• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

My Cooking Journey logo

  • Home
  • Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
×

Home » Side Dishes » Curry , Poriyal and Subzi

Published: May 6, 2021 · Modified: May 6, 2021 by Sandhya Ramakrishnan · This post may contain affiliate links

Seppankizhangu Poriyal | Arbi Roast in Air Fryer

Jump to Recipe

Arbi roast or seppankizhangu poriyal is a classic Indian dry curry that is often served in a feast. Arbi also known as taro roots or colocasia in English is a root vegetable and is very delicious when made into a roast. This recipe also goes by the name taro fry and is made a couple of different ways.

Seppankizhangu fry or roast is often made on stove top with a liberal amount of oil to evenly roast the vegetable. I have recently started using my air fryer to make the arbi roast and I may never go back to the traditional method of pan frying it again.

taro root poriyal in a pan with vathal kuzhambu

Table of contents

  • Why Use Air Fryer to make Taro Fry?
  • Why this recipe works?
  • How to serve this Arbi fry?
  • Ingredients and Substitutes
  • Step by step process
  • Expert tips
  • Frequently asked questions

Why Use Air Fryer to make Taro Fry?

Air fryer has indeed changed my cooking style to some extent. I love cooking these taro root fry in a heavy cast iron pan as it gives a beautiful caramelization. It is quite a bit of hands on work as we have to patiently roast / fry these in medium flame and keep flipping to cook evenly.

But with the air fryer, it is much easier to attain a even roast without constant stirring. The vegetable also remains quite moist inside while nicely roasted outside. There are a few tips (will talk about it below) that I follow which helps in keeping the taro roots from becoming too dry.

Sign up to my newsletter

Why this recipe works?

  • This is a very easy recipe and uses just the basic spices and ingredients.
  • Air frying the seppankizhangu poriyal makes it consume much less oil.
  • It is less hands on work as the frying part is done in the air fryer. We just have to toss the taro fry once in a while.
seppankizhangu roast in a pan with a ladle and vatha kuzhambu in background

How to serve this Arbi fry?

The Taro root fry tastes delicious with vatha kuzhambu. On this particular day, I made the Arachuvitta Sundakkai Vatha Kuzhambu and it was the best combination ever. I also love it with yogurt rice. In fact, I can have a couple of extra servings of yogurt rice if I have Seppankizhangu roast for lunch.

There is a different recipe that uses flour coating to make the Arbi fry and that is also often served as a snack or appetizer. I will be testing that version soon in air fryer, but until then here is a recipe that you could take a look.

Ingredients and Substitutes

Check the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact measurements and printable detailed recipe.

Seppankizhangu - Also known as Arbi in Hindi and Taro root or colocasia is English. Use similar sized taro root for even cooking. Use as many as needed depending on number of people feeding.

Dry spice powders - I use turmeric powder, red chili powder and cumin coriander powder to season my arbi roast. Apart from these we need oil and salt as needed. I also use a little curry leaves for flavor.

Recipe Note - If I am making this poriyal / seppankizhangu on stove top, then I would be seasoning it with mustard seeds before adding the dry spice powders. Since I am roasting these taro root in air fryer, I skipped that.

Step by step process

  • First start with cooking the seppankizhangu. I use my pressure cooker or Instant Pot to cook the taro root. The cooking time varies depending on the size of the taro root. I choose medium and even sized taro and it takes about 6 minutes on normal mode to cook. If the taro roots are bigger in size, cook it for about 7 to 8 minutes.
  • Release the pressure in 10 minutes and then peel the cooked seppankizhangu.
  • Now chop the arbi into even sized rounds or ½ inch cubes. Place the chopped pieces in a bowl.
  • Add the dry spice powders along with salt and about 1 tablespoon of oil and gently mix it to combine.
process shot to cook, peel and chop taro root
  • Preheat the air fryer at 370 F for about 3 minutes.
  • Now place the prepared seppankizhangu in a single row without crowding the tray. If preferred, you can brush the air fryer tray / basket with a layer of oil as well.
  • Insert the air fryer basket back in place and let it cook for about 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, remove the basket and gently toss around the content and then return back to finish cooking. It took me about 8 to 10 minutes to evenly roast a batch. I flipped and tossed the arbi about 3 times in between.
roasting arbi / seppankizhangu in air fryer

Expert tips

  • Choose medium and even sized seppankizhangu / taro root for uniform cooking. If the sized of the vegetables vary, then some might overcook and some might be too hard.
  • I like to cook the colocasia a little bit of the softer side to make sure that it does not becomes too dry in the air fryer. This tip has worked for me every time.
  • Follow this tip if the arbi becomes too soft. Remove the arbi from the cooking water and let it dry out. You can also place it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes and it will firm up a little bit. Then peel the skin and chop it before air frying.
  • Do not over crowd the air fryer basket. Make sure that you have space to toss the seppankizhangu poriyal comfortably.
arbi fry in a pan

Frequently asked questions

What to do if my taro root becomes mushy when cooking?

