Festive season is the time of year when Indian kitchens fry the most, and when an air fryer earns its counter space. This guide covers vrat-friendly Navratri snacks and classic Diwali namkeen and sweets made in the air fryer with a spoonful of ghee or oil instead of a kadhai full. Every recipe below has been written for a standard 4–5.5 L basket air fryer. Smaller or larger models may need a minute or two of adjustment.
Festive dates for 2026
| Festival | 2026 date | Cook ahead |
|---|---|---|
| Sharad Navratri | 11–19 October | Makhana, peanuts and sabudana vada mix |
| Dussehra | 20 October | Samosas, cutlets |
| Dhanteras | 6 November | Start namak pare and mathri |
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | 8 November | Nankhatai, shakarpara, masala kaju |
Dates follow the commonly published 2026 Hindu calendar; local observances can differ by a day, so check with your family panchang.
Part 1: Navratri vrat recipes in the air fryer
Fasting rules vary between families and regions. The recipes below use common vrat ingredients: sabudana, potato, sweet potato, makhana, peanuts, sendha namak (rock salt), cumin and green chilli. Swap or skip anything your family does not use during the fast.
Air fryer sabudana vada
Makes: 12 vadas · Air fry: 180 °C, 12–15 min
- 1 cup sabudana, soaked 4–5 hours and fully drained
- 2 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed
- ½ cup roasted peanuts, coarsely crushed
- 1–2 green chillies and 1 tsp ginger, finely chopped
- 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 tbsp chopped coriander, 1 tsp lemon juice
- Sendha namak to taste; 1–2 tsp ghee or oil for brushing
- Press a sabudana pearl between your fingers. It should squash easily. If it is still hard, soak longer.
- Mix everything except the ghee into a firm dough and shape into flat 1 cm-thick patties. Flat cooks better than round in an air fryer.
- Brush the basket and both sides of the vadas lightly with ghee.
- Air fry at 180 °C for 12–15 minutes, flipping at 7 minutes, until golden and crisp.
Tip: Too-wet sabudana makes vadas spread and stick. Drain in a sieve for 30 minutes after soaking.
Roasted makhana (vrat namkeen)
Serves: 2–3 · Air fry: 150–160 °C, 8–10 min
- Toss 2 cups makhana with 1 tsp melted ghee, sendha namak and black pepper.
- Air fry at 150–160 °C for 8–10 minutes, shaking every 3 minutes.
- Bite one. It should snap crisp all the way through. Cool fully before storing in an airtight jar.
Shakarkandi (sweet potato) chaat
Serves: 2 · Air fry: 200 °C, 15–18 min
- Peel and cut 2 sweet potatoes into 2 cm cubes. Toss with 1 tsp oil and a pinch of sendha namak.
- Air fry at 200 °C for 15–18 minutes, shaking twice, until the edges caramelise.
- Toss with roasted cumin powder, black pepper, lemon juice and chopped coriander.
Vrat paneer tikka
Marinate paneer cubes in thick curd, sendha namak, black pepper and roasted cumin for 30 minutes. Air fry at 200 °C for 10–12 minutes, turning once. For the full non-vrat version, see paneer tikka in the air fryer.
More fasting-friendly snacks from our kitchen
- Roasted peanuts in the air fryer: use sendha namak
- Banana chips in the air fryer
- Potato wedges: season with sendha namak and black pepper only
Part 2: Diwali snacks and sweets in the air fryer
Deep-fried namkeen tins are a Diwali tradition. The air fryer versions below are slightly less puffy than kadhai-fried ones but beautifully crisp. They keep for 1–2 weeks in airtight tins, which makes them ideal for gifting.
Baked namak pare
Makes: 1 medium tin · Air fry: 170 °C, 10–12 min per batch
- 1 cup maida (or half atta), ½ tsp ajwain, ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp ghee or oil (moyan), rubbed in until crumbly
- Water to make a stiff dough; 1 tsp oil for brushing
- Rest the dough 15 minutes, roll 3 mm thick and cut into diamonds.
- Toss lightly with oil and spread in a single layer.
- Air fry at 170 °C for 10–12 minutes, shaking twice, until light golden. They crisp further as they cool.
Methi mathri
Air fry: 160 °C, 15–18 min
Make a stiff dough with 1 cup maida, 1 tbsp kasuri methi, ½ tsp ajwain, ½ tsp crushed black pepper, salt and 3 tbsp ghee. Roll into 5–6 cm discs about 4 mm thick and prick all over with a fork. Air fry at 160 °C for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway. Low and slow gives the flaky, biscuit-like texture.
Shakarpara
Dissolve ¼ cup sugar in ¼ cup warm milk, cool, then knead into 1 cup maida with 2 tbsp ghee. Roll, cut into diamonds and air fry at 170 °C for 10–12 minutes, shaking twice. Watch the last two minutes, because sugar browns quickly.
Nankhatai
Makes: 14–16 · Air fry: 160 °C, 10–12 min (preheated)
- Whisk ½ cup ghee with ½ cup powdered sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Add 1 cup maida, ¼ cup besan, ½ tsp cardamom powder and a pinch of baking soda. Mix into a soft dough.
- Shape small balls, flatten slightly and top with a pistachio sliver.
- Place on parchment with 2–3 cm gaps and air fry at 160 °C for 10–12 minutes. Cool completely on the tray before moving, since they are fragile when hot.
Masala kaju
Toss 1 cup cashews with ½ tsp oil, salt, chaat masala and a pinch of red chilli. Air fry at 150 °C for 6–8 minutes, shaking every 2 minutes. Cashews go from golden to burnt quickly, so stay close.
More festive favourites
- Air fryer samosa: a Dussehra and Diwali party staple
- Veg cutlet and paneer pakoda
- Cookies, brownies and cake in the air fryer for modern Diwali gift boxes
Festive batch-cooking tips
- Cook in single layers. Two quick batches beat one crowded, soggy batch.
- Cool before storing. Warm namkeen sealed in a tin goes soft from trapped steam.
- Use parchment for sweets. Nankhatai and shakarpara stick less and clean-up is faster.
- Know your machine. Check our temperature guide and cooking time chart, and avoid these common mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make vrat food in an air fryer?
Yes. Sabudana vada, makhana, sweet potato, potato and peanuts all air fry very well with sendha namak and a little ghee. Just keep the basket clean of non-vrat spices from previous cooking.
Do air-fried namak pare taste like fried ones?
They are crisp and flavourful but slightly denser and less blistered than deep-fried ones. Rubbing enough ghee into the flour (moyan) makes the biggest difference.
How long do air fryer Diwali snacks last?
Namak pare, mathri and shakarpara keep 1–2 weeks in an airtight tin once fully cooled. Nankhatai keeps about a week.
Looking for more? Browse all Indian air fryer recipes, snacks and low-oil snacks, or see what is trending this season.