Daal Pakwan is a beloved Sindhi breakfast served during special occasions and festive gatherings, Sunday brunch.This deep-fried flatbread has a special place in the culinary heritage of Sindhi community. It has been on my wishlist for long to make a pakwan in air fryer. This version reimagines the classic dish into bite-sized air-fried katoris - perfect as a party starter or festive snack.
The air fryer gives the pakwan shells a crisp, golden texture with minimal oil, while the spicy chana dal filling keeps the authentic flavor intact. Serve it with chopped onions, cilantro, sweet chutney and spicy mint chutney and masala for that irresistible street-style experience.What a treat for taste buds!
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Equipment
- Air fryer
- Pressure cooker
How to make air fryer dal pakwan ? (recipe video)
Ingredients
- Plain flour (maida)
- Cumin seeds
- Carom seeds (ajwain)
- Oil
- Salt
- Water
- Yellow split peas (chana dal)
- Turmeric powder
- Asafoetida (hing)
- Cumin seeds (for tempering)
- Chutneys (mint and tamarind)
- Onions, coriander, red chilli powder, dry mango powder
Refer to recipe card for details.
How to make baked pakwan katori?
- Add the oil to flour and salt. Mix it until you can combine the dough
Add water to the mix.
- Knead into a stiff dough.
- Make a bigger chapati from the dough and roll it around a steel bowl of your choice.
- Once the bowl is enclosed in the dough it will look as below. Spread some oil using a brush or oil spray.
- Preheat air fryer at 170 deg C for 5 mins and air fry the katori for 14-15 minutes at 170 deg C.
- Once they are cool, remove the shells from the katori.These can be stored in an air tight box for few days. If they are not crisp on the day you want to use them, reheat them for 1-2 minute in the air fryer.
How to make dal?
1. Soak the lentils in water for 2-3 hours.
2. Cook them in a pot or pressure cooker with salt and turmeric powder.
3. Put a portion of lentil in the serving bowl, garnish with red chilli powder.
4. Heat oil, add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, let it splutter , Add the hot oil tempering to lentils. Garnish with finely chopped coriander, onions, sweet chutney and optionally garam masala powder.
More Air Fryer Indian Recipes
If you enjoyed this katori chaat, try these other Indian snacks made in the air fryer - all crisp, flavorful, and ready in minutes.
- Mini Samosa in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Masala Peanuts
- Air Fryer Chickpeas
- Air Fried Moong Dal
- Air Fryer Sev
For festive serving ideas, see our Diwali Snack Platter.
Air Fryer Dal Pakwan | Mini Katori Chaat
Equipment
- Air fryer
- pressure cooker
Ingredients
For pakwaan katori
- 1- ½ cup all purpose flour / maida
- ½ cup wholemeal flour or all purpose flour/maida
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon jeera or cumin seeds optional
- ¾ cup Little water to knead Add few more tablespoons if required.
- 4 tablespoon oil for the dough
- 1 tablespoon oil for brushing,spray
Instructions
- Add the oil to flour and salt. Mix it until you can combine the dough
- Add water to the mix.Knead into a stiff dough.
- Make a bigger chapati from the dough and roll it around a steel bowl of your choice.
- Once the bowl is enclosed in the dough it will look as below. Spread some oil using a brush or oil spray.
- Preheat air fryer at 170 deg C for 5 mins and air fry the katori for 14-15 minutes at 170 deg C.
- Once they are cool, remove the shells from the katori.These can be stored in an air tight box for few days. If they are not crisp on the day you want to use them, reheat them for 1-2 minute in the air fryer.
For dal
- Soak the lentils in water for 2-3 hours.
- Cook them in a pot or pressure cooker with salt and turmeric powder.
- Put a portion of lentil in the serving bowl, garnish with red chilli powder
- Heat oil, add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, let it splutter , Add the hot oil tempering to lentils. Garnish with finely chopped coriander, onions, sweet chutney and optionally garam masala powder.
Serving instructions
- Heat oil in a deep pan.Add cumin seeds and let it crackle. Add this to the cooked dal.Garnish with chilly powder and amchur/dried mango powder.Serve the dal in pakwan katori with chopped onions, green chutney and tamarind or date chutney.
Video
Variations
- Toss a, or boiled potatoes / canned chickpeas, pomegranate arils and serve them .it take around 2-3 days to make sprout the lentils/beans, so make them in advance) as a katori chaat. Add any cooked beans, lentils to reimagine how you eat your lentils.Use the same method to make air-fried katoris for dahi chaat or papdi chaat.
- Add boiled potatoes or mixed sprout salad to the dal for a mixed chaat version.
- Replace maida with some whole-wheat flour for a healthier pakwan shell. However, it will be a bit softer.
FAQs
The cook time for katori chaat is around 14-15 minutes in the airfryer @170C|340F.
You can fill the basket with sprouts, boiled potatoes, or mixed beans for a wholesome chaat.
Yes you can make 1-2 days in advance. Reheat for 1-2 mins before you serve.
Storage
You can make the katoris in advance. Keep the air-fried katoris in a dry container. Avoid refrigeration as it softens them. Air-fry again for 1-2 minutes before you serve.
Air fryer tips
To use your air fryer to your best potential read to our articles on preheating an airfryer, how to choose your air fryer,how to use air fryer for Indian cooking, can you place a plate in an airfryer.
Conclusion: Making Dal Pakwan Chaat in the air fryer combines traditional Sindhi flavors with modern convenience. These crisp, golden katoris make a great starter for gatherings or festive platters - proof that Indian classics can easily adapt to healthier, oil-light cooking methods.
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