One of the easiest Air fryer Onion Bhaji recipe you will ever make. This recipe is so so simple, you’ll think you are cheating. But this no fry Healthy Onion Bhajis is surely a delicious side dish or starter to serve with your Indian fakeaway meals. ( Vegan, Gluten-Free ) Here’s how I make this recipe step by step in my kitchen! Video instructions included.
About this recipe – Easy Air fryer Onion Bhaji ( Onion Pakora)
We love perfectly crispy Onion Bhaji and they are great for occasional indulgence! However, if you think you want to indulge in Onion Bhaji ( Onion Pakoda ) and that’s not deep-fried, to serve with Roti, Chana Masala, and Rogan Josh, then you need to try this recipe.
This Air fryer version of our Onion Pakora Bhaji is also great for Kadhi Pakora too.
We use our failproof Onion Bhaji recipe that you all love. Sliced Onions are smothered in the gram flour ( chickpea flour and spices mix ) and mixed with a tiny amount of water. And then air fried to perfection.
This homemade airfryer onion bhaji recipe is super simple to follow and they come out crispy ever single time.
I have made this recipe for Onion Chickpeas fritters in my Instant Pot Airfryer Vortex 6 in 1. Since it has a nonstick tray as opposed to the wire mesh-like one in the Philips Viva Airfryer, I didn’t need baking paper in it.
Why make this Air fryer Onion Bhaji ( Onion Pakora )
- It’s AIR FRIED! ( Not deep-fried.. )
- Suitable for VEGANS & Naturally GLUTEN FREE too!
- Cost-effective to make at home. The recipe uses inexpensive ingredients.
- It’s a healthy LOW OIL Snacks recipe. The recipe uses only 2 – 2.5 tsp of oil!
- Air fryer onion bhaji is super quick & easy to make.
- All you’ll need is ONE BOWL to mix everything and one air fryer to cook them.
- No greasy stove and no more standing near the stove to do fry the onion pakora. Less cleaning to do!
- Air fry Onion Bhaji only needs simple pantry ingredients.
- Air fried Onion Bhajis are super tasty, I bet you can’t stop with one. And it’s guilt-free too.
- Great make-ahead recipe. Simply pop it back in the air fryer to reheat the bhajis before serving.
- Delicious as a starter/appetizer or as a side. Love this Air fryer Onion Bhaji as a component in my Punjabi Kadhi Pakora.
- Ideal for Weight Watches and anyone looking to satisfy occasional cravings with this Low oil version of Onion Bhaji.
- This healthy takeaway recipe will become your new family favorite!
What is Onion Bhaji?
Onion Bhaji is a popular restaurant and takeaway favorite in the UK. It is a deep-fried crispy Indian appetizer served with tamarind chutney and coriander mint chutney. The batter is made with chickpea flour ( gram flour), Ground spice powders, coriander leaves, and very little water. Chickpea flour is inexpensive and easily available in your local superstores or Asian stores.
However, in India, Onion Bhaji is also known as Onion Pakora, Onion Pakoda, Vengayam Bajji, and Kanda Bhajji. This delicious crispy snack is often served with Masala Chai or a cup of strong filter coffee in the Indian subcontinent.
Keep in mind – The Air fryer Onion Bhaji and Deep Fried Onion Bhaji have different textures due to the nature of cooking and the limited amount of oil in the recipe.
Ingredients You’ll need to make Onion Pakora ( Onion Bhajji)
You will need the following
- 2 red onions, sliced thin
- 1 cup gram flour /chickpea flour
- 2 Tbsp rice flour
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 1/4 cup coriander leaves
- Salt to taste
- 1 – 3 tsp Water as needed
Additions and Substitutions for this Bhaiji recipe
This recipe is easy to customise. You add a variety of opt ins to suit your liking.
Use Brown Onion or White Onion, if you don’t have red onion. Keep in mind, you may need to adjust the quantity of water accordingly.
Don’t have rice flour, you can leave it out. Rice flour makes Bhajji extra crispy.
