Perfectly Crispy Onion Pakoda (Kanda Bhaji)
Crispy Onion Pakoda, also known as Kanda Bhaji or Onion Bhaji, is a popular Indian tea-time snack made with thinly sliced onions coated in a spiced chickpea flour batter and deep-fried until golden brown. Perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft inside — best served hot with chutney and chai!
Serving Size 4
Video
Equipments
- 1 Wok
Ingredients
- 2 large onions thinly sliced
- 1 cup besan chickpea flour/gram flour
- ¼ cup water as needed
- 1 green chili finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds lightly crushed
- ½ teaspoon garlic paste lehsun
- ½ teaspoon chaat masala
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- A pinch of hing asafoetida
- 1-2 cup oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Peel and thinly slice the onions. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, add besan and a little water, whisking gently to form a thick, lump-free batter.
- Stir in green chili, crushed coriander seeds, garlic paste, chaat masala, hing, and salt. Mix well.
- Pour oil into a deep pan or kadai and heat on medium flame (about 350°F / 175°C).
- Add sliced onions to the batter and mix gently to coat. Do not add extra water — the onions will release moisture.
- Drop small spoonfuls of the mixture into hot oil. Fry in small batches, turning occasionally, until the pakodas are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove the pakodas and place them on a wire rack or paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Serve hot with mint-coriander chutney, tamarind chutney, or tomato ketchup. Enjoy with a steaming cup of masala chai for the perfect monsoon or evening snack!
Notes
- For extra crispiness, mix 1–2 tablespoons of rice flour or corn flour into the batter.
- Add a pinch of ajwain (carom seeds) or grated ginger to aid digestion and enhance flavor.
- Always fry in medium-hot oil — too low and pakodas absorb oil; too high and they’ll brown too quickly.
- Best enjoyed fresh; if storing, reheat in an air fryer or oven for a few minutes to regain crispiness.
Nutrition (Estimates Only)
Calories: 240kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 6gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 1.2gSodium: 290mgPotassium: 360mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3g