**Onion Bhajees: A Crispy, Savory Indian Delight**
Onion bhajees are a classic Indian appetizer or snack that are incredibly flavorful and easy to make. Originating from the vibrant streets of India, these crispy fritters are made with a batter of gram flour (chickpea flour), spices, and thinly sliced onions, then deep-fried until golden brown. The result is a delightful combination of textures, with a crispy exterior and a soft, flavorful interior. This article provides two irresistible recipes for onion bhajees: a traditional version and a gluten-free alternative. Both recipes offer step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure perfect results. Whether you are a seasoned cook or a beginner, these recipes will guide you in creating this delectable treat that is sure to impress your family and friends.
HOW TO MAKE BRITISH INDIAN RESTAURANT (BIR) STYLE ONION BHAJIS
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cut the onions in half and then finely slice them. Mix the salt into them and set aside for an hour or so.
- After an hour the onions will be limp and moist. Add the remaining ingredients to the onions, being careful not to add to much gram flour. You should easily be able to pick up a ball of the onion mixture.
- Divide the mixture in to small bhajis.
- Heat some oil for deep frying to 160c (320f).
- When this heat is reached, cook the bhajis in batches until they turn light brown. Transfer to a plate while you cook the remaining bhajis. At this stage, you are not cooking the bhajis through. You just want to get them started.
- Turn the heat up until your oil reaches 180c ((356f)
- Add the bhajis in batches and cook for a further couple of minutes until they are crispy and deep brown in colour.
- Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain excess oil and serve hot.
- If not serving immediately, place in a warm (not hot) oven.
ONION BHAJI
Golden, light, and perfectly crispy Indian onion bhajis made from scratch! A great gluten-free and vegan snack or starter that you can easily make in 20 minutes.
Provided by Diana
Categories Appetisers
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Make the batter, mix all of the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl with water to create a batter with a consistency similar to heavy cream (double cream in the UK). You might need to add more water than written in the ingredient list above.
- Slice the onions into thin slices and separate them just a little.
- Add the onions to the batter.
- Stir the onions with the batter so that it coats the onion slices well.
- Heat canola or vegetable/corn oil to 355°F (180C°), then using 2 spoons of your hands start dropping clusters of onions in the batter (about 3-4 at a time), and fry for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Using a spider or slotted spoon, remove the bhajis from the oil, and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Enjoy hot on their own, or serve with a yogurt mint raita.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 104 kcal, Carbohydrate 6 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 8 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 201 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving
EASY ONION BHAJIS
Serve your crispy onion bhajis with cooling cucumber and mint raita as a snack, or eat alongside a homemade Indian curry. You'll be surprised by how easy they are to make
Provided by Lulu Grimes
Categories Side dish, Snack, Starter, Vegetable
Time 50m
Yield Makes 12
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Soak the onion in cold water while you make the base mix. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl, then add the chilli powder, turmeric, chopped chilli and a good sprinkling of salt. Mix in about 100ml of cold water to make a thick batter - add a splash more if it feels too stiff.
- For the raita, peel the cucumber and grate it into a sieve set over another bowl. Mix the remaining ingredients with some seasoning and the drained cucumber - squeezing out any extra moisture with your hands - then spoon into a small serving bowl.
- Drain the onion well and mix it into the batter. Heat about 5cm of oil in a wok or deep pan. Do not fill the pan more than a third full. Add a tiny speck of batter. If it rises to the surface surrounded by bubbles and starts to brown, then the oil is hot enough for frying.
- Lower heaped tbsps of the bhaji mixture into the pan, a few at a time, and cook for a few mins, turning once, until they are evenly browned and crisp, so about 3-4 mins. Drain on kitchen paper, sprinkle with a little salt and keep warm while you cook the rest. Serve with the raita.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 86 calories, Fat 5 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 7 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 2 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 3 grams protein, Sodium 0.3 milligram of sodium
BAKED ONION BHAJIS
A healthier alternative to the deep-fried onion bhajis you find in Indian restaurants. These are baked and exceedingly tasty. They are sweet, tender and very Moorish. Serve hot as an appetizer or starter.
