Description
Onion Bhajis are crispy, flavorful Indian fritters made with spiced onions, gram flour, and deep-fried to golden perfection. Serve them as an appetizer or side dish with a delicious dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Vegetable oil for deep frying (approx. 3–4 cups / 720–960 ml)
2 large onions, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tbsp minced ginger
1 green chili, finely chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tbsp dried coriander leaf
1 tsp chili flakes
1 tsp ground fenugreek
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp garlic salt
130 g (1½ cups + 2 tbsp) gram flour (chickpea flour/besan)
1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
135 ml (½ cup + 1 tbsp) water
1 tbsp freshly chopped coriander (cilantro)
Sweet and sour sauce or sweet chili sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Pour vegetable oil into a wok or deep pan, heating to medium heat, ensuring oil depth is around 3 inches.
- Prepare the onion mixture: Place sliced onions in a large mixing bowl. Add ginger, green chili, spices, salt, garlic salt, gram flour, cornflour, and bicarbonate of soda.
- Make the batter: Stir everything to coat the onions, then gradually add water to form a thick batter that clings to the onions.
- Test the oil: Drop a small amount of batter into the hot oil. If it sizzles and rises, the oil is ready.
- Fry the bhajis: Take a heaped tablespoon of the mixture, compact it in your hand, then gently lower it into the oil. Fry 4–5 bhajis at a time for 3–4 minutes, turning until golden brown.
- Repeat: Continue frying the remaining mixture, keeping cooked bhajis warm in a low oven (130°C / 250°F fan) if needed.
- Serve: Arrange the bhajis on a serving plate, sprinkle with fresh coriander, and serve with dipping sauce.
Notes
For more heat, add extra green chilies or chili powder.
For a gluten-free option, substitute gram flour with rice flour.
These bhajis are versatile—add vegetables like spinach or grated carrots for variation.
Serve with sweet chili sauce, mint chutney, or sweet and sour sauce for the best flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bhaji
- Calories: 100 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
