An air fryer can do far more than frozen fries. Pakistani favourites such as chicken tikka, samosas, seekh kebabs and shami kebabs can all be prepared with less oil and less stovetop mess.
The key is to leave room for hot air to circulate, keep marinades fairly thick, and treat cooking times as a guide. Below are 10 practical recipes with complete ingredients, temperature, cooking time, and method.
Tips for Better Pakistani Air Fryer Cooking
Avoid overcrowding the basket, turn food when needed, and use only a light brush of oil for extra browning. For food safety, chicken should reach 74°C, ground beef or lamb 71°C, and fish 63°C.
1. Air Fryer Chicken Tikka
Ingredients
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500g boneless chicken, cut into cubes
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3 tbsp thick yoghurt
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1 tbsp lemon juice
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1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
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1 tsp red chilli powder
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1 tsp cumin powder
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1/2 tsp coriander powder
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1/2 tsp turmeric
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1 tbsp cooking oil
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Salt to taste
Anex Air Fryer Temperature: 180°C
Cooking Time: 12–16 minutes
Method
Mix the yoghurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, spices, salt and oil. Add the chicken and coat it well. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Arrange the chicken in a single layer in your Anex air fryer basket. Cook at 180°C for 12–16 minutes, turning the pieces halfway through. Check that the thickest piece reaches 74°C before serving.
Tip: Shake off excessive marinade before cooking so the tikka browns instead of steaming.
2. Crispy Air Fryer Samosas
Ingredients
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8 samosa sheets
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2 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed
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1/3 cup boiled peas
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1 green chilli, finely chopped
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2 tbsp fresh coriander
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1/2 tsp cumin
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1/2 tsp red chilli powder
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1/2 tsp chaat masala
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Salt to taste
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1 tbsp oil for brushing
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Flour paste for sealing
Anex Air Fryer Temperature: 180°C
Cooking Time: 10–14 minutes
Method
Mix the potatoes, peas, chilli, coriander and spices. Add the filling to each samosa sheet and seal the edge with flour paste.
Brush the samosas lightly with oil and arrange them in the air fryer basket without overlapping. Cook at 180°C for 10–14 minutes, turning halfway, until crisp and golden.
Tip: A thin coating of oil helps the wrapper develop better colour without deep frying.
3. Air Fryer Chapli Kebabs
Ingredients
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500g minced beef
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1 small onion, finely chopped
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1 small tomato, deseeded and chopped
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2 tbsp fresh coriander
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1 green chilli
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1 tsp crushed coriander seeds
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1/2 tsp cumin
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1/2 tsp chilli flakes
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1 egg
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Salt to taste
Anex Air Fryer Temperature: 180°C
Cooking Time: 12–16 minutes
Method
Combine all the ingredients and shape the mixture into thin patties. Chill them for around 15 minutes.
Lightly oil the Anex air fryer basket and arrange the kebabs with enough space between them. Cook at 180°C and turn carefully halfway through. Ground beef should reach 71°C internally.
Tip: Remove excess moisture from the onion and tomato to help the chapli kebabs hold their shape.
4. Masala Potato Wedges
Ingredients
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3 medium potatoes
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1 tbsp cooking oil
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1/2 tsp red chilli powder
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1/2 tsp cumin powder
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1/2 tsp black pepper
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1/2 tsp salt
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1/2 tsp chaat masala
Anex Air Fryer Temperature: 190°C
Cooking Time: 16–22 minutes
Method
Cut the potatoes into evenly sized wedges. Soak them in cold water for around 15 minutes, then drain and dry thoroughly.
Toss with oil, chilli, cumin, pepper and salt. Air fry at 190°C for 16–22 minutes, shaking the basket two or three times during cooking.
Tip: Add the chaat masala after cooking for a fresher, tangier flavour.
5. Air Fryer Seekh Kebabs
Ingredients
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500g minced beef or lamb
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1 small onion, finely chopped
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2 tbsp fresh coriander
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1 green chilli
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1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
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1 tsp cumin
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1/2 tsp garam masala
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1/2 tsp red chilli powder
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Salt to taste
Anex Air Fryer Temperature: 180°C
Cooking Time: 10–15 minutes
Method
Mix all the ingredients until the mince begins to hold together. Shape into long kebabs that fit comfortably inside your Anex air fryer basket.
Chill for 15 minutes, lightly brush with oil and cook at 180°C for 10–15 minutes. Turn halfway through. Ground beef or lamb should reach 71°C.
Tip: Squeeze excess moisture from the onion before mixing it with the mince. This helps the kebabs stay firm.
6. Air Fryer Fish Tikka
Ingredients
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500g firm white fish
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2 tbsp thick yoghurt
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1 tbsp lemon juice
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1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
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1/2 tsp red chilli powder
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1/2 tsp cumin
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1/2 tsp coriander powder
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1/4 tsp turmeric
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Salt to taste
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1 tsp oil
Anex Air Fryer Temperature: 180°C
Cooking Time: 8–12 minutes
Method
Mix the yoghurt, lemon juice, spices, salt and oil. Coat the fish and leave it to marinate for around 20 minutes.
