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Home » Recipes » Air Fryer

Air Fryer Taro Fries / Crispy Arbi

Published June 3, 2021 Updated April 22, 2022 By Meeta Arora 3 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Air Fryer Taro Fries / Crispy Arbi
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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

seasoned taro fries in the air fryer

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

Baked taro / Arbi fry in air fryer

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.

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

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

Tried this recipe?Give a rating by clicking the ★ below
Taro fries in a bowl with a cilantro dip

Air Fryer Taro Fries / Crispy Arbi

Meeta Arora
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. A perfect snack or side with a cilantro dip!
4.74 from 19 votes
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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

Instructions
 

  • 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.    
  • 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.
  • Taro fries are ready. Enjoy with your favorite dip.  

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
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 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
  2. 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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