Crispy Onion Bhajjia

Bhajjia are a kind of fritters (pakoras or Bhajjias) made with gram flour, basic herbs and spices. Whether you want to entertain guests or just enjoy the pleasant rainy or cold wintery days, crispy and spicy onion bhajjias can never go out of fashion. Its even better when accompanied with your favorite chutney and hot peppy masala chai.

These pakoras remind me of evenings back home in India especially during rainy and chilling winter seasons, the sizzling of pakora frying in kitchen and aroma of mint coriander chutney filled the home and our hearts with joy, just making the family tea time more warm and delightful to cherish.
Nowdays to pamper myself, when life is hustling and bustling between my 4months old son and 3years old daughter, leaves me with no time, these onion crispy fritters just add jest to life. For me, served with a fresh mint coriander chutney, and hot chai would be perfect for nibbles, evening snacks or even as starters.Its a really simple snack to cook, yet with so much flavour.

Crispy Onion Bhajjia

Pooja Yadav

Pakoras are a kind of fritters (pakoras or bhajjias) )made with gram flour, basic herbs and spices. Whether you want to entertain guests or just enjoy the pleasant rainy or cold wintery days, crispy and spicy onion pakoras can never go out of fashion. Its even better when accompanied with your favorite chutney and hot peppy masala chai.

These pakoras remind me of evenings back home in India especially during rainy and chilling winter seasons, the sizzling of pakora frying in kitchen and aroma of mint coriander chutney filled the home and our hearts with joy, just making the family tea time more warm and delightful to cherish.

Nowdays to pamper myself, when life is hustling and bustling between my 4months old son and 3years old daughter, leaves me with no time, these onion crispy fritters just add jest to life. For me, served with a fresh mint coriander chutney, and hot chai would be perfect for nibbles, evening snacks or even as starters.Its a really simple snack to cook, yet with so much flavour.

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Snack

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4

Equipment

• Heavy Botton Wok, Kadhai (Indian style pan for frying bhajjia)

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups onions thinly sliced , layers separated
• 1 ¼ cup gram flour (or besan)
• 1 tbsp semolina or rice flour (optional)
• ½ tsp. ginger finely chopped (optional)
• ¼ to ½ tsp. carom seeds (ajwain ) and fennel ( saunf )
• 2 to 3 green chilies chopped (adjust to suit your taste)
• 1 string of curry leaves chopped
• 8 to 10 mint leaves chopped (optional)
• Oil for deep frying
• Salt to taste
• Generous pinch asafoetida

Instructions

 

• Wash and peel onions. Wash under running water. Slice them thinly and separate the layers. Measure 2 cups and add them to a mixing bowl.
• Chop chilies, curry leaves and mint leaves, add them to the mixing bowl of onions.
  
• Sprinkle salt evenly and leave aside the mixture for 5 minutes.The onions now release moisture, sprinkle flour, ajwain, fennel, asafoetida and more salt if needed.
• Mix everything well to coat the onions with the flour.
• Add water 2 tbsps each time and mix the flour to make a moist mass of dough. The dough must be tight and not soggy like batter else they absorb lot of oil while frying.
  
• Heat oil in a kadai or fry pan for deep frying the pakora

  Check if the oil is hot enough, drop a tiny piece of dough first, it has to rise and not sink in the oil. When the oil is hot enough, take a small amount of dough and make small pakora and drop them in the oil. I personally prefer using a tablespoon to drop pakoras in the oil, as I love the wonderful shapes they cook into. It’s up to your preference and choice. Do not add too many pakoras in the pan, they should have some space to move around. While frying stir occasionally for even frying.
  
• Fry them till golden and transfer them with a ladle to an absorbent paper towel placed on a plate.
  
• Serve onion pakora with chutney and hot tea or coffee would be absolute bliss.
  

Notes

I cup measures 250ml