This Spicy Smashed Potatoes – Air Fryer Aloo Tuk recipe will deliver the most perfect potatoes – crispy and spicy on the outside, fluffy inside.
You’ll never go back to deep frying again!

What are Spicy Smashed Potatoes – Air Fryer Aloo Tuk?
This recipe is inspired from Sindhi Cuisine in India. Sindhi cuisine refers to the native cuisine of the Sindhi people from Sindh, Pakistan. I had many Sindhi friends growing up in Mumbai, India and I ate aloo tuk in their house regularly. Traditionally this recipe is deep fried and people add different spices. That’s the reason I state it is “Inspired”.
How do I make this recipe?
Firstly, scrub the baby potatoes clean if dirty and rinse them under running water. Remove and discard any sprouting areas.
Secondly, place the potatoes in a large Dutch oven or soup pot with 4 cups water. The water should cover the potatoes by an inch.
Additionally, cook the potatoes until soft – It should take around 15 to 20 minutes. The potatoes should be firm, however when you peirce a fork in it should go through.
Further, drain the potatoes.
Furthermore, generously grease a tray, cookie sheet, or an aluminum foil with oil. Next, place the potatoes on the greased tray. Then use a potato masher or the back of a glass to squish them, keeping them in one piece. Thin EQUALS crisper. They need to be about ¼ inch thick.
Then, brush each potato with oil generously.
Further working in batches, place the potatoes in a single layer. Finally, cook in the Air Fryer at 400°F for 18 minutes or until the inner part in tender and the top is crisp. Every air fryer is different so please start checking after the 15-minute mark.
When the potatoes are cooking, make your spice mix by mixing dry mango powder, 1/2 tsp salt and red chili powder (cayenne pepper). And set it aside.

When done carefully transfer the air fried potatoes to a bowl. Moreover, sprinkle the spice mix on the potatoes and coat the potatoes well with the spice mix.
Serve warm as an appetizer/snack or even with lentils and rice.

Tried this Spicy Smashed Potatoes – Air Fryer Aloo Tuk recipe yet? Give us a rating, comment below in the reply section and let us know what you think.
Also, try some of our other recipes:
Air Fryer Chicken Tikka – Chicken Banjara Tikka
Spicy Smashed Potatoes – Air Fryer Aloo Tuk
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds baby potatoes (roughly 12 to 13 baby potatoes)
- 4 cups water (for boiling potatoes)
- 2 tbsp oil of choice
- 1 tsp mango powder (amchur/amchoor powder)
- 1 and 1/2 tsp salt (divided)
- 3/4 tsp red chili powder (cayenne pepper)
Instructions
Prep
- Scrub the baby potatoes clean if dirty and rinse them under running water. Remove and discard any sprouting areas.
- Place the potatoes in a large Dutch oven or soup pot with 4 cups water and 1 tsp salt. The water should cover the potatoes by an inch.
- Cook the potatoes until soft – It should take around 15 to 20 minutes. The potatoes should be firm and not mushy, however when you pierce a fork in it should go through. Drain the water and set them aside.
- Generously grease a tray, cookie sheet, or an aluminum foil with oil. Next, place the potatoes on the greased tray. Then use a potato masher or the back of a glass to squish them, keeping them in one piece. Thin EQUALS crisper. They need to be about ¼ inch thick.
- Brush each potato generously with oil.
Cook
- Working in batches, place the potatoes in the air fryer basket a single layer. Cook in the Air Fryer at 400°F for 18 minutes or until the inner part in tender and the top is crisp. Every air fryer is different so please start checking after the 15-minute mark.
- When the potatoes are cooking, make your spice mix by mixing dry mango powder, 1/2 tsp salt and red chili powder (cayenne pepper). And set it aside.
- When done carefully transfer the air fried potatoes to a bowl. Moreover, sprinkle the spice mix on the potatoes and coat the potatoes well with the spice mix.
- Serve warm as an appetizer/snack or even with lentils and rice.
Notes
- On a scale of 1 to 5 in terms of spice levels I would place this dish at 3.5 with 1 being low and 5 being high. You can increase or reduce the amount of red chili powder depending on your heat tolerance.
- Every air fryer is different so please check whether the potatoes are done after the 15 minute mark.