Taro Fries or Crispy Arbi made in Air Fryer. Taro Fries are very similar to potato french fries, but a great variation in taste and nutritional content.
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 Arbi 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.
I got the Philips air fryer on prime day in July. I was very unsure when buying it if it is worth the investment or not? How much will I use it or will it just accumulate dust and block counter space? But as it was prime day and the air fryer was on sale, I took the plunge.
I tried a few things – Stuffed Crispy Okra, Tandoori Gobi or Cauliflower and Taro Fries. I know you might be thinking these are complicated things to start with. But I wanted to try the things that I would like to get the convenience to make with the air fryer. Okay, after these 3 dishes we are hooked to the air fryer 🙂 So here is the first air fryer recipe I am posting, and there will be many more to come.
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. 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.
Preparing Taro Fries in Air Fryer
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 damp paper towel. Slice as evenly as you can, similar to french fries. 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).
Add all the cut taro root to a bowl and add some oil to it. I use a Canola oil spray, but you can use any oil you have.
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 Cauliflower Tikka Bites and Paneer Puff Pastry recipe.
Air Fryer Taro Fries / Crispy Arbi
Ingredients
Spices (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne or Red Chili powder or 1/4 tsp for less spice (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon Chaat Masala or Dry Mango powder
Instructions
- Peel the taro roots. If needed, wipe them clean with a damp 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 20 minutes on 360°F (180°C). Toss them half way through.
- Taro root fries are ready. Enjoy with your favorite dip.
Notes
- 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.
- You can use or skip the spices based on your liking. Just seasoning with salt and pepper also works great with taro fries.
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
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