Super easy and crispy Indian onion bhaji’s are a delicious appetizer. This appetizer is super simple to make and you can have it ready in minutes. Onion bhaji’s are nice and crispy with flavors of Indian spices and of course fresh chilies and cilantro. They are the perfect appetizer with your curries and a must when you are ordering in or eating out at Indian restaurants. Even at home onion bhaji’s are the perfect evening snack and can be made easily when last minute friends and family are coming over for tea.

I love onion bhaji’s and remember having them pretty much all the time when eating out at Indian restaurants or even at home made by mum or dad. That nice bright orange color when you bite into them and filled with strings of onions, sweet and spicy..Mmm..I could have some right now lol.

That delicious sweet taste from the onions and spices fried until golden and crisp make this appetizer a favorite snack anytime. The good thing about onion bhaji’s is how super easy it is to prepare and can be made with just a few simple ingredients. Also not to forget that these onion bhaji’s are also vegan and gluten free!

Ingredients you need to make super easy and crispy Indian onion bhaji’s

Onions, lots of onions, the key ingredient in this recipe hence the name onion bhaji’s. The onions are where you get most of the taste. That crisp and crunch, that sweetness and slight softness from the mix of ingredients with the onions when you bite in.

Indian spices, a few spices like turmeric, chili and coriander powder. These spices give the onion bhaji’s flavor and some punch.

Fresh green chilies, for some heat, finely chopped. Of course you could adjust the quantity to your preference.

Fresh cilantro, a good handful of fresh chopped cilantro to give the bhaji’s some color and flavor. Cilantro taste great in all kinds of Indian cooking. It really brings out all the good flavors.

Salt to taste, just a little. After frying they can taste bitter if you add too much. So in this recipe for two large onions I will be using 1/4 of a teaspoon of salt.

Orange food color, just a pinch of orange food color. The onion bhaji’s turn to a nice golden color when fried. Adding the additional food color gives the bhaji’s a nice bright color and you can see this in the inside of the bhaji’s when you bite into them.

Chick pea flour/besan, gluten free. The besan helps to bind the mixture together and helps to hold the shape of the bhaji’s as well as adding to the flavor and color of the bhaji’s.

Making the Onion bhaji’s

The onions are peeled and finely sliced. The green chilies and cilantro are also finely chopped. These ingredients are added into a mixing bowl with the spices, salt and orange food color.

All these ingredients are mixed in really well by hand. That’s the best way to mix it all up using your hands. Wear a food glove to prevent the chilies from burning your hand!

Once all the ingredients are mixed in add in the chickpea flour/besan. You just need enough to get the mixture to bind together. Mix well and let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes. Leaving the mixture to sit will help the onions release water and bind well with all the other ingredients which will help to form the perfect bhaji’s.

Heat oil in a deep frying pan, 1/4 of the way up.

Add in the bhaji mixture using your hand or using a tablespoon. A decent size approximately 1 and a half inch size and a rough rounded shape. You can of course make them bigger or smaller depending on how you like them. Fry on medium heat 3-4 minutes per side. Once they start to turn golden then you can turn them over and fry until golden on both sides.

Transfer onto a paper towel to get rid of any access oil.

Enjoy warm with mint chutney or your favorite dipping sauce!

Super Easy And Crispy Indian Onion Bhaji’s

Recipe by Shema Course: AppetizersCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

10-12

Bhaji's

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

16

minutes

Easy Onion Bhaji Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 large onions peeled and finely sliced

• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder

• 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon of coriander powder

• 1 green chili finely chopped (adjust to preference)

• Handful of fresh cilantro finely chopped

• 1/4 teaspoon of salt

• A pinch of orange food color

• 3 tablespoons of chickpea flour (besan)

• Oil for frying

Directions

• Add the sliced onions, chopped chili’s, chopped cilantro, spices, salt and food color to a mixing bowl
• Using your hand mix in these ingredients really well
• Add in the chickpea flour (besan) and mix everything very well, incorporating all the ingredients together, use your hand to really get the mixture together
• Leave aside for 10-15 minutes
• Heat a deep frying pan with oil, 1/4 of the way up
• Drop tablespoonfuls of batter into the oil, 4-5 bhaji’s at a time
• Fry on medium high heat for 3-4 minutes, then turn over and fry for another 3-4 minutes until golden
• Using a slotted spoon transfer onto a paper towel to get rid of any access oil
• Enjoy hot with mint chutney, raita!

Notes

• Best to eat on the day.

Try this tasty and popular Bangladeshi fritter Piyaju