Lightly oil the basket, arrange the pieces with space between them and cook at 180°C until the fish flakes easily and reaches 63°C internally.
Tip: Keep the marinade fairly thick so it stays on the fish rather than dripping into the basket.
7. Air Fryer Shami Kebabs
Ingredients
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6 prepared homemade shami kebabs
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1 beaten egg, optional
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1 tbsp oil for brushing
Anex Air Fryer Temperature: 180°C
Cooking Time: 8–12 minutes
Method
If you normally coat shami kebabs with egg before frying, dip them lightly and allow the excess egg to drip away.
Brush with a small amount of oil and arrange in a single layer. Cook in your Anex air fryer at 180°C for 8–12 minutes, carefully turning once.
Tip: Chill soft homemade shami kebabs before cooking so they are easier to turn and less likely to break.
8. Spicy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ingredients
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700g chicken wings
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1 tbsp lemon juice
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1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
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1 tsp red chilli powder
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1/2 tsp cumin
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1/2 tsp black pepper
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1 tbsp oil
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Salt to taste
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Chaat masala for serving
Anex Air Fryer Temperature: 190°C
Cooking Time: 18–24 minutes
Method
Mix the wings with lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, spices, salt and oil. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Arrange the wings in one layer in the air fryer and cook at 190°C, turning halfway. Make sure the thickest part reaches 74°C.
Tip: Finish with fresh lemon juice and a light sprinkle of chaat masala just before serving.
9. Aloo Bread Rolls
Ingredients
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6 sandwich bread slices
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2 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed
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1 green chilli
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2 tbsp fresh coriander
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1/2 tsp cumin
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1/2 tsp red chilli powder
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1/2 tsp chaat masala
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Salt to taste
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1 tbsp oil
Anex Air Fryer Temperature: 180°C
Cooking Time: 8–12 minutes
Method
Mix the potatoes with chilli, coriander and spices. Trim the bread crusts and lightly dampen each slice so it becomes flexible.
Flatten the bread, add the potato filling and seal it into a roll. Brush lightly with oil and cook at 180°C until crisp and golden.
Tip: Use only enough water to soften the bread. Too much moisture can make the rolls difficult to crisp.
10. Crispy Masala Chickpeas
Ingredients
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2 cups cooked chickpeas, drained
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1 tsp cooking oil
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1/2 tsp cumin
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1/2 tsp red chilli powder
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1/4 tsp black pepper
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1/2 tsp salt
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1/2 tsp chaat masala
Anex Air Fryer Temperature: 190°C
Cooking Time: 12–18 minutes
Method
Drain the chickpeas and dry them thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel.
Toss with oil, cumin, chilli, black pepper and salt. Add them to the air fryer basket and cook at 190°C for 12–18 minutes, shaking the basket every few minutes.
Sprinkle chaat masala over the chickpeas while they are still warm.
Tip: The drier the chickpeas are before cooking, the crispier they will become.
Why Anex Air Fryers Work Well for These Recipes
Most of these recipes use temperatures between 180°C and 190°C. Current Anex models such as the AG-2111 Deluxe Air Fryer and AG-2025 Deluxe Air Fryer offer adjustable temperatures from 80°C to 200°C, making them suitable for everyday foods such as tikka, wings, kebabs, samosas and potatoes.
Both models also offer an 8-litre capacity, which can be useful when preparing larger family-sized batches.
The best capacity still depends on how much food your household normally prepares. Explore the full Anex Air Fryer collection to compare available options.
If you are deciding between different cooking appliances, you can also read Air Fryer vs Oven: Which One Is Better for Pakistani Kitchens?.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Pakistani food be cooked in an air fryer?
Yes. Tikka, kebabs, samosas, fish, chicken wings and potato snacks are particularly suitable. Very liquid dishes such as curries are generally better prepared in conventional cookware.
Do I need to preheat an Anex air fryer?
Not for every recipe. Preheating can help certain foods start browning quickly, but you should follow the instructions for your specific Anex model and recipe.
Can frozen samosas and kebabs go in an air fryer?
Many can. Cooking time varies, so follow package instructions where available and make sure meat-based foods are safely heated before serving.
How much oil is needed?
For many recipes, a light brush or one to two teaspoons of oil is enough.
Final Thoughts
An air fryer does not replace every traditional Pakistani cooking method, but it can make everyday meals considerably easier. Chicken tikka, samosas, seekh kebabs, wings and potato snacks are all good places to start.
Use the temperatures and cooking times above as practical starting points, leave enough room around the food and check meat or fish for safe doneness rather than relying only on the timer.
Once you understand how your Anex air fryer cooks, adapting familiar family recipes becomes much easier.
Explore the Anex Air Fryer collection to compare capacities, controls and features, or browse Anex Kitchen Appliances for more everyday cooking options.