Make sure to cool the cooked taro before peeling and chopping. Placing it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes helps to some extent to make it less mushy. We could also sprinkle a teaspoon or two of rice flour when mixing the spice powders before air frying.

How to cook taro root without an instant pot or pressure cooker?

You could place the taro roots in boiling water and cook until it is soft. We could also peel the taro roots and chop into pieces and then microwave to soften a bit and then proceed with the recipe.

Can I make Arbi fry without air fryer?

Absolutely! Until last year I have made it entirely on stove top. Make sure to pan fry them in a single layer without crowding and toss them frequently to cook evenly. We could also place the sliced arbi on an oven tray and bake it oven. In case of using oven, make sure to slice the taro instead of cubing them.

 If you made this recipe and liked it, give a star rating on the recipe card or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #MyCookingJourney and tagging me @sandhya.ramakrishnan. You could follow me and my recipes on Facebook |Instagram | Pinterest | twitter

arbi roast made in air fryer in a bowl

Seppankizhangu Roast | Arbi fry in Air Fryer

Arbi roast or seppankizhangu poriyal is a classic Indian dry curry that is often served in a feast. Arbi also known as taro roots or colocasia in English is a root vegetable and is very delicious when made into a roast. This recipe also goes by the name taro fry and is made a couple of different ways.
5 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: South Indian
Diet: Vegan
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 198kcal
Author: Sandhya Ramakrishnan

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • Air fryer

Ingredients

  • 12 medium seppankizhangu / taro root / arbi
  • 1 tablespoon oil any cooking oil
  • ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin coriander powder (dhania jeera powder) optional
  • 10 leaves curry leaves
  • to taste Salt

Instructions

  • First start with cooking the seppankizhangu. I use my pressure cooker or Instant Pot to cook the taro root. The cooking time varies depending on the size of the taro root. I choose medium and even sized taro and it takes about 6 minutes on normal mode to cook. If the taro roots are bigger in size, cook it for about 7 to 8 minutes.
  • Release the pressure in 10 minutes and then peel the cooked seppankizhangu.
  • Now chop the arbi into even sized rounds or ½ inch cubes. Place the chopped pieces in a bowl.
  • Add the dry spice powders along with salt and about 1 tablespoon of oil and gently mix it to combine.
  • Preheat the air fryer at 370 F for about 3 minutes.
  • Now place the prepared seppankizhangu in a single row without crowding the tray. If preferred, you can brush the air fryer tray / basket with a layer of oil as well.
  • Insert the air fryer basket back in place and let it cook for about 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, remove the basket and gently toss around the content and then return back to finish cooking. It took me about 8 to 10 minutes to evenly roast a batch. I flipped and tossed the arbi about 3 times in between.

Notes

Expert tips
  • Choose medium and even sized seppankizhangu / taro root for uniform cooking. If the sized of the vegetables vary, then some might overcook and some might be too hard.
  • I like to cook the colocasia a little bit of the softer side to make sure that it does not becomes too dry in the air fryer. This tip has worked for me every time.
  • Follow this tip if the arbi becomes too soft. Remove the arbi from the cooking water and let it dry out. You can also place it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes and it will firm up a little bit. Then peel the skin and chop it before air frying.
  • Do not over crowd the air fryer basket. Make sure that you have space to toss the seppankizhangu poriyal comfortably.

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 928mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 391IU | Vitamin C: 74mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Sandhya.Ramakrishnan or tag #MyCookingJourney!
Blogging Marathon Logo
« Kovakkai Curry / Poriyal | Ivy Gourd Stir Fry
Savory Kugelhopf Bread »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Suma Gandlur says

    June 03, 2021 at 8:00 pm

    Guilt free cooking without all that stir frying, I do all my fries in the air fryer. Loving your arbi roast.

    Reply
  2. Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey says

    May 27, 2021 at 9:40 am

    Guilty of not cooking this root vegetable in my kitchen often. Whilst growing up in India mum always made this sabji. The air fryer version is I must try soon.

    Reply
  3. Usha Rao says

    May 24, 2021 at 6:54 am

    5 stars
    This was a regular at home when growing up. But my mother deep fries and then stir fries with onions. I avoid deep frying and don't make this roast. After seeing your post, made it in air fryer and it turned out perfect!

