Enjoy this air fried Beetroot cutlets with some hot and spicy chutney on the side. Crispy from outside (because of the semolina coating) and moist from inside, this popular Indian street food recipe delivers the same taste with less calories. Use this beetroot tikki in air fryer or beetroot cutlets recipe to serve as a party appetizer or even patties for sandwiches.
Pan Fried Beetroot Cutlets vs. Beetroot Tikki in Air Fryer
For Indians, Street food is a sentiment. The street food carts encroach footpaths, parking places and roads offering a a plethora of dishes like aloo tikki, samosas to beetroot cutlets with steaming cups of masala chai. However, sometimes deliciousness comes with a price. The Indian street food is most often than not deep fried or pan fried making them somewhat unhealthy for your heart.
So, just imagine a plate of beetroot cutlets or beetroot tikki served with some fiery chutneys (both savory and sweet) with way less calories!!! You are salivating already, right!!! Exactly.
In this Beetroot cutlet recipe, I’m going to show you how to make air fried beetroot cutlets. With a little bit of oil used in this recipe, these vegan beetroot tikkis match the taste and texture of their greasy deep fried counterparts. They not only taste amazing as an appetizer with some masala chai but also you can use the left over tikkis as sandwich patties for lunch. Better still, stuff the beetroot cutlets inside buns to make delicious vegetarian burgers.
Why you will love Air Fried Beetroot Tikki
- Heart friendly vegan appetizer
- These cutlets can also be used as a patty in sandwiches and burgers or rolled into naan
- A yummy way to enjoy beets
- Made in Air Fryer
- The patties can be frozen for months
Ingredients used in making Vegan Beetroot Cutlets in Air Fryer
Beetroot
I have used two medium sized organic beets from Whole Foods. You need to wash them really well, peel them and use a grater to grate the beets. Two medium sized beets will yield two cups of grated beets.
Potatoes
In this beetroot cutlet recipe in air fryer, you will need about 4 to 5 medium sized potatoes. I have used organic white potatoes with skin. Basically, with 2 cups of grated beets you will need 4 cups of boiled and mashed potatoes (from 4 to 5 medium sized potatoes). So, the ratio is 2 cups of grated beet to 4 cups of boiled and mashed potatoes.
Spices & Seasoning
These beetroot tikkis are flavored with chopped onion, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala, salt, chili powder and turmeric. All the spices can be easily found in leading grocery stores.
Semolina
I have used very little semolina to coat the tikkis to give them that street food texture and feel. Semolina can be replaced with corn flour or breadcrumbs as well.
Step-by-Step process in making Beetroot Cutlets in Air Fryer
Wash, peel and grate the beets.
Wash and boil the potatoes. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher. The potatoes dont have to be mashed really well
In a non stick frying pan, heat 4 tbsp oil. Fry 1 medium sized onion chopped. Once the onion becomes translucent, add the beets and mashed potatoes.
Add turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder, salt, chili pepper and garam masala and cook on medium to low heat for 12 to 15 minutes, covered.
Once cooked, take the pan off the heat and let the beetroot cutlet mixture cool down. The mixture is now ready
Take a lemon size portion from the beetroot and potato mixture and roll between your palms to make a round. Then flatten it to make a tikki. Sprinkle the tikkis with some semolina.
Freeze the tikkis for couple hours or till you are ready to use them.
Place a couple of the frozen tikkis in the air fryer and air fry them for 12 minutes.
Enjoy with some Tamarind Date Chutney Recipe (Imli ki Chutney)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the beetroot cutlets on a frying pan?
Yes, absolutely. Heat 3 to 4 tablespoons of oil in a pan – I use my Green Pan (NOT A SPONSERED POST), on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, place the beetroot tikkis into the pan. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on one side until browned, then flip and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes until browned. Serve hot!
Can I use other veggies?
Yes, you can add grated carrots, peas to make them more nutritious. However, beets need to be the star in this air fried beetroot cutlet recipe.
Can I store the tikkis in the freezer?
You can store the tikkis in an airtight container or a Ziplock bag in the freezer for at least 2 months. When ready to use, take the beetroot cutlets from the freezer and air fry them for 12 to 14 minutes.
Can I use the mixture as spread?
Yes, you dont have shape all the beetroot potato mixture into cutlets or tikkis or patties. You can actually use the mixture as a spread between your breads to make a yum vegetarian sandwich or panini.
How to make BEST Beetroot Cutlets – Tips and Tricks
Binding the beetroot tikki dough
Binding the ingredients can be a little challenging if your potatoes to beets proportion is off. From my tried and tested method, I always use 2 cups of grated beets to 4 cups of mashed potatoes.
Freeze the beetroot tikki
A simple way of making sure you get a good tikki is to keep it in the refrigerator or freezer (if you have less time) before cooking them. The cold temperature inside the fridge will harden and bind the tikki naturally.
Heat the oil in advance
If you are going to fry your tikki in a pan, then, start heating the oil in the frying pan and let it come to a boiling temperature before tossing in the tikkis. Then reduce the flame to low to medium. Frying the tikki at a low flame will let the tikki cook through without leaving it burnt.
Grating the beets vs. Boiling and Mashing them
I find grating the beets is way easier than boiling them and mashing them. Grated beets also have a better taste and texture than boiled and mashed beets.
Serving suggestions for Air fried Beetroot Tikki
Limitless options here
- Enjoy hot beetroot cutlets with some Imli ki Chutney or Green chutney
- You can also serve these beetroot cutlets with some yogurt mint chutney. Presentation is key. These would make stunning appetizers for your parties.
- Leftover beetroot cutlets can be served as sandwich patties or vegetarian burgers. Slather some fiery tomato chutney on a bun, place a tikki topped with some lettuce and enjoy a hearty and filling vegetarian burger for lunch.
Beetroot Tikki in Air Fryer | Beetroot Cutlets
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 Medium sized beets
- 5 Medium sized white potatoes
- 1 Onion chopped
- 1 Tbsp. Coriander powder
- 1 Tbsp. Turmeric
- 4 Tbsp. Light olive oil
- 1 Tbsp Chili powder You can add more or less up to your taste. We like it Spicy
- 1/2 Tbsp. Cumin powder
- 1/2 Tbsp. Garam Masala
Instructions
- Clean the beets really well. Peel them with a peeler and then grate them.
- Wash the potatoes and boil till they are soft. Mash them with skin on. NOTE: You can take the skin off if you dont like the taste of potatoes with skin.
- In a pan, heat oil.
- Once the oil is hot enough, add the chopped onion and cook on medium heat till the onion is translucent.
- Add the grated beets and mashed potatoes into the pan along with turmeric, salt, coriander powder, cumin powder, chili powder. Mix it well.
- Cover and cook in low heat for 12 to 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes the beetroot cutlet mixture will be ready. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool.
- Take a lemon size ball from the beetroot tikki mixture and flatten it in your palm (like in the picture) to form a tikki
- In a plate, take some semolina and roll the tikkis in the semolina. Follow this process to use all the mixture. This recipe of beetroot tikki in air fryer will yeaild you about 15/18 tikkis.
- Freeze the prepared beetroot tikkis for couple of hours or till you are ready to air fry them.
- In your air fryer, sir fry the beetroot cutlets for 12/14 minutes.
- Enjoy piping hot beetroot cutlets with some masala chai
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