Air fryer recipe · Snacks
Alu Vadi Spirals
Colocasia leaves rolled with sweet-tangy besan paste, steamed then air-crisped into pretty spiced pinwheels.
- 40 minTotal time
- 180°CAir fryer
- 6Serves
- VegetarianDiet
Nutrition per serving
- 135kcal
- 5.0 gprotein
- 18.9 gcarbs
- 4.7 gfat
- 2.4 gfibre
Per serving, about 6 servings. Figures are estimates from standard ingredient databases, not medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice.
Ingredients
- Colocasia (arbi) leaves6 large
- Besan (gram flour)1 cup
- Tamarind and jaggery paste2 tbsp
- Red chilli powder and turmeric1 tsp + 1/2 tsp
- Sesame seeds1 tbsp
- Oil for brushing1 tbsp
Method
Make the spread
Mix the besan with the tamarind-jaggery paste, chilli powder, turmeric, salt and just enough water to form a thick, spreadable paste. Keep it sticky and not runny, as this is the glue that holds the leaf layers together while they steam.
Layer the leaves
Trim the thick veins flat, lay a leaf shiny-side down and smear it with besan paste, then stack and spread another on top. Build up three leaves this way. Flattening the veins lets you roll a tight log with no gaps inside.
Roll and steam
Fold in the sides and roll the stack into a firm, tight log, then steam for 15 minutes until set. Cool it fully before slicing, as a warm log is soft and squashes, while a cooled one cuts into neat, clean rounds.
Coat the spirals
Brush each sliced spiral with oil and scatter sesame seeds over the top. Preheat the air fryer to 180C while you lay them out in a single layer. A hot basket sets the surface at once so the delicate slices hold their shape.
Air-fry the rolls
Air-fry at 180C for 14 min, flipping once halfway, until the edges are crisp and golden brown. The sesame should look toasted and the spirals feel firm to the touch, which tells you they have crisped through.
