Crunchy lentils make for a really tasty and healthy snack. This air fryer chana dal or split chickpeas are easy to make and a really tasty munchie to have lying around.
It is so much better and non-greasy than the unhealthy chana dal namkeen that I used to have earlier.
This is a low-oil, guilt-free and crispy snack option that is completely dairy free and vegan. Your family will love it.
You will also enjoy air fryer sprouted mung beans, air fryer moong dal, crispy chickpeas in air fryer, air fryer butter beans and air fryer peas.
Ingredients
Split Chickpeas or Chana Dal: You will need one cup of these lentils.
Baking Soda: A couple of pinches is used here.
Seasonings: Paprika, salt and chaat masala (optional) are used.
Olive oil: 1 tbsp. is used for coating the lentils.
Instructions
Take 1 cup chana dal and wash it a couple of times.
Now soak in 3 cups of water after adding ⅛ tsp. or 2 pinches of baking soda to the water. This helps in making the lentils soft and prevents them from hardening on air frying.
Soak for 3-4 hours. Drain after this time and using towels dry the lentils as thoroughly as you can. This step is important in crisping them well.
Preheat air fryer at 180C or 360F for 3 minutes. Meanwhile in a bowl, toss the chana dal with 1 tbsp. olive oil or vegetable oil and salt. I prefer to season with spices after the lentils have been air fried.
Place in air fryer basket. You can remove the crisper plate if using a Cosori.
Air fry the chana dal at 180C or 360F for 18-20 minutes till it is crispy and cooked. Do not let it get too crispy as it continues to cook after you remove it and will get very hard later.
Shake the basket once every 5 minutes for even cooking.
Take out the air fried chana dal and toss with some oil and paprika or red chili powder, some more salt and some chaat masala (for the Indian touch). You can skip the chaat masala and just add some pepper and cumin only or any other seasoning mix that you like.
Your air fried chana dal is ready to eat. You can eat it right away. If storing, let it cool down and then store in an airtight container. Enjoy.
Expert Tips
1. It is important to dry out the dal after soaking and draining so that it crisps up well when you air fry.
2. You can skip the baking soda, but I find that it helps in cooking the dal well while preventing it from hardening.
3. You could also soak the dal in hot water for an hour if you are in rush and also if you want to avoid using baking soda. We want the dal to be soaked through but still holding its shape and not mushy before air frying.
4. Adjust the seasoning as per your taste.
5. I did the entire dal in one batch. Ensure there is no overcrowding in the basket.
6. You can make a savory trail mix with crispy lentils, crispy seeds and nuts.
7. You cannot use canned or cooked dal in this recipe, as it will not crisp up.
8. Also I would not advise skipping the oil, but if you really must, use lemon juice or aquafaba to help spices adhere.
9. Storage: Store the air fried chana dal in an airtight container at room temperature. It stays fresh and crispy for up to a week. You can always air fry for 2-3 minutes to crisp it further if it feels less crisp on storage.
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Air fryer Chana Dal
Equipment
Ingredients
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Instructions
- Take 1 cup chana dal and wash it a couple of times. Now soak in 3 cups of water after adding ¼ tsp. Or 2 pinches of baking soda to the water. This helps in making the lentils soft and prevents them from hardening on air frying.
- Soak for 3-4 hours. Drain after this time and using towels dry the lentils as thoroughly as you can. This step is important in crisping them well.
- Preheat air fryer at 180C or 360F for 3 minutes. Meanwhile in a bowl, toss the chana dal with 1 tbsp. olive oil or vegetable oil and salt. I prefer to season the lentils after they have been air fried.
- Place in air fryer basket. You can remove the crisper plate if using a Cosori. Air fry the chana dal at 180C or 360F for 18-20 minutes till it is crispy and cooked. Do not let it get too crispy as it continues to cook after you remove it and will get very hard later.
- Shake the basket once every 5 minutes for even cooking.
- Take out the air fried chana dal and toss with some oil and paprika or red chili powder, some more salt and some chaat masala (for the Indian touch). You can skip the chaat masala and just add some pepper and cumin only.
- Your air fried chana dal is ready to eat. You can eat it right away. If storing, let it cool down and then store in an airtight container. Enjoy.
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