Indian Restaurant Style Onion Bhajia Deep Fried Onion Fritters Food

ONION BHAJI (INDIAN ONION FRITTERS)

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour, turmeric, cumin, coriander, parsley and water. Season with salt and pepper. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to blend. Preheat the fryer to high heat.
• Preheat the oven to 75 °C (170 °F).
• With two teaspoons, place 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of batter and fry in the hot oil, a few at a time, for 3 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally. Drain on paper towel and keep warm in the oven. Fry the remaining fritters. Serve warm as a starter.
• Tips: You can find chickpea flour in health food stores and some supermarkets.

INDIAN RESTAURANT STYLE ONION BHAJIA - DEEP FRIED ONION FRITTERS

Steps:

• Put the vegetable oil into a large pan and heat over a medium to high heat.
• Make the batter: In a large bowl, add the chickpea flour, baking powder, rice flour, turmeric, black onion seeds, chili powder, cumin, coriander, salt and the water. Mix together well and then add the sliced onion - mix the onion through until well coated.
• Check the temperature of the oil by dropping a small cube of bread in - it should brown fairly slowly - not burn or go dark brown straight away.
• Carefully drop spoons of the bhaji batter in to the oil, do NOT overcrowd as they will stick together. Fry them in small batches for 1 to 2 minutes until they are a golden brown and crispy. Remove them with a slotted spoon and allow them to drain on a paper covered plate in a warm oven.
• Repeat until all the bhaji batter is finished and they are all cooked.
• Sprinkle over a little salt and serve straight away with coriander chutney or cucumber raita.

ONION FRITTERS (BHAJAS)

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix the flour, chili powder, turmeric, baking powder and salt.
• Add the crushed cumin seeds, onion, green chili's and coriander leaves, toss well.
• Very gradually mix in enough cold water to make a thick batter coating all of the ingredients.
• Heat enough oil in a wok or deep frying pan.
• Drop by spoonfuls into the hot oil and fry until golden brown leaving enough space to turn fritters easily.
• Drain well and serve hot.

ONION BHAJI

Steps:

• Peel the onions and slice them so they form rings. Slices should be as thin as possible (1/8 to 3/16"). Cut the rings to form strands about 1-2" long.
• Put onion in a large mixing bowl, add spices and salt and mix thoroughlly. Put about half of the vinegar in and gradually stir in the flour until it is possible to form 1 1/2 to 2" balls with the mixture. Use flour and remaining vinegar to adjust consistency.
• Heat the oil in a suitable deep fryer or pan (careful to avoid overflow when placing food in the oil. Also have a large water-soaked towel nearby in case of spillage onto the burner). Heat to 350°F.
• Form the onion/flour mixture into 1 1/2 to 2" balls and carefully place them in the oil using a metal spoon or suitable tool. Only fry enough at one time such that they don't stick to eachother. Fry to dark golden brown.
• Remove cooked bhajis from oil and drain as with other fried foods. Serve on absorbent towel to soak up excess oil.

RESTAURANT-STYLE TANDOORI CHICKEN IN THE OVEN!

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, stir together the yogurt and lemon juice. Add the spices, minced garlic, and chili paste, and whisk until you have a smooth, thick marinade.
• Put 6 pieces of the chicken in each of two zip-lock bags, and add 1/2 the marinade to each bag. Zip closed and knead the bags until the chicken is well-coated with marinade. Open bags slightly, squeeze out most of the air, and zip closed again. Refrigerate 12-24 hours. If serving this for dinner, I usually make the marinade and start the chicken soaking the evening before.
• Turn the bags and knead the marinating chicken once or twice while it's in the refrigerator.
• When you are ready to cook, take the chicken out of the refrigerator, line a large roasting pan with foil, lay a rack over the pan so air can circulate under the roasting chicken, and pre-heat your oven to 425. If you have a convection bake or convection roast cycle, use that.
• Place the chicken pieces on the rack so they are not touching. Empty what is left of the marinade into a bowl or measuring cup and touch up any "empty" spots on the chicken pieces with the marinade.
• Once the oven is hot, put the pan with the chicken in the oven, and leave the door closed (no peeking!). Turn the chicken pieces once after 30 minutes of cooking time, then roast for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until slightly charred on the second side, but no more than 15 minutes for legs and thighs. If you are cooking breasts, poke one with a skewer to make sure the juices run clear.
• NOW TURN THE OVEN OFF, and let the chicken rest in the closed oven for 20-30 minutes more (not critical, but NO PEEKING!).
• Remove the chicken to a warm platter, garnish with the onion rings and a few squeezes of lemon, and enjoy!
• See if you don't agree this is as good as any "authentic" Tandoori chicken you've ever tried!