500gpotatoesI use dutch baby potatoes and cut them in quarters
Oil for air frying
For The Achari Marinade
100gplain greek yogurtor thick curd
½-1tablespoonachari masala spice blendadd as per the intensity of your achai masala
1 teaspoonred chili powder(medium hot), adjust to taste
¼teaspoonturmeric powder
1tablespoonbesangram flour, substitute with chickpea flour
1teaspoonachar ka masalaoptional
1.25teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonlemon juice
Ginger garlic & chili pastequantities below
For Ginger Garlic Chili Paste
2-3garlic
¼inchfresh ginger
2green chilies(hot), adjust to taste
¼teaspooncumin seeds
¼teaspoonfennel seeds
Instructions
Preparation
Preparing Potatoes - The baby potatoes I used were big so I halved and then quatered them. If you have small baby potatoes, leave them whole.
Boil the potatoes in a pot of salted boling water until they are tender but still firm enough to hold their shape. Drain them and set aside to cool.
While the potatoes boil, in a small saucepan, dry roast the besan over low heat until it turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma.
Add garlic, ginger, green chilli, cumin seeds and fennel seeds to a mortar and using a pestle pound into a paste.
Make the Marinade & Marinate the potatoes
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together yogurt, achaari spice mix, nigella seeds, ginger, garlic, green chili paste, mustard oil, turmeric powder, red chili powder, achaar masala(from the achaar), and salt until well combined.Taste and add lemon juice as needed for added tangy flavors. Tip: The marinade should be thick. If it's too runny, it will slide off the tikka during cooking. To fix a runny marinade, stir in an extra tablespoon of roasted besan.
Add the cooled boiled potatoes to the achari marinade. Toss gently to ensure they are evenly coated in the marinade.
Cover and let the potatoes marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) in the refrigerator.
Air Fry The Marinated Potatoes
Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer. I line the basket with a liner for easy cleanup and its non-stick too. If you are placing directly on basket rack, spray the rack first with little bit of oil to prevent tikka from sticking.
Air fry at 360°F for 6-8 minutes. Flip the potatoes using tongs and continue for another 3-5 minutes until golden and crispy.
Pull out the basket and let the tikka stand for a minute.
Then, using tongs, transfer the achari aloo tikka to a serving plate. Ganish with chopped cilantro if you wish and serve warm.
Pan Frying Aloo Tikka
On low medium flame, heat up 2-3 tablespoons of oil in large skillet (non stick preferably). Layer the marinated potatoes in a single layer on the skillet.
Roast the potatoes 2-4 minutes per side until you see light brown chars. Rotate to roast on all sides.
Video
Notes
Cut potatoes in even size pieces for uniform cooking during air frying.
Air fry in batches. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Leave space between the marinated potatoes when you layer the,
You may increase the air fryer temperature to 400F for 1-2 minutes at the end for extra crispy edges.
Store the leftovers for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave for crisp up in air fryer at 350F.