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Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, this spicy elephant foot yam fry is a classic South Indian side dish. Perfectly seasoned and pan-roasted, it pairs wonderfully with sambar rice or curd rice for a comforting meal.
For 4 servings
Prepare the Yam
Parboil the Yam
Marinate the Yam
Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, this spicy elephant foot yam fry is a classic South Indian side dish. Perfectly seasoned and pan-roasted, it pairs wonderfully with sambar rice or curd rice for a comforting meal.
This south_indian recipe takes 40 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 212.19 calories per serving with 2.76g of protein, it's a moderately challenging recipe perfect for lunch or dinner or side.
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Shallow Fry to Perfection
Serve
For a lower-oil version, arrange the marinated yam on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with a little oil and bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until crisp and golden.
Add 1 teaspoon of fennel seed powder (saunf) and a pinch of asafoetida (hing) to the marinade for a different and aromatic flavor profile.
For added texture and sweetness, shallow fry thinly sliced onions until golden and crisp, then toss them with the finished yam varuval before serving.
Elephant foot yam is an excellent source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, promotes regular bowel movements, and helps maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
This root vegetable is rich in potassium, an essential mineral that helps regulate blood pressure, balance fluids in the body, and support proper nerve and muscle function.
The spices used in this dish, such as turmeric and coriander, are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help combat oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
Elephant foot yam contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause irritation. Greasing your hands with oil before handling and boiling the yam with an acidic agent like tamarind or lemon juice helps neutralize these compounds and prevent itching.
Yes, absolutely! Preheat your air fryer to 190°C (375°F). Arrange the marinated yam pieces in a single layer in the basket, spray with a little oil, and air fry for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crispy.
Elephant foot yam itself is a nutritious vegetable, high in fiber and potassium. However, this recipe involves shallow frying, which adds calories from oil. To make it healthier, you can opt for the baked or air-fried variations mentioned in the recipe.
A single serving of approximately 120g contains around 180-220 calories. The exact calorie count can vary based on the amount of oil absorbed during the frying process.
If you don't have rice flour, you can use cornstarch (cornflour) or fine semolina (rava) to achieve a similar crispy coating. A combination of gram flour (besan) and rice flour also works well for a different texture.
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