Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (2024)

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Onion bhajis are one of my all-time favourite snacks. I love them served with green chutney or spicy ketchup, and they’re the perfect side dish or starter for a curry night in. Tonight we ate our bhajis as a side dish to my favourite chicken jalfrezi.

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (1)

They’re so much easier to make than you’d expect, once you’ve mastered making them from scratch you’ll never buy from a supermarket ever again. With simple ingredients, these bhajis are guilt-free and vegan-friendly. You’ll likely have all the ingredients already in your cupboards to whip up a batch today!

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (2)

The key to a great onion bhaji is to slice the onion very finely – this is important so the onion has time to cook within the batter when frying. If your onions are too chunky they’ll end up raw inside the bhaji, missing out on the delicate, sweet taste of thinly sliced onions.

In this recipe, I have chosen to use plain flour instead of gram flour. I am to make all recipes on my site with easily accessible, fuss-free ingredients. Whilst gram flour is the traditional flour used when making bhajis – it is not always readily available in all UK supermarkets. And you might what to make onion bhajis with what you have in without having to make a special trip to the supermarket.

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (3)

Is there a difference between using gram flour and plain flour for bhajis?

The taste does differ slightly. Gram flour has an earthier, nutty flavour which works really well in Indian cooking. It also holds liquid better and becomes a batter very easily. To make up the difference we’re adding some extra spice to our plain flour mixture and a little more water. These bhajis turn out great every time using plain flour – practice makes perfect.

Leftover Onion Bhajis?

These onion bhajis will last around 3 days when stored in the fridge. To reheat simply place in your Actifry for a couple of minutes, or the oven for around 5 minutes on 180C. They’re also amazing cold the next day in lunch boxes.

If you make too many and have leftovers (we never have leftovers haha) you can freeze these onion bhajis. Simply place in a zip-lock freezer bag and store in the fridge for up to a month. Defrost thoroughly and reheat in the oven to get them crispy again.

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How to make Onion Bhajis at home with plain flour

Scroll down for printable recipe card and ingredient list

1. Cut two onions in half

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2. Slice as finely as you can, lengthways

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3. Then, in a bowl, measure out the flour and spices – then mix to combine

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4. Add water gradually (tbsp at a time) to the flour mixture and stir until a batter forms

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5. The batter should be thick and gloopy, slowly dripping off the back of a spoon

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6. Add the chopped onions to the batter mixture and stir to evenly coat

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7. Then, heat oil in a deep frying pan

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8. Add a small drop of batter into the oil once heated, it should bubble and rise to the top

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9. Take 1 tbsp of the onion batter mixture at a time – for each bhaji

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10. Drop each bhaji into the hot oil – one at a time. Make sure to not crowd the pan. Cook for 2 mins on each side, or until brown and crisp

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11. Place onto a sheet of kitchen roll to drain any excess oil – and turn off the heat.

Yield: 8 bhajis

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Delicious onion bhajis made easily at home with plain flour and spices. An Indian classic which is perfect served with dips or alongside curry.

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time5 minutes

Total Time10 minutes

Ingredients

  • Vegetable Oil
  • 7 tbsp plain flour
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp onion granules (optional)
  • 1 tsp garlic granules (optional)
  • 1 tsp chilli powder (optional)
  • 2 white onions (medium/large in size)

Instructions

  1. Slice the onion(s) into thin strips - make them as thin as you can
  2. Then, in a bowl combine the flour and spices
  3. Add water, 1 tbsp at a time, until a thick batter is formed
  4. Add the sliced onions into the batter and mix to thoroughly coat each piece
  5. Next, pour oil into a deep-frying pan, to cover the bottom of the pan
  6. Heat oil to 190C - test this by dropping a little bit of the batter into the oil, it should rise to the top and bubble. Once this happens, take a tbsp of the bhaji mix and drop it into the oil, one at a time, to form the bhajis
  7. Cook each bhaji for 2 minutes on each side
  8. Once browned and cooked, remove from the oil and turn the heat off
  9. Place the bhajis on some kitchen roll to drain off any excess oil
  10. Serve with dips as a starter, or alongside curry for a delicious side dish

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Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 66Carbohydrates 8gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 1g

See more: By Ingredient, Easy Dinner Recipes, Indian, Indian Take Away, Lunch, Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (2024)

FAQs

Can I use plain flour instead of gram flour? ›

You can substitute the gram flour for plain/all purpose flour if you would prefer and they would work just as well, but I like the interesting 'nutty' taste of the gram flour.

