrition to potato french fries. Make them in the air fryer, oven or stovetop.
    4.82 from 22 votes
    Print Save Saved! Pin
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 411
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Gluten-free, Vegan
    Method: Air Fryer
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 15 mins
    Total Time: 25 mins

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 8-10 Taro small
    • 1 tablespoon Oil or Oil Spray
    • ½ teaspoon Salt adjust to taste

    Spices (optional)

    • ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder adjust to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Cumin (Jeera powder) or Dry Mango powder
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    Instructions
     

    Peel, Cut and Season

    • Peel the taro roots. If needed, wipe them clean with a paper towel.  Slice evenly like french fries.  
    • Place the sliced taro in a bowl. Add oil, salt and spices. Toss to coat evenly.    

    Air Fryer Method

    • Transfer taro to air fryer basket and place in air fryer.  Cook for 15-17 minutes on 380°F (190°C). Toss them half way through.

    Oven Method

    • Preheat oven to 400°F. Transfer the seasoned taro fries to a baking sheet. Make sure to put them in a single layer, so they cook evenly.
    • Bake for 25-30 minutes until the fries start turning golden on the outside. Flip them at 15 minutes.

    Stovetop Method

    • Heat oil in a large pan or deep fryer on medium-high flame. You can use any neutral tasting oil with a high smoking point. Heat the oil to 400°F.
    • Transfer the cut and seasoned taro to the pan, and cook until it is golden and crispy. It will take about 8-10 minutes on medium flame. Keep stirring at regular intervals.

    Serving

    • Taro fries are ready. Enjoy with your favorite dip or as a side dish.  

    Notes

    Peeling: Peeling taro is easier with a vegetable peeler. Do not wash taro after peeling, else it will get slimy and will be hard to hold or cut it. If you are new to taro, it is recommended to wear gloves when peeling or cutting it.  Do not touch your eyes when handling raw taro with your hands. 
    Seasoning: You can use or skip the spices based on your liking.  Just seasoning with salt and pepper also works great with taro fries. You can also add garlic powder if you prefer. 

    Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 411kcalCarbohydrates: 82gProtein: 5gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 624mgPotassium: 1845mgFiber: 13gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 389IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 140mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword arbi fry, taro air fryer, taro fries
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @PipingPotCurry or #pipingpotcurry

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    627 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Maneesha says

      September 05, 2022 at 9:20 am

      Excellent recipe! Turned out great! I loved it!

      Reply
      • Piping Pot Curry says

        September 06, 2022 at 10:30 am

        Hi Maneesha - So happy to hear that. Thank you for sharing it 🙂

        Reply
    2. Jessica says

      August 18, 2022 at 11:36 am

      Yay- I made a small batch as my 1st try. I wasn’t sure about the thickness until I read these comments but I’d already completed my fries. They still came out pretty great. I have a different air fryer and would only get me 390 degrees at 15. Although I should’ve aimed for 13 minutes- still came out great! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Piping Pot Curry says

        August 25, 2022 at 11:01 am

        Hi Jeesica - So happy to hear that. Thank you for sharing it back 🙂

        Reply
    3. Tino Nguyen says

      September 02, 2020 at 1:49 am

      Hey Meeta,

      Thanks for your recipe.

      Could you tell me what is the brand of the air fryer you used when cooking? You say that the taro fries at 10 minutes, I guess your air fryer cook fast.

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        September 02, 2020 at 3:19 pm

        Hi Tino - I used the philips air fryer. I do cut the taro very thin similar to french fries, so they cook faster. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    4. Nicole says

      June 19, 2019 at 2:04 pm

      1 year ago I shifted the diet of me and my family in a healthier way. The air fryer helped me to achieve that. I used less oil, but still made delicious food. I never tried Taro Root Fries but I can't wait to try, It looks delicious.

      Reply

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    Meeta Arora of Piping Pot Curry

    I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. Here you will find easy & delicious recipes using Instant Pot & Air Fryer.

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