Karela Chips Air Fryer

Name: Karela Chips Air Fryer
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 3 bitter gourd (medium size); 1/4 cup besan/gram flour; 1 tbsp corn flour; salt to taste; 1/4 tsp turmeric powder; 3/4 tsp red chili powder; 1/2 tsp garam masala powder; 1/2 tsp amchur powder; 2 tbsp oil

Forget the bitterness of Karela! These karela chips break the norm in the taste and nutrition of crispy bitter gourd fry!

I am sure many of you would disagree when I say this is the best way to enjoy the least desirable vegetable, but wait till you try these karela chips made in an air fryer.

A hand is holding air fried bitter gourd chips.

They are so good and addictive that you will not be able to stop at one chip.

These air fryer bitter gourd chips are a perfect side dish to south Indian dishes like rasam, rice, sambar, and avial.

The best part is that you retain all the essential nutrients, and the preparation time is short.

This evening, try it as a tasty snack or a dinnertime side dish.

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Why this recipe works
Ingredients note
How to make this
Storage
Recipe FAQ
Expert Tips
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📖 Recipe
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Why this recipe works

These bitter gourd chips do not use sugar, jaggery, yogurt, or tamarind, making them a highly nutritious and diabetic-friendly meal.

It's due to the way the bitter gourd is cooked that gives it its distinctive taste.

There's no deep frying involved for these healthy chips as I use the air fryer for cooking them lean.

So, there's no messing around with a deep fryer.

The karela chips are usually a little bitter, but the bitterness disappears when you air fry them.

All that's left is a delicious crunchy snack. Trust me when I say this; they are so good that you will not be able to stop at one chip.

Like my bitter gourd recipe, this bitter gourd chips recipe is easy to make with just a few ingredients and needs very little oil.

If you are new to the bitter gourd, read the health benefits here.

Also, check out my other recipes like bitter gourd fry, hagalakai palya, and tindora fry.

Ingredients note

Karela chips ingredients are on the white surface.

Bitter melon: Karela, a.k.a bitter gourd or bitter melon, is a long, cucumber-shaped green vegetable with a bitter taste. It is widely used in Indian cooking, and you can find them in Indian grocery stores.
Bengal Gram flour: Chickpea flour or besan is a pulse flour made from a type of ground chickpeas. It is gluten-free and has a nutty flavor.
Corn flour: This comes in handy to make them crispy. You can also use rice flour or tapioca flour instead of corn flour.
Spices: I have used very few spices in this recipe. Just a few dry masala basics like red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, amchur powder, and a little salt to taste.
Oil: Use cooking spray oil to fry the karela chips. I used olive oil cooking spray. You can also use avocado oil, canola oil, or peanut oil.

See the recipe card for a list of ingredients and quantities, plus recipe instructions. You can find the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to make this

Wash the karela well. Cut off the ends and slice the karela into thin circles. Remove the seeds from the center.

Sliced bitter gourd is in the bowl of water.

Place the circled bitter gourd slices in water with a pinch of salt and let them soak for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, drain the water and dry the karela slices with a paper towel.

A bowl is with sliced bitter gourd, spices and salt on the table.

A bowl of bitter gourd slices are coated with flours and spices.

In a large mixing bowl, add the karela slices, gram flour/besan, corn flour, salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, amchur powder, and oil.

Mix well to get an even coating of spices

Preheat the air fryer to 400 F or 200 C.

Place the karela chips in a single layer on the air fryer basket. Spray some oil on top.

Air fry for 15 minutes until they are crispy and golden brown. Flip them 2 to 3 times in between.

Air fryer basket is with fried karela chips.

Once done, remove from the air fryer and serve immediately.

Repeat the same process for the remaining karela chips.

Storage

These crispy bitter gourd chips are best enjoyed hot and fresh.

But you can store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature. Reheat them in the air fryer before serving.

Recipe FAQ

Is bitter gourd chips good for health?

Yes, karela chips are good for health. They are low in calories and fat and high in fiber. It is also linked with lowering and controlling blood sugar levels.

Is it good to eat bitter gourd every day?

I will suggest eating this once in 15 days. (My grandmother advised)

How to remove the bitterness from karela?

Soaking karela in salt water for 15 minutes helps to remove the bitterness. You can also add a little lemon juice while cooking karela to reduce the bitterness. (Another tip from my grandmother is soaking in soaked rice water for 10 minutes)

Expert Tips

Adjust the salt and spice as per your taste preference.
You may also add crushed fennel for a little more taste.
I did not place the air fryer tray with foil or parchment paper. You can do that to make it easier to clean afterward.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Every 5 mins, stop the air fryer and shake the karela chips so that they cook evenly.
The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of bitter gourd slices. Keep an eye on the bitter gourd and stop the cooking process after 15 minutes when it reaches your preferred texture consistency.