Crispy Onion Bhaji Recipe

In Indian cuisine, the skillful use of spices and herbs creates a harmonious blend of sweet, savory, and tangy tastes all in one dish. Crispy onion bhajis are a popular Indian snack that showcase thinly sliced onions coated in a spicy chickpea flour batter and are deep-fried until golden and crispy. Recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us this recipe and says, "I was first introduced to onion bhaji by a neighbor of mine and instantly loved the crispy texture and spicy kick. Exploring various food cultures is a passion of mine, and Indian food is one of my favorite cuisines." 

These onion bhajis and easy green raita dip make a great snack or appetizer and also pair well with additional Indian specialties like biryani or chana masala. Read on to learn how to make a batch of these crispy treats in less than 30 minutes.

To make this recipe, we'll need a few things from the produce aisle. Pick up two large onions, a serrano chile, cilantro, lemon, and an English cucumber. "I like using English cucumbers here because they are less watery than a standard cucumber," Hahn explains. Then, head over to the dry goods area and get some chickpea flour, oil, baking powder, cumin, salt, turmeric, and garam masala. The last thing on our list is some water and plain yogurt for the dip.

To start us off, grab a cutting board and slice the onions into thin slices. Then, chop the cilantro and chile (discard the seeds).

To make the batter, pull out a large bowl and combine the chickpea flour, baking powder, salt, cumin, and turmeric. Add the chopped chile and cilantro, then mix in the lemon juice and water.

Add the onions to the batter and mix with your hands to coat the onions. Form the onion mixture into 8-10 patties.

Although bhajis are commonly deep-fried, a shallow pan-frying method works just fine. "Since the bhajis are fairly thin," Hahn explains, "immersing most of the patty in oil is sufficient to get a crispy exterior on them with less splatter and mess."

Pour the oil into a large skillet and bring the heat to medium-high. When the oil is hot, put as many that will fit into the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until they are golden brown.

Our delicious green raita sauce is quick to make, so you can start this while the bhaji are frying. Add the yogurt, cucumber, some cilantro, cumin, garam masala, and the remaining bit of salt. Blend until smooth.

Now the crispy onion bhajis are ready to serve. Assemble them on a serving platter with the sauce and top with additional cilantro, if desired. One bite and you'll see why bhaji is a delicious comfort food that can be enjoyed year-round and is easy to make!