Why are my onion bhajis falling apart? ›

Do you need any special ingredients to make these Onion Bhajis? You don't need anything unusual to make this recipe – it's really easy and simple to make. The onion in this recipe should be sliced very thinly. If it's not you may find that the Onion Bhajis tend to fall apart and not really hold their shape.

Do onion bhajis contain flour? ›

Method. 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.

What is the difference between bhaji and pakora? ›

It can mean different things dependent on whether you are in North or South India. Pakora is a Punjabi word, and refers to vegetables, meat or fish deep fried in a spicy batter. Bhajis can refer to deep fried vegetables as well as other vegetarian dishes.

What happens if you use plain flour instead of all-purpose flour? ›

Substituting Plain Flour in Your Recipes

For each cup of all-purpose flour, simply use one cup of plain flour. Keep in mind that plain flour in the UK has a slightly lower protein content, which may affect the texture of your final baked goods.

Do you have to heat up onion bhajis? ›

The onion bhajis will be at their crispiest when freshly cooked, but you can make them ahead if you prefer. Make the bhajis, then cool, cover and refrigerate for up to two days. Reheat on a tray (uncovered) in the oven at 200C/400F for 5-6 minutes, until hot throughout.

Why is my onion mushy in the middle? ›

Use your thumb to press on the “shoulder” of the onion (the area near the stem), to make sure that it's firm. If it is soft or mushy, the onion will likely contain some internal rot. Employ the sniff test: An onion that is decomposing may smell like rotting food.

Can you use plain flour instead of gram flour for pakora? ›

If you are allergic to gram flour, you may use wheat flour. But the texture will be very different. Rice flour is more commonly used in South India for pakora. It gives a great crunch and helps to reduce the pakora from soaking up oil.

What flour do Indian restaurants use? ›

Suji or Rava: Semolina (wheat)-based and often used as a batter for Indian dishes such as Upma and Rawa Ladoo. Maida: Refined wheat flour found in some Indian desserts, breads, and other menu items.

What is Bhajia flour made of? ›

Bhajia 😋 Ingredients: Potatoes 1 cup Gram flour 1 tbsp corn flour/ all purpose flour 1 tsbp tumeric powder 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp garlic powder Salt Coriander Vegetable oil Tamarind chilli ( store bought ) Soak the potatoes for 30 mins to get rid of excess starch and dry them before putting it in the mixture.

What do you call bhaji in English? ›

borrowed from Hindi, Marathi or Gujarati bhājī "fried greens, greens, vegetables," going back to Middle Indo-Aryan (Prakrit) bhajjiā- "fried vegetables," derivative of bhajjia- "fried," going back to Sanskrit bharjita-, verbal adjective from the root of bhṛjjati "(he/she) roasts"

Are onion bhajis good for you? ›

Onion bhajis are a top pick for people around the world. Onion is a good source of Sulfur which is very advantageous for health. It has intensified like allyl sulfide and flavonoids that prevent cancer and battle against the compounds that produce disease cells.

What is a substitute for graham flour? ›

Graham Flour Substitute

The best substitute for graham flour is unbleached, unrefined whole wheat flour. If possible, look for unsifted whole wheat flour. Alternatively, use a mixture of 2:1 white flour and wheat bran along with one to two teaspoons of wheat germ per cup.

Is gram flour the same as regular flour? ›

Chickpea flour, also known as gram flour or besan, is a gluten-free alternative to all purpose flour. It is made from ground chickpeas and has a nutty flavor. When using chickpea flour in baking, it is important to note that it does not have the same binding properties as all purpose flour.

What flour can I use instead of chickpea flour? ›

Almond flour and coconut flour are both good keto alternatives to chickpea flour. Due to its high absorbency, you'll need less coconut flour than chickpea flour. Start by substituting ¼ to ⅓ cup of coconut flour for every 1 cup of chickpea flour. You'll also need to increase the liquid content in the recipe.

What is the difference between chickpea flour and Plain Flour? ›

Unlike all-purpose flour, chickpea flour is high in protein, fibre and micronutrients, while being low in carbohydrates and calories. Half a cup of chickpea flour contains an impressive 11 grams of protein, 5 grams of fibre, and nutrients like folate, iron, magnesium and zinc. Chickpea flour is also heart-healthy.

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