Bajji

A plate of Vazhaikkai/plantain and Vengaya/onion Bajji

Bajjis, that brings life and makes any evening special is one of my favorite coffee or tea time snack. I have lot of memories associated with the Bajjis. MIrchi Bajjis with friends at college. at times with family when Amma made them at home or during the ‘Penn Paarkum Padalam’ of my cousins where it was a custom to serve Kesari & Bhajji. 
Onion bajji is Appa`s favorite, Vazhaikkai bajji is my husband`s and bread bajji is my daughter`s. My all time favorite is Mirchi/ Milagai Bajji.
Usually the name of the vegetable that is deep fried is suffixed with bajji. For example sliced potato wrapped in batter and deep fried is potato bajji similarly onion bajji or Mirchi baji .
Bajji kadai is synonymous with the beaches in Chennai. They are served in a push-cart with some loud film music playing and the bajji comes served in a plate with banana-leaf or a newspaper. There are numerous Bajji stalls elsewhere in the city too. Along with Bajjis other savories like pakoda and bhonda are also sold here. The picture below taken at Yercaud,TN depicts a typical Bajji stall on the road side.

Dallas is experiencing pleasant weather with cool breeze and its nice to have hot bajji with a cup of hot coffee.
Handful of flours and few vegetables of your choice is all that is needed to make these deep fried bajjis. Raw plantain, potato, cauliflower,brinjal, onion, bread are the vegetables used typically. I have also had pineapple, ridge gourd and fish bajji.

Prep Time: 5mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins
Spice Level: Medium
Recipe Level: Easy/Beginner
Makes: 20 Bajjis


Ingredients:

1. 15 to 20 sliced vegetables
2. 1 cup besan/kadalai mavvu/chickpea flour
3. ½ cup rice flour
4. ½ cup maida
5. ¼ cup idli batter
6. 1½ teaspoon red chilli powder
7. ¼ teaspoon asafoetida
8. ½ teaspoon baking soda/soda bi carb
9. ½ teaspoon salt
10. 1 cup water
11. oil for deep frying

Procedure:

1. Combine all the flours with rest of the ingredients except the vegetables and oil. Add the water and mix well to form a smooth thick batter. (make sure to have a thick batter, a thin batter will absorb more oil ). 
2. Heat oil in a deep frying kadai/pan. Dip each slice of vegetable into the batter so that it coats well and place in the hot oil slowly. Reduce heat to medium and deep fry till they turn golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to turn them so that it cooks on both sides. 
3. Once they turn golden brown, remove them on to absorbent paper. Serve as evening snack with coffee or tea. 

TIPS: I have used maida in the recipe and its optional. Red chilli powder can be reduced if you like it less spicy. I used a mandolin to slice the vegetables. It has to be a little ticker than slices for chips. 
The left over vegetables and onions can be roughly chopped and mixed with left over batter if any and made as pakodas. 
Serve with coconut chutney or ketchup.
BAJJI MIX: Mix besan/kadalai mavvu/chickpea flour, rice flour, maida, red chilli powder, asafoetida, baking soda/soda bi carb and salt for further use. use the double the quantity given and store in airtight container in a refrigerator for freshness. Add water and idli batter while making the Bajjis.