Onion Pakoda I Onion Bhaji

Onion Pakoda also known as onion bhaji in air fryer is a delicious snack and treat. It is a popular Indian street food recipe that gets a healthy avatar in the air fryer.

Pakoda or fritters are very popular especially during rains in India. Downed with masala chai, you see it sold at every street corner.

You can check out this aloo pakora recipe in Air fryer.

The recipe is super easy but does need a few tweaks to be made in air fryer that I have shared below.

You may also enjoy these air fryer snacks: samosa, chilli cheese toast, hara bhara kabab, beetroot cutlet, aloo tikki chaat, paneer tikka, banana chips.

Ingredients

1. Onion: Since these are onion bhajis, onion is the star ingredient here. I sometimes also add finely chopped potato, green chillies and cilantro here. You can also add finely chopped cabbage or carrot here.

2. Besan or Chickpea flour: This chickpea flour forms the batter for these onion pakodas.

3. Rice flour: This helps in crisping up the pakodas or fritters.

4. Spices: Finely chopped ginger and garlic along with carrom seeds, salt, cayenne, garam masala, turmeric powder lend flavor to these bhajis.

Variations

This is a vegan recipe which is also gluten free. Perfect for vegetarians and vegans.

You can use any oil that you like like olive oil or coconut oil. I personally prefer cold pressed mustard oil for its pungent kick.

Instructions

Add chickpea flour, rice flour and all the spices together and mix well.

Now add them to finely sliced onion along with coriander leaves.

If you want you can add one finely chopped potato here as well.

Leave aside for 10 minutes. The mixture will become moist.

Now add water little by little so that the chickpea flour mix coats the onion.

Do not make the batter runny or it will not turn crispy.

For Air Frying

Pre heat Air fryer to 160 C or 320 F for 4 minutes.

Brush the basket with oil and make small pakoda dumplings in one layer on the basket or perforated tray.

Air fry for 8-10 minutes at 360 F for larger pakodas (9 in one batch) .

For smaller ones like 13-14 in a batch, air fry for 8-10 minutes at 160 C or 320 F.

Brush with oil midway. No need to flip.

Optional Now Air fry at 200 C or 390 F for 2-4 minutes more if you haven't got the brown colour yet.

That's it. Take out and serve your crispy tasty onion pakoda made in Air fryer hot with chutney or ketchup.

If you pakoda stick, you can use perforated parchment paper and line the pakoda on it to cook.

For Deep Frying

Now heat oil and using a spoon or your hands, put small portions of mixture into medium hot oil.

Fry till golden brown and cooked inside.

Drain onto kitchen towel using a slotted spoon and serve hot with green chutney and ketchup.

Enjoy onion pakora with hot cup of tea.

Pro Tips:

1. Keeping the batter aside ensures that onion release water and hence the pakoras will turn out crisp and not soggy.
2. When air frying, keep checking the pakoda to ensure they don't overcook. Don't over crowd the basket.
3. You can use parchment paper to prevent the pakode from sticking to the basket.
4. Always slice the onions finely for best results.
5. You can use the same recipe to make spinach fritters like those of spinach, green chilli, cauliflower, potato etc. You will need to make the batter separately and then dip the vegetable in the batter and deep fry or air fry it.
6. When deep frying, always fry at medium flame and not very high flame. To check if the oil is hot, put in a small speck if the mixture into the oil. If it comes up instantly then your oil is adequately hot.
7. I prefer to use mustard oil as the cooking medium as it lends its unique taste to the fritters but feel free to use any oil of your choice.
8. Don’t overcrowd the pan or kadhai or else the fritters will not cook evenly.
9. Don’t fry on low flame or your pakodas will get soggy.
10. You can add finely chopped potatoes and chillies to this onion pakoda mix for a delicious variation.
11. Some people add about a tbsp. of hot oil to the batter to make the pakodas lighter.

FAQs

Here's the recipe card:

📖 Recipe Card

Onion Pakoda Recipe Two Ways (in Air fryer and Deep Fried) | Onion Pakora

Rachna Parmar

This is a delicious and super easy onion pakoda recipe made in Air fryer and deep fried that you can easily make at home. Try this onion pakora today.

5 from 16 votes

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 12 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Accompaniment | Appetizer

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4 people

Calories 227 kcal

people

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 3 onions finely sliced
• 1 potato cut into thin slivers (optional)
• 1 cup chickpea flour or besan
• ¼ cup Rice flour
• 1 tsp. ajwain or carrom seeds or use dried thyme
• 1 tbsp. ginger garlic finely chopped
• 1 tsp. cayenne or red chilli powder
• ½ tsp. turmeric powder
• ½ tsp. garam masala powder
• salt to taste
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro or coriander leaves
• 2 tsp. Oil for Air frying or as needed for deep frying

Instructions

 

• Add chickpea flour, rice flour and all the spices together and mix well.
• Now add them to finely sliced onion along with coriander leaves.
• Leave aside for 10 minutes. The mixture will become moist.
• Now add water little by little so that the gram flour mix coats the onion. Do not make the batter runny or it will not turn crisp.

For Air Frying

• Pre heat Air fryer to 160 C or 320 F for 6 minutes. Brush the basket with oil and make small pakoda dumplings in one layer on the basket or perforated tray.
• Air fry for 8-10 minutes at 360 F for larger pakodas (9 in one batch) . For smaller ones like 13-14 in a batch, air fry for 8-10 minutes at 160 C or 320 F. Brush with oil midway. No need to flip.
• Optional Now Air fry at 200 C or 390 F for 2-4 minutes more if you haven't got the brown colour yet.
• That's it. Take out and serve your crispy tasty onion pakoda made in Air fryer hot with chutney or ketchup.

For Deep Frying

• Heat oil and using a spoon or your hands, put small portions of mixture into medium hot oil. Fry till golden brown and cooked inside.
• Drain onto kitchen towel using a slotted spoon and serve hot with green chutney and ketchup. Enjoy onion pakora with hot cup of tea.

Notes

1. Keeping the batter aside ensures that onion release water and hence the pakoras will turn out crisp and not soggy.
2. When air frying keep checking the pakode to ensure they don't overcook. Don't over crowd the basket.
3. You can use parchment paper if your pakode stick to the basket.
4. Always finely slice the onions for best results.
5. Don't make batter runny or your pakore will not turn out crispy.
6. You can use the same recipe to make other fritters like those of spinach, green chilli, cauliflower, potato etc.
7. You will need to make the batter separately and then dip the vegetable in the batter and deep fry or air fry it.
8. When deep frying, always fry at medium flame and not very high flame. To check if the oil is hot, put in a small speck if the mixture into the oil. If it comes up instantly then your oil is adequately hot.
9. I prefer to use mustard oil as the cooking medium as it lends its unique taste to the fritters but feel free to use any oil of your choice.
10. Don’t overcrowd the pan or kadhai or else the fritters will not cook evenly.
11. Don’t fry on low flame or your pakodas will get soggy.
12. You can add finely chopped potatoes and chillies to this onion pakoda mix for a delicious variation.
13. Some people add about a tbsp. of hot oil to the batter to make the pakodas lighter.

Nutrition

Calories: 227kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 9gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 27mgPotassium: 470mgFiber: 6gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 585IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 3mg

Tried this recipe?Let me know on Instagram @rachna.parmar or tag #rachnacooks

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Hope you enjoyed this onion bhaji recipe and will try it at home.

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