Air Fryer Onion Bhaji (Printable)

Crispy golden fritters seasoned with Indian spices, cooked to perfection with an air fryer.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large onions, thinly sliced
02 - 2 green chilies, finely chopped (optional)
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dry Ingredients

04 - 1 cup gram flour
05 - 2 tablespoons rice flour
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
09 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
11 - 3/4 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Wet Ingredients

13 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water, as needed
14 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice

→ To Finish

15 - Cooking spray oil (canola or sunflower)

# How to Make It:

01 - Place sliced onions, green chilies, and cilantro in a large mixing bowl.
02 - Add gram flour, rice flour, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, baking powder, salt, and black pepper to the bowl.
03 - Toss all ingredients together ensuring onions are well coated in the flour and spice mixture.
04 - Add lemon juice and 2 tablespoons water, then mix with your hands to form a thick batter that just holds together. Add additional water one teaspoon at a time if needed.
05 - Preheat air fryer to 350°F for 3 minutes.
06 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
07 - Scoop heaped tablespoons of batter mixture and gently shape into rough patties or clumps. Arrange in a single layer in the basket without overcrowding.
08 - Lightly spray the tops with oil and air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once halfway through and spraying again, until golden and crispy.
09 - Transfer to a serving plate and serve immediately with mint chutney or yogurt dip.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste fried but without the oil splatter or kitchen-wide smell that lingers for days.
  • Ready in 30 minutes flat, and the air fryer does most of the work while you relax.
  • Naturally vegan and gluten-free, so everyone at your table actually gets to eat them.
02 -
  • Don't skip preheating the air fryer—I learned this the hard way with soggy, pale bhaji that broke my heart.
  • If your batter feels too wet after mixing, resist the urge to add more flour; just refrigerate it for 10 minutes and it'll firm up as the onions release their water.
03 -
  • Use a kitchen scale for the flours if you have one—measuring cups can be inconsistent, and too much flour makes them dense instead of light.
  • Don't open the air fryer during cooking to check on them; the heat loss sets back the crisping process, so trust the time and just listen for when the sound changes.
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