Cooking with the seasons is how Indian kitchens have always worked: light, cooling food in summer, hot crispy snacks when it rains, and warming roasts in winter. Here is what to cook in your air fryer in each season, using produce that is at its cheapest and tastiest at that time of year.
What’s in season (India)
| Season | Best produce for the air fryer | Cook |
|---|---|---|
| Summer (Mar–Jun) | Baby corn, capsicum, mushrooms, zucchini, raw mango | Light tikkas, skewers, chaat |
| Monsoon (Jul–Sep) | Bhutta (corn), onions, potatoes, green chillies | Crispy tea-time snacks |
| Winter (Oct–Feb) | Sweet potato, cauliflower, carrots, peas, methi, peanuts, til | Roasts, namkeen, warming snacks |
Winter: warming air fryer recipes (cook these now)
Tandoori gobi
Air fry: 200 °C, 15–18 min
- Cut 1 medium cauliflower into florets and pat them very dry.
- Coat with 3 tbsp thick curd, 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste, 1 tsp kashmiri chilli, ½ tsp garam masala, ½ tsp chaat masala, salt and 1 tsp mustard oil. Rest 20 minutes.
- Air fry in a single layer at 200 °C for 15–18 minutes, shaking twice, until the edges char.
Roasted shakarkandi (sweet potato)
Cube, toss with 1 tsp oil and salt, and air fry at 200 °C for 15–18 minutes. Finish with lemon, chaat masala and black salt for classic winter street-style chaat. The vrat version is in our Navratri & Diwali recipes.
Til (sesame) for ladoos and chikki
Spread ½ cup white sesame on parchment and toast at 150 °C for 4–5 minutes, shaking every minute, until fragrant and pale golden. It is quicker and more even than a kadhai, so you can mix it straight into jaggery for til ladoos.
More winter favourites
- Roasted peanuts (moongphali), the ultimate winter evening snack
- Aloo gobi with fresh winter cauliflower
- Matar paneer with fresh green peas
- Methi mathri from our Diwali recipes
Monsoon: crispy rainy-day snacks
Butter-masala bhutta (corn on the cob)
Air fry: 200 °C, 12–15 min
Brush 2 corn cobs with a little butter or oil and air fry at 200 °C for 12–15 minutes, turning every 4 minutes, until spotted brown. Rub with lemon dipped in salt and red chilli, just like the roadside version.
Air fryer onion bhaji
Mix 2 thinly sliced onions with 4 tbsp besan, 1 tbsp rice flour, green chilli, ajwain, salt and just 1–2 tbsp water. The mix should cling, not drip. Shape small flat clusters on parchment, spray with oil and air fry at 190 °C for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway. Wet batters do not work in an air fryer, so keep it thick.
Rainy-day snack list
- Samosa and veg cutlet with chai
- Paneer pakoda
- French fries and potato wedges
- Green chilli kalonji as a spicy side
Summer: light, no-heat-in-the-kitchen cooking
In peak summer the air fryer’s biggest advantage is that it does not heat up the whole kitchen like a gas stove or OTG.
Tandoori mushroom and capsicum skewers
Marinate mushrooms, capsicum and onion chunks in curd, tikka masala and lemon for 20 minutes. Thread onto short skewers that fit your basket and air fry at 200 °C for 10–12 minutes, turning once.
Crispy chana chaat
Air fry boiled, well-dried chickpeas until crunchy (see roasted chickpeas), then toss with onion, tomato, cucumber, green chutney and lemon for a cooling, high-protein chaat.
Light summer ideas
- Paneer tikka with mint chutney
- High-protein paneer snacks
- Weight-loss air fryer recipes
- 5-minute air fryer recipes
Seasonal tips for your air fryer
- Monsoon humidity: roasted snacks soften quickly in humid air. Cool completely and store airtight, or re-crisp at 160 °C for 2–3 minutes.
- Winter vegetables are denser: sweet potato and cauliflower need a few minutes longer than summer vegetables; cut evenly.
- Summer: pat vegetables dry, since water content is higher and wet food steams instead of crisping.
- Keep the cooking time chart handy and avoid common mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make pakoras in an air fryer?
Yes, with a thick, low-water mixture rather than a runny batter. Onion bhaji, paneer pakoda and cutlets work well. Thin batters drip through the basket.
What is the best air fryer snack for winter?
Roasted peanuts, tandoori gobi and sweet potato chaat are our favourites: cheap, quick and made from peak-season produce.
See what other readers are cooking in trending air fryer recipes, or browse all Indian air fryer recipes.