South Indian•quick

Onion Bajji | Vengaya Bajji

This South Indian style onion bajji or vengaya bajji is made with onions, gram flour, rice flour, spices and herbs.

Ingredients

2 large onions (or 180 to 190 grams onions)
3/4 cup besan ((gram flour))
1/4 cup Rice Flour
1/2 tsp ajwain ((carom seeds))
1/4 tsp red chili powder
2 pinch baking soda
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons water (or add as required to make a slightly thick battter)
salt as per taste
oil for deep frying

1
First peel, rinse and slice the onions in rounds having 0.2 to 0.3 cm thickness. Keep aside.
2
In a mixing bowl take ¾ cup besan, ¼ cup rice flour, ½ teaspoon ajwain (carom seeds), ¼ teaspoon red chili powder and 2 pinches of baking soda.
3
Also add salt as per taste.
4
Add water and mix very well to a smooth batter without lumps.
5
The batter should be slightly thick, so add water accordingly. I overall added ½ cup + 2 tablespoons water. Whisk briskly for 1 to 2 minutes to aerate the batter.
6
Heat oil for deep frying in a kadai or pan. Test a small portion of the batter in the oil. It should come up steadily and gradually.
7
If it stays at the bottom, then the oil is not hot enough. If it comes up too quickly, then the oil has become very hot.
8
Dip one onion slice in the batter and coat it very well.
9
Then gently slid the batter coated onion slices in hot oil. Fry at medium flame.
10
When one side is light golden, then gently turn over the bajjis and continue to fry.
11
Turn over a couple of times and fry till they are golden and crisp.
12
Drain them on kitchen paper towels to remove excess oil.
13
Fry the remaining onion slices in similar way.
14
Serve vengaya bajji hot with green chutney or coconut chutney.