    Reply
  4. NARMADHA says

    May 23, 2021 at 1:56 pm

    5 stars
    I was looking for air fryer recipes and came across this arbi roast and tried it immediately. It came out perfectly crispy and it was finished in no time.

    Reply
  5. Radha says

    May 21, 2021 at 2:17 pm

    5 stars
    This is a perfect roast for any meal. The kitchen gadgets are really useful in making our lives simpler. Love how you used air-fryer to make it and it looks great and delicious.

    Reply
  6. Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth says

    May 19, 2021 at 2:15 pm

    5 stars
    That arbi roast looks so crisp and crunchy that it is difficult to make out that it is made in the air fryer....

    Reply
  7. Archana says

    May 19, 2021 at 11:05 am

    5 stars
    Seppankizhangu poriyal looks delicious. You are taking me down the memory lane when Rammurty Aunty made this poriyal regularly! Love it will make it immediately have some arbi too!

    Reply
  8. Seema Sriram says

    May 17, 2021 at 1:45 am

    5 stars
    Tempting recipe with arbi here. I am now certainly sold on getting the airfryer as it makes the oil content so low.

    Reply
  9. Poonam Bachhav says

    May 14, 2021 at 3:08 pm

    5 stars
    Using air fryer to make arbi roast is a brilliant idea. Makes the snack so guilt free!

    Reply
  10. Sapana says

    May 14, 2021 at 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    I have always made arbi wither dry spicy sabzi or gravy curry. This version of frying the arbi with spice coating sounds so delicious. Air frying definitely makes it totally guilt free.

    Reply
  11. Uma Srinivas says

    May 13, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    5 stars
    Taro root is one of our favorite root vegetables. I make poriyal with coconuts and spices. This is a unique way of doing it by using an air fryer, sounds perfect!

    Reply
  12. Mayuri Patel says

    May 13, 2021 at 2:01 pm

    5 stars
    Arbi Roast looks so tempting, wish I could have some right away. I've still contemplating whether I should buy an air fryer. As I see more recipes where its used, really want to get one.

    Reply
  13. Lata Lala says

    May 13, 2021 at 1:09 pm

    5 stars
    What a fab idea to make arbi in Air fryer Sandhya. We love eating deep fried arbi and now I know how to make good use of air fryer and avoid deep frying it. Arbi looks awesome and perfect.

    Reply
  14. Pavani says

    May 13, 2021 at 12:41 pm

    5 stars
    My family loves arbi and I was looking for an easy alternate to frying with oil. Your air fried arbi turned out so crispy and delicious - with just fraction of oil. Thank you so much for the recipe - we have a new favorite now.

    Reply
  15. Rajani says

    May 12, 2021 at 9:32 pm

    5 stars
    I got the air fryer lid last month and I am not going to make potatoes on stovetop again. Good to see the cheppankizhangu fry here, that was my next in list. Looks really delicious!

    Reply
  16. Vaishali says

    May 07, 2021 at 9:48 pm

    Air fryer is such a boon- we love to try different recipes in it.I love this version of Arbi, sounds super delicious with less oil yet crunchy.

    Reply
  17. Ritu says

    May 07, 2021 at 7:54 am

    That’s absolutely a brilliant idea…saves labour, consumes less oil and tastes delicious. Very nice!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Sandhya

I am Sandhya Ramakrishnan, author, recipe developer and photographer in this journey! 'My Cooking Journey' is all about family friendly Vegetarian and Vegan recipes from around the World with focus on Indian cuisine.

Learn More about me →

Popular Posts

  • Boulanee Katchalu | Afghani Bolani | Stuffed Flatbread
  • Xian Bing | Chinese Stuffed Pancake - Vegetarian
  • Spicy Roasted Makhana | Roasted Foxnut
  • Gur Papdi | Gol Papdi | Sukhdi
  • Saag Aloo | Vegan Spinach And Potato Curry
  • 4 Ingredients Fruit Salad With Mango Pulp
  • Ginger Chutney | Andhra Allam Pachadi
  • Kerala Style Peas Masala Curry

Street Foods

  • Spicy Schezwan Fried Rice
  • Bhutte Ka Kees | Indore Style Grated Corn Snack
  • Churumuri | Beach Style Masala Pori
  • Green Peas Kachori | Bengali Matar Kachori
  • Air Fryer Arancini | Italian Rice Balls
  • Gobi Manchurian | Cauliflower Manchurian
  • Masala Chaas | Spiced Buttermilk
  • Dry Garlic Chutney Powder Recipe

Sign Up to Newsletter

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 · MyCookingJourney LLC

Sign Up to Newsletter

We'll keep you in the loop with our latest news and new content that we add at MyCookingJourney.com.

Enjoy the journey with us and share it with your family and friends!