Healthy Onion Bhaji 2 ways

Gluten-free | Sugar-free | Dairy-free | Grain free option

Makes 6

Why it’s delicious

Onion bhaji is a familiar and comforting Southern Indian snack usually served as an appetiser or as I remember them, glistening away in the warming cabinet of the local Indian takeaway, waiting to accompany a creamy curry or spicy vindaloo. 

Here I give you 2 recipes for onion bhaji, one more traditional with chickpea flour and the other made extra nutritious with cauliflower and psyllium husks. 

Helpful hints and tips

You can make these onion bhaji in the oven or ideally in the air fryer as the air fryer will help them to crisp up. 

Gram onion bhaji

Makes 6

Ingredients

• 1 medium red onion,  thinly sliced and soaked in water for 20 minutes
• 50 g (1.7 oz) chickpea flour (also known as besan or gram flour)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cumin seeds, dry toasted
• 1 tsp fennel seeds,  dry toasted
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• ½ -1 tsp chilli powder, optional
• 1 egg
• Mineral salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Preheat your oven on 180C (350F) or an air fryer on 190C (390F)
2. If using your oven, line a baking sheet with non-stick baking paper and if using your air fryer, cut 6 little squares of baking paper for the bhaji to sit on. 
3. Drain the water from the onions and add all the ingredients into a bowl. Using disposable gloved hands, mix the ingredients together until well combined and create 6 even sized balls of bhaji. 
4. For the oven, bake on the lined sheet for 20-25 minutes or until golden and cooked through. 
5. For the air fryer, place each bhaji on the baking paper squares and place into the air fryer ensuring there is space between each one. Cook for 10-12 minutes until golden and cooked through. 
6. Serve with coconut yoghurt or cucumber raita.

Onion and cauliflower bhaji

Makes 6

Ingredients

• 1 medium red onion,  thinly sliced
• 125 g (4.4 oz) raw cauliflower , made into cauliflower rice
• 1 tbsp almond meal
• 2 tsp psyllium husks
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp cumin seeds, dry toasted
• 1 tsp fennel seeds,  dry toasted
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• ½ -1 tsp chilli powder, optional
• Mineral salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Preheat your oven on 190C (390F) or an air fryer on 190C (390F)
2. If using your oven, line a baking sheet with non-stick baking paper and if using your air fryer, cut 6 little squares of baking paper for the bhaji to sit on. 
3. Add all the ingredients into a bowl. Using disposable gloved hands, mix the ingredients together until well combined and create 6 even sized balls of bhaji. 
4. For the oven, bake on the lined sheet for 25-30 minutes or until golden and cooked through. 
5. For the air fryer, place each bhaji on the baking paper squares and place into the air fryer ensuring there is space between each one. Cook for 18-20 minutes or until golden and cooked through. 
6. Serve with coconut yoghurt or cucumber raita.