Onion Bhajia Recipes

Steps:

• Sift the flour, chilli powder, turmeric, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Get as much air into it as possible.
• Crush the seeds in mortar and pestle, add to the bowl.
• Now add the green chilli, onions and the chopped coriander. Mix in some water to make a thick batter that holds the ingredients together.
• Heat the oil in a wok. Drop spoonfulls of the batter into the oil and fry till golden brown. Place on kitchen paper to allow the excess oil to run off.
• These can be eaten as they are or with a dip.

Steps:

• Put the vegetable oil into a large pan and heat over a medium to high heat.
• Make the batter: In a large bowl, add the chickpea flour, baking powder, rice flour, turmeric, black onion seeds, chili powder, cumin, coriander, salt and the water. Mix together well and then add the sliced onion - mix the onion through until well coated.
• Check the temperature of the oil by dropping a small cube of bread in - it should brown fairly slowly - not burn or go dark brown straight away.
• Carefully drop spoons of the bhaji batter in to the oil, do NOT overcrowd as they will stick together. Fry them in small batches for 1 to 2 minutes until they are a golden brown and crispy. Remove them with a slotted spoon and allow them to drain on a paper covered plate in a warm oven.
• Repeat until all the bhaji batter is finished and they are all cooked.
• Sprinkle over a little salt and serve straight away with coriander chutney or cucumber raita.

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.

Steps:

• Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl.
• Add onion and chillies and mix til pieces well coated.
• Beat egg and milk and mix into flour til soft batter is formed.
• Fry spoonfuls of mixture in hot oil until gold brown.
• These are excellent with a good chai.

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients, add splash of water and mix well...mix should be of medium consistency...You may need to add more gram flour...don't add too much though as bhajis become very dense.
• Heat oil in pan and spoon in level tbsp into oil...cook until golden brown.
• If mix is too thin, it will separate into small pieces...if it is too thick or if oil is too hot, the bhajis will be raw in middle.
• Serve with mint and cucumber yoghurt

Steps:

• Tip the onion and spices into a bowl with a generous pinch of salt. Mix well and leave for an hour until the onions have softened.
• Add the chilli and coriander (if using) to the onions then crack in the eggs. Tip in the flour and mix.
• Gradually add the milk and beat until the batter is smooth.
• Heat the oven to 240C/220C fan/gas 9 with an oiled 12 hole muffin tray inside. Spoon the batter into the holes and cook for 15-20 mins until puffed up and golden and the onions have frazzled slightly. Serve as a starter with Indian chutneys or as part of a roast.

Steps:

• Peel the onions and slice them so they form rings. Slices should be as thin as possible (1/8 to 3/16"). Cut the rings to form strands about 1-2" long.
• Put onion in a large mixing bowl, add spices and salt and mix thoroughlly. Put about half of the vinegar in and gradually stir in the flour until it is possible to form 1 1/2 to 2" balls with the mixture. Use flour and remaining vinegar to adjust consistency.
• Heat the oil in a suitable deep fryer or pan (careful to avoid overflow when placing food in the oil. Also have a large water-soaked towel nearby in case of spillage onto the burner). Heat to 350°F.
• Form the onion/flour mixture into 1 1/2 to 2" balls and carefully place them in the oil using a metal spoon or suitable tool. Only fry enough at one time such that they don't stick to eachother. Fry to dark golden brown.
• Remove cooked bhajis from oil and drain as with other fried foods. Serve on absorbent towel to soak up excess oil.

Steps:

• Chop onions leaving plenty of longer strands as this improves the final presentation and fry off until soft and sweet. Leave to cool a little.
• Mix the cooked onions with all the other ingredients except the oil to create a lovely thick paste.
• Drop dessertspoon fulls into a hot oiled frying pan cooking for a minute or two on each side.
• Can be taken straight to the table or set aside and reheated in the oven later which works very well.
• Serve with a yogurt and mint dip - a simple plain yogurt and mint sauce mixture.