A crispy and comforting Indian-inspired starter (or facet dish) with out the necessity for deep-frying. These air fryer onion bhajis use gram flour (chickpea flour) and aromatic spices for a tasty faux‑away deal with. Prepared in 25 minutes!
Nicky’s Recipe Notes
I like these little onion bhajis as a result of they’re:
✅ Crispy and fragrant with a lot of flavour from the spices and candy onion
✅ They’re a smaller dimension than ones you would possibly get from the takeaway, however I desire this. These nice large bhajis are just a little overwhelming (and don’t go away sufficient room for my hen tikka masala)
✅ They’re cooked within the air fryer – so I don’t have to fret about eliminating oil or the robust scent of deep fried meals permeating the home for the subsequent 24 hours!
📋 Components
- Gram (besan/chickpea) flour – provides the bhaji a light, nutty style and exquisite crunch. Plus it additionally occurs to be gluten-free, so it’s an incredible possibility you probably have gluten-free visitors or relations.
- Onions – I take advantage of 2 giant brown (or yellow) onions to make round 10-12 bhajis. Brown onions are greatest as they’ve a stronger onion flavour than white or purple onions which mellows out throughout cooking to provide the pakoras a candy & savoury flavour.
- Spices – these spices add a lot of pretty flavour. I do know fenugreek may not be in everybody’s cabinets, nevertheless it provides a singular fragrant high quality to the bhajis, making it extra complicated and flavorful (and in case you’re in search of different recipes to make use of it strive my biryani, hen pakoras, madras curry and saag aloo)
- Bicarbonate of soda and cornflour (cornstarch). These assist to lighten the batter, and to make sure the bhajis are crispy moderately than having a heavy, thick crunch.
Abbreviated recipe directions
***Full recipe with detailed steps within the recipe card on the finish of this put up***
Combine the sliced onion with the spices, gram flour and water. Type into 10-12 small balls. Add to oiled air fryer basket, spray with oil and air fry at 200C/400F for 15-17 minutes turning as soon as. Serve with candy chilli sauce and sprinkling of recent coriander.
Professional Tip
While you’re forming the bhaji balls, be sure you compact it (so it doesn’t collapse) after which flatten it just a little. This may give your extra floor space to get crispy and browned, and helps them to cook dinner extra evenly.
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Double Stack Air Fryer – you’ll be able to in fact use a daily single-basket air fryer, however you may doubtless have to cook dinner in two batches
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Place the sliced onion in a bowl.
2 giant onions
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Add the minced ginger, chopped inexperienced chilli, cumin, floor coriander, dried coriander leaf, chilli flakes, floor fenugreek, salt, garlic salt, gram flour, cornflour (cornstarch), and the bicarbonate of soda.
1 tbsp minced ginger, 1 inexperienced chilli, 1 tsp floor cumin, 1 tsp floor coriander, 1 tbsp dried coriander leaf, 1 tsp chilli flakes, 1 tsp floor fenugreek, 3/4 tsp salt, ½ tsp garlic salt, 130 g (1 ½ cups + 2 tbsp) gram flour, 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch in USA), ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
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Combine collectively to coat the onion.
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Add within the water, a tablespoon at a time, till you may have a thick batter that coats the onion. It must be a sticky, thick coating that holds collectively.
4-6 tbsp water
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Spray (or brush with just a little oil) your air fryer basket. This may assist cease the onion bhajis from sticking.
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Take a rounded tablespoon of the onion bhaji and squeeze the combination in your hand compact it. Flatten it down just a little (this offers you extra floor space for crispness and can guarantee extra even cooking) then place it into the air fryer basket.
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Repeat with the remaining combination (it is best to get about 10-12 bhajis altogether). You could have to work in 2-3 batches relying on the dimensions of your air fryer. Every bhaji wants just a little house round it, so do not overcrowd the basket.
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Spray the bhajis with oil (or brush just a little oil on every).
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Air fry at 200C/400F for 10 minutes, then flip the bhajis, spray with extra oil and air fry for an extra 5-7 minutes till darkish golden brown throughout.
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As soon as all the onion bhajis are cooked, place in a serving bowl and sprinkle with recent coriander. Serve with candy chilli sauce or your favorite sauce.
1 tbsp finely chopped recent coriander (cilantro)
Cooking in batches?
I normally make these in two batches. If you should do that, or in case you’re making a number of batches, you can preserve cooked batches heat on an uncovered baking tray, in a heat oven (approx. 130C/250F (fan)), while cooking the remaining bhajis.
Can I make them forward?
The onion bhajis can be at their crispiest when freshly cooked, however you can also make them forward in case you desire.
Make the bhajis, then cool, cowl and refrigerate for as much as two days.
Reheat within the air fryer at 200C/400F for 3-4 minutes, till scorching all through. Alternatively reheat on a tray (uncovered) within the oven at 200C/400F for 5-7 minutes.
Can I freeze onion bhajis?
Sure, make the bhajis, then cool, cowl and freeze for as much as a month. I discover it’s greatest to freeze them on a tray, in order that they’re not touching, then after a few hours (once they’re absolutely frozen), switch to a sealed container or freezer bag.
Defrost in a single day within the fridge, then reheat within the air fryer at 200C/400F for 3-4 minutes, till scorching all through. Alternatively reheat on a tray (uncovered) within the oven at 200C/400F for 5-7 minutes.
Ingredient swaps
- Use purple onions for a milder onion flavour and trace of color.
- Add grated carrot, parsnip or courgette (zucchini) for additional veg
- Change up the spices in case you fancy a change – add extra chilli flakes to make them hotter, swap out the cumin and coriander in your favorite curry powder, add extra ginger for a little bit of zing!
Dietary info is approximate, per onion bhaji.
Energy: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 3g | Fats: 2g | Saturated Fats: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fats: 1g | Sodium: 313mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g
Diet info is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
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🍽️ What to serve it with
Bitesize yumminess!
? Steadily Requested Questions
The onion bhajis can be at their crispiest when freshly cooked, however you can also make them forward in case you desire.
Make the bhajis, then cool, cowl and refrigerate for as much as two days.
Reheat within the air fryer at 200C/400F for 3-4 minutes, till scorching all through. Alternatively reheat on a tray (uncovered) within the oven at 200C/400F for 5-7 minutes.
Sure, make the bhajis, then cool, cowl and freeze for as much as a month. I discover it’s greatest to freeze them on a tray, in order that they’re not touching, then after a few hours (once they’re absolutely frozen), switch to a sealed container or freezer bag.
Defrost in a single day within the fridge, then reheat within the air fryer at 200C/400F for 3-4 minutes, till scorching all through. Alternatively reheat on a tray (uncovered) within the oven at 200C/400F for 5-7 minutes.
🍲 Extra Indian-inspired starters and sides
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