Is there a healthy way to make onion bhajis? (i think theyre also called onion pakoras)?

Question

I would like to find a recipe for healthy onion bhajis. i've never made the normal ones before. i'm thinking maybe shallow fried and finished off in the oven, rather than deep fried. would any kind of special oil add the special indian-y taste? are they easy to make? would you say theyre better value than buying them ready made?

thank you!

Answer 1

1 1/2 tsp Soda Bicarbonate  

3/4 cup Chickpea Flour (Besan)  

1 number Egg  

4 clove Garlic (Lasan) (chopped)  

to fry Oil  

4 large Onions (halved & thinly sliced)  

1/2 cup Plain Flour  

1 tsp Red Chilli Powder  

1 1/4 cup Water  

   1) In a bowl, sift the chickpea flour, plain flour, soda bicarbonate and red chilli powder. Make a well in the center, and add the combined egg and water and stir to make a smooth creamy batter, by adding a little more water if necessary.

2) Add the onions and garlic and mix well.

3) Heat the oil, about 1 cm deep, in a wide flat frying pan. Drop in tablespoons of the mixture at a time and press into patties. Fry the bhajis on both sides until golden brown and cooked throughly.

4) Drain on paper towels to absorb any extra oil

Answer 2

You could saute the onions with some cumin, coriander, chilis and a bit of cilantro, season them only cook them until the wilt, make the same type of batter for the bhaji, and what I do for lower fat pakoras is make a small pancake shaped one, and I use a small amount of oil sprayed on with my spritzer, and I also use a non stick frypan.

I had to do this for a catering function once in a hotel I was a sous chef in back a few years ago, we had to figure out a lower fat way of making traditional hor's derves for partys that wanted baked or non deepfried items, even the chix wings were baked.

Make the batter with the chickpea (gram) flour and plain flour, a bit of salt, baking powder or soda, milk or water and some oil or veg ghee, cool the precooked onions and add them to the batter, drop them by teaspoons into the hot pan, do not squish them let them form naturally, and keep them hot in the oven, 350 F 180 C or Gas mark 3.

I like a mint and coconut dip or the sweeter tamarind chutney is not bad either, plum sauce with a bit of heat is a good substitute.

Answer 3

There is no healthy way make Bhaji's

Sliced onions 2 - 3

1 inch piece ginger finely chopped

Slit green chilles 4 - 5

chopped coriander

1 cup gram flour

1/4 cup rice flour

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp soda bicarbonate

salt to taste

Oil ( any refined oil would do )

Mix all the ingredients with 2 tbsps oil and water. Deep fry.