Love Ginger, add 1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger. Garlic can have a bit overpowering flavor.
Add 1 green chilli, diced for a kick of heat.
For additional flavor, you also add Garam Masala too.
Don’t mind seeds – You can use Cumin seeds or Ajwain seeds.
Add a handful of Spinach, Grated Carrot and Grated Potato to the mixture to make Mixed Veg Pakora!
Do not sub Gram flour for Plain Flour.
You really don’t need baking powder or baking soda to make this Indian Onion bhaji! They are never used at home.
Tips to make Crispy Onion Pakora in the Air fryer
- Preheat the Air fryer. This step is essential to replicate the temperature of the cooking oil.
- Do not slice the Onion too thick. Thinner the better!
- The pakora batter must not be too wet. Allowing the onion to rest in the flour is an important step. Onion will leave its water when it’s rested with flour, so do not be tempted to add a lot of water to make the batter.
- Rice Flour. Adding the rice flour to the chickpea flour batter will make super crispy pakora bhaji.
- The second batch will cook slightly quicker than the first as the air fryer has been cooking for a while.
- Brushing a layer of oil is necessary for this bhaji recipe, otherwise, they will turn out dry.
- Do not overcrowd the Bhaji in the air fryer basket.
How to make Onion Bhaji without Egg?
To make Vegan Onion Bhaji without egg, the secret Ingredients are Chickpea Flour and Rice Flour. Together they make Crispy Onion Bhajji any day!
Some Onion Bhaji fritters are actually made with egg. I was surprised when I came a few versions on the internet.
To make a ridiculously good Air fryer onion bhaji, you only need a handful of ingredients – chickpea flour, rice flour, spice powders, coriander leaves, and water. Once you make the batter, mix in a teaspoon of oil. Preheat the Airfryer. Arrange small lumps of the batter into the Air fryer basket and air fry to perfection in just 10-12 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Airfryer Onion Bhaji along with Green Chutney or Tamarind Chutney for a starter/appetizer or snack. This Onion Bhajji is also a great filler to tuck inside your wraps – works well as a quick midweek meal recipe too.
It is also delicious as a part of the big fakeaway meal with Coriander Garlic Naan bread, Dal Tarka, Veg Korma, and Cucumber Raita.
If you love this recipe, you will also love these Airfryer recipes
HAVE YOU MADE THIS RECIPE?
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How to make Air fryer Onion Bhaji Step by Step
Ingredients
- 2 medium red onions sliced thin
- 1 cup gram flour / chickpea flour
- 2 Tbsp Rice Flour
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Ground coriander
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric
- ½ tsp Chilli powder
- ¼ cup coriander leaves
- Salt to taste
- 1 – 3 tsp water as needed
- 2 – 2½ tsp Oil
Instructions
- MIX THE INGREDIENTS – Add all the dry ingredients – flour, spices, salt, onion, and coriander leaves.
- Mix them with clean hands and allow them to sit for at least 20 minutes ( or longer – up to 1 hour )
- ONION BHAJI BATTER – After 20 minutes, squeeze the onions with your hands to release the water. Combine the mixture together to form a thick batter. If you feel the batter is too dry, add 1 teaspoon of water at a time until the batter coats the onions well. If you feel, during the process of frying the batter has gone a bit watery, you can add 1-2 tsp of gram flour too.
- AIR FRY ONION BHAJI – Preheat the Air fryer to 400F / 200C for 10 minutes. Brush the air fryer basket with oil. Add small lumps of the fritter batter into a basket without touching each other. Brush a little oil on the top. Air fry for 10- 12 minutes, rotating at halftime. Brush again with a little oil.
- Air fry until evenly brown and crispy. Check if they’re cooked inside and the bhaji is not wet. Transfer to a serving plate.
- SERVE – Serve immediately with your favorite coriander chutney, ketchup, tamarind chutney, or raita.
Do you know if these would these freeze and reheat well?
Hi Erin, I have not tried freezing them. However I do not see why cannot be freezed. Reheating them should be pretty straight forward. Pop them back in the air fryer and cook as desired.