Indian cuisine is much loved everywhere across the world, and one of its hit items is the onion bhajis. But, to avoid getting the deep-fried ones from the takeaway, I learned how to make them in the air fryer. Here is my take on making onion bhajis in an air fryer for under 25 minutes, so let’s get in.
Onion Bhaji In Air Fryer
Equipment
- An air fryer
- Oiling brush
- Serving plate
- Parchment plate You can substitute it with silicone liners
Ingredients
- 2 Medium-sized red onions They should be sliced thinly
- 1 cup Chickpea flour or gram flour
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Ground coriander
- 2 tbsp Rice flour It is optional but highly recommended
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric
- ½ tsp Chili powder or paprika
- ¼ cup Mint leaves
- Salt to taste
- 2 tsp Oil
- 1-3 tsp Water or as much is needed to make the batter
Instructions
- Take a mixing bowl and add all the dry ingredients, including flour, spices, mint, coriander, and onions.
- Mix them well with clean hands in a way that everything is combined together. Let it rest for at least 20 minutes. I usually make the dry ingredients 1 hour ahead of the recipe, so it gets the enhanced taste of each ingredient.
- Now, take your dry ingredients and start adding water, a little at a time. Squeeze the onions with your hands, so they also release their own water. Combine the mixture well using your hands and make a thick batter.
- The consistency of the mixture should not be runny, or it will be a disaster. If, at any point, you feel like the batter has gone a bit watery, add 1 or 2 tsp of flour to it for the right consistency.
- Now that your batter is ready, it is time to air fry the onion bhaji. Start by preheating the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degrees Celsius (for around 8 to 10 minutes).
- Line the air fryer with the parchment paper, so it is easier to clean up afterward. Also, brush the base of the fryer with oil. Once everything is ready, add small lumps of the bhaji batter in the basket with a noticeable gap between them.
- The gap will let the air circulate better, so you get uniform crispiness and texture. Brush a little bit of oil on the top of the bhajis and cook them for 10 to 12 minutes or until they are golden brown in color. Flip them halfway through the given time to get the perfect crisp and even taste.
- Make sure they are not wet and fully crispy. the outside. This is your indication that the bhajis are ready. Once done, transfer the bhajis to the serving plate and serve them with green mint chutney or raita.
Nutritional Value of Air Fryer Onion Bhaji
A single serving (16g) of these air fryer onion bhajis has 44 calories, 6.7g carbs, 2g protein, 0.9g fat, 25 mg potassium, 1.1g fiber, and 5 mg calcium.
Tips to Make Crispy Onion Bhaji in the Air Fryer
- Do not underestimate preheating the air fryer. This is because it will help you get the perfect crunchy and crispy taste.
- Do not slice the onions thick. They should always be thinly sliced for the right bite.
- The batter should not be too wet, or it will make a mess in the air fryer. For this, you should rest the onions mixed with the flour for some time. After this, you can add a little bit of water required.
- Though rice flour is optional, it can help you get the crunchy texture in your bhajis.
- Always remember that the second batch cooks slightly quicker than the first one, as the air fryer is already hot enough.
- Always brush a layer of oil on the base, or the bhajis will turn out extremely dry.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket or the bhajis will be wet or undercooked.
What to Serve the Onion Bhaji with?
Well, the onion bhajis are perfectly good to be served on their own, but you can always pair them with some great sauces. Some of my favorite sauces for onion bhajis are green chutney, tamarind chutney, or raita. You can also add them to a bigger Indian thali, including chickpea curry, veg korma, dal tarka, naan, and raita.
Have You Tried It?
Onion bhajis are fairly simple to make, but you must not forget the nuances and follow the right steps. Do not be afraid to pair them up with the sauce of your choice, even ketchup and chili sauce go well with these pakoras. So, give them a shot, and don’t be disappointed on your first try, it will take a little bit of practice.
