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

Jump to Recipe

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.

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (4)

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

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (5)

2. Slice as finely as you can, lengthways

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (6)

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

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (7)

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

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (8)

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

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (9)

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

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (10)

7. Then, heat oil in a deep frying pan

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (11)

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

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (12)

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

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (13)

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

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (14)

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

Yield: 8 bhajis

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen (15)

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

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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 substitute plain flour for 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? ›

The best fix is to make sure your onion is as finely sliced as possible – the finer the mixture, the better it will bind. If your bhajis are still falling apart in the oven, we'd recommend trying a muffin tray lined with low calorie cooking spray to separate the mixture into 12 individual moulds.

Do onion bhajis contain flour? ›

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 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.

What to do if you don't have enough flour? ›

11 best flour substitutions
  1. Chickpea flour. Often confused with besan (see below), chickpea flour is made from ground white chickpeas. ...
  2. Almond flour. Almond flour is an excellent alternative to have in your kitchen cupboard. ...
  3. Gluten-free flour mixture. ...
  4. Coconut flour. ...
  5. Gram flour (besan) ...
  6. Rice flour. ...
  7. Buckwheat flour. ...
  8. Oat flour.
Jan 31, 2023

What is the difference between onion bhaji and pakora? ›

The differences come in the ingredients that are deep fried and the spices that are added to the flour. If you're interested in a spicier version that can also include meat, then opt for pakoras. If you want a traditional onion fritter, then bhajis might be best for you.

What are onion bhajis made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 150g (5oz) gram flour.
  • 1 tsp turmeric.
  • 1 tsp paprika.
  • 1 tsp ground coriander.
  • 1 tsp ground cumin.
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds.
  • 1 bunch coriander.
  • 4 white onions, finely sliced.

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 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.

How healthy are onion bhajis? ›

It also contains fiber, manganese, nutrient B6, potassium, copper. Onion bhajia are very low in calories one more valid justification is to eat it as a guide to weight loss, likewise known to assist with killing microbes that might cause colds and other nasties throughout the cold weather months.

Do they eat onion bhajis in India? ›

A bhaji/bajji is a type of fritter originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is made from spicy hot vegetables, commonly onion, and has several variants. It is a popular snack food in India and is also very popular in Pakistan.

Why soak onions in water? ›

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended.

Do you eat onion bhajis hot or cold? ›

Gently fried onion fritter spiced with cumin, turmeric and coriander. Can be eaten cold or reheated in the oven.

Do onion bhajis contain eggs? ›

Combining thinly sliced onions with a spiced chickpea flour batter and pan-fried until crispy, these onion fritters are gluten-free, egg-free, vegan, and a healthy appetizer, snack, or side! There's nothing quite like a portion of onion bhaji to complete an Indian meal.

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.

What flour is the same as gram flour? ›

Chickpea flour and gram flour are actually the same thing, just known by different names in different regions. Both terms refer to a flour made from ground chickpeas, and are commonly used in Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi cuisines. In some other parts of the world, it is also known as garbanzo flour or besan.

How much chickpea flour equals all-purpose flour? ›

So, if you are going to use chickpea flour in a recipe that calls for all purpose flour, use half. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of all purpose flour you would then just use 1/2 cup chickpea flour.

What is the gram conversion for flour? ›

A cup of all-purpose flour weighs 4 1/4 ounces or 120 grams.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Allyn Kozey

Last Updated:

Views: 5988

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Allyn Kozey

Birthday: 1993-12-21

Address: Suite 454 40343 Larson Union, Port Melia, TX 16164

Phone: +2456904400762

Job: Investor Administrator

Hobby: Sketching, Puzzles, Pet, Mountaineering, Skydiving, Dowsing, Sports

Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.