Air Fryer Vegetable Paneer Kofta is a healthy and delicious appetizer made using simple vegetables and paneer. This can be enjoyed as a starter or dunked into a curry to make rich and creamy Vegetable paneer kofta curry.
What is Kofta?
Kofta is primarily balls made of minced meat, veggies, and spices. They are typically shaped in small round balls, patties, or long cylinders. At times, it is stuffed with nuts and dry fruits to make it richer.
For meat versions, beef, chicken, pork, lamb, mutton, and fish are used along with spices. Vegetarian versions can include a mixture of different veggies and paneer or tofu. Again dry fruits for richness.
These koftas are then fried, grilled, or baked. Most of the time they are served along with a rich, creamy, and spicy gravy. I too make a curry from these, Vegetable Paneer Kofta Curry.
I like to make different kofta. One of my all-time favorites is Dudhi kofta or Zucchini kofta. I also make Cauliflower and zucchini Koftas or this leftover pulav kofta.
Fried or baked or Air-Fried
These vegetable paneer koftas can be fried, baked, or air-fried or also can be cooked in an appe pan. Earlier I used to fry them but now I either bake or air-fry them.
Air-frying or baked kofta is a bit healthy as it does not involve all that excess oil used in frying. It also saves time as you do not have to babysit while frying. Once it is either in the oven or air-fryer you are free to do other jobs.
Depending on your air-fryer size one can make a batch. I have a 6 liter Cosori air-fryer and I can air-fry around 15 at a time.
Ingredients used in Air Fryer Vegetable Paneer Kofta
The 2 main ingredients for this recipe are vegetable and paneer.
Paneer is one of the most common types of cheese used in Indian cuisine and one of the best replacements for chicken and meat-based dishes. I like to make my paneer but one can use store-bought paneer too. For the vegan version, paneer can be replaced by tofu.
Vegetables – I use the vegetables which are seasonal for this recipe. Today, while making this again to update, I used carrots and mushrooms. Earlier I used carrots and cabbage. Other veggies that can be used are cauliflower, broccoli, capsicum, parsnip, etc.
Next are the spices, herbs, and flavorings. I have used garlic, ginger, green chilis, garam masala, cumin seeds, salt and chopped coriander.
Bread crumbs or gram flour are used to bind it all together and add a bit of crunch and crisp texture to the koftas. Earlier it was only bread crumbs, but now I like to use gram flour as it tastes better.
I have not used nuts, but if you serve this for parties or have guests at your place, or if you want to make it more rich add some chopped cashew in between the balls.
Recipe process of Air Fryer Vegetable Paneer Kofta
Preparation of vegetables
The recipe is pretty simple. I grate the vegetables, along with garlic and ginger. I like to squeeze out the water from the vegetables. In this way, I do not have to add too many bread crumbs gram flour, or cornflour at all. If you do not remove the water, while deep frying or air-frying it might break or release water. In that case, you need to add more bread crumbs or gram flour.
Next, I grate the paneer and add it to the veggie mixture along with chopped coriander spices, salt, and gram flour or breadcrumbs. Bind all together and form balls.
Chopped cashews can be used as a stuffing inside the balls to make it more rich.
Can this be frozen?
Yes, they can be frozen for up to 2-4 months. When required defrost or microwave it and use it.
Air Fryer Vegetable Paneer Kofta
Ingredients
- 1/4 Cup Carrots -finely chopped
- 1/2 Cup Cabbage – / Mushrooms of finely chopped
- 1/2 Cup Paneer / Indian Cheese – Mashed, Vegans can replace it with tofu
- 2 garlic cloves -grated, optional
- 1/2 inch Ginger grated
- 1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala
- 1/4 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- green chilies – chopped, to taste or optional
- 2 tablespoon fresh coriander chopped
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoon Gram Flour – or breadcrumbs or Corn flour, Gluten-free can use gram flour or gluten-free bread crumbs or gluten-free corn flour
- 1 teaspoon Oil for air-frying
- Oil as required, if frying
Instructions
- Clean, rinse, and peel the veggies.1/4 Cup Carrots, 1/2 Cup Cabbage
- Grate the vegetables using a grater.
- Squeeze out the water in a clean muslin cloth.
- Add the veggies in a large bowl.
- Grate or mash the paneer.1/2 Cup Paneer / Indian Cheese
- Add the paneer to the bowl.
- Add chopped coriander, grated garlic, grated ginger, cumin seeds, green chilies, garam masala powder, salt, and gram flour.2 garlic cloves, 1/2 inch Ginger, 1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala, 1/4 teaspoon Cumin Seeds, 2 tablespoon fresh coriander, Salt, 2 tablespoon Gram Flour, green chilies
- Mix everything and it should form like a dough.
- Divide into lime-sized balls around 1 inch diameter or the shape you desire.
Air-frying or Baking
- Preheat the air-fryer to 180 deg C/356 deg F.
- Lightly brush the koftas with oil.1 teaspoon Oil
- Once the air-fryer is preheated, arrange the koftas in the inner part of the air-fryer.
- Bake for 12 mins at 180 deg C/356 deg F, turning at half time.
- Increase the temperature to 200 deg C/392 deg F and bake again for 3 mins. This is to have a good golden brown color on the koftas.
Frying
- In a heavy bottom wok add oil for deep frying.Oil
- Once hot, on medium heat add one kofta and let it fry for 1-2 mins. If it does not break, add in the koftas.
- If it breaks at all one needs to add more gram flour or breadcrumbs or cornflour.
- Deep fry the remaining kofta on medium heat until golden brown in color.
- Alternatively shallow fry the kofta’s on medium heat in an appe pan.
Notes
- Standard measuring Cups and spoons used.
- Read above for replacements for vegans and gluten-free intolerant.
- Above Nutritional Calculation is for Air-Frying
Updates
This post was first published on 9th May 2015 and today 5th November 2023, I have edited the recipe a little, added new pics, and updated content for a better experience. Sharing this with Foodies_RedoingOldPost for the 112th post.
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Kalyani
Thursday 16th of November 2023
Airfryer Kofta is something we love too - I make it similarly using roasted gram flour / millet flour for binding. Clicks are super inviting, Renu. lovely presentation
Mayuri Patel
Monday 13th of November 2023
A wonderful idea to bake or air fry koftas which can be served as starters or added to a curry base. Love the idea. Perfect for the festive season.
Jayashree T Rao
Monday 6th of November 2023
The vegetable kofta looks delicious.Next time, I will also air fry them and put them in the curry.