Provided by honeyandspice
Categories Appetizers and Snacks
Time 1h10m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir until translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle in chili powder and mix. Add turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon coriander, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon ginger. Stir well and remove from heat.
- Combine chickpea flour, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon coriander, and salt in a bowl and mix well. Mix in the onions and tomato puree; add a little water until mixture is wet and easy to stir.
- Drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil onto the prepared baking sheet. Place 2 tablespoons of the onion mixture onto the baking sheet for each bhaji; flatten slightly with the back of a spoon.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Drizzle remaining oil over the bhajis and continue baking until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 60 calories, Carbohydrate 6.8 g, Fat 3.3 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 1.3 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 30.3 mg, Sugar 2.3 g
EASY ONION BHAJIS RECIPE
Steps:
- PREPARE THE ONIONS - Peel the onion, wash and cut the onions in to thin slices. Cut them into halves again.
- MIX THE INGREDIENTS - In a mixing bowl, all all the dry ingredients - onion, flour, spices and salt.Mix them with clean hands and allow them to sit for at least 20 minutes ( or longer - up to 1 hour )
- ONION BHAJI BATTER - After 20 minutes, squeeze the onions with your hands to release the water. Combine the mixture together to form a thick batter. If you feel the batter is too dry, add 1 teaspoon of water at a time until the batter coats the onions well.
- If you feel, during the process of frying the batter has gone a bit watery, you can add 1-2 tsp of gram flour too.
- FRYING THE BHAJIS - Heat Oil Check if your oil is sufficiently hot by adding a pinch of the onion bhaji batter. If it bubbles up immediately, you know the oil is ready for frying the remaining Onion Pakora.
- Using a spoon or clean hands, add small onion bhaji batter portions into the oil and fry for 3-4 minutes. Flip the bhaji's once they are light brown on one side and fry until they are brown all over and evenly cooked.
- Check if they're cooked inside and the bhaji is not wet. Drain the fried fritter on a kitchen roll or absorbent paper to soak up any excess oil.
- SERVE - Serve with your favourite coriander chutney or raita.
- STORE & REHEAT - Store any leftover onion bhaji's in an airtight container and refrigerate upto 3 days. To reheat, place them on a baking tray and cook in a preheated oven at 150C for 10-15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 16 g, Calories 72 kcal, Carbohydrate 5.3 g, Protein 1.6 g, Sugar 1.4 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Sodium 5 mg, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Fat 5 g
ONION BHAJEES
I could have these appetizers as a meal, if you want you can also add a finely chopped green chili to the batter. Gram flour is also known as besan and chickpea flour.
Provided by PetsRus
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 30m
Yield 10-12 fritters
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix the flour with the spices, add some water until the mixture is gluey.
- Mix the onion into this paste, it should hold together, if necessary add more flour.
- Heat the oil to medium heat and drop golf ball size blobs into the fat.
- Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown, drain on kitchen paper, serve warm with a yogurt- mint raita.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 18.2, Fat 0.2, Sodium 2.6, Carbohydrate 3.3, Fiber 0.6, Sugar 1, Protein 0.8
Tips:
- Choose the right onions: Yellow onions are the most commonly used for bhajis, as they have a strong flavor that holds up well when fried. However, you can also use red onions or white onions, depending on your preference.
- Slice the onions thinly: This will help them cook evenly and quickly.
- Use a light touch when mixing the batter: Over-mixing will make the batter tough.
- Fry the bhajis in hot oil: This will help them cook quickly and evenly, and prevent them from becoming oily.
- Drain the bhajis on paper towels before serving: This will help remove any excess oil.
- Serve the bhajis hot with your favorite dipping sauce, such as tamarind sauce or mint chutney.
Conclusion:
Onion bhajis are a delicious and easy-to-make snack or appetizer. They are perfect for parties or potlucks, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a few simple tips, you can make perfect onion bhajis every time. So next time you are looking for a tasty and satisfying snack, give onion bhajis a try!
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