Mani's Bajjis

Bajjis are quick, Bajjis are tasty, let's all make some bajji's today -just for a snack, snack snack
Don't mind me - I have just been listening to a lot of Barney thanks to my little one and the words above are to the tune of Let's read book....

As you know the bajji mavu or batter is what matters - you can put whatever veggies you like and fry them up
It used to be that I had to mix the batter up for my husband and he would fry them up, but now he makes a stellar batter all by himself and has actually made it his signature dish...hence the name

NOTE: None of my recipes will have store bought red chili powder ever, because we've noticed a horrible burning in our stomachs as an after effect. I strongly recommend that you prepare your chili powder yourself as and when you need it. for this very reason I make my own curry podi (powder for all my veggies)

Ingredients

1 cup of besan/kadalamavu/gram flour
1/2 cup of rice flour
1/2 teaspoon each of cumin powder, coriander powder
2 teaspoons of Sambar podi  And/Or
3 dry red chillies first fried in a small dab of oil and ground in a dry blender
a pinch of asafoetida
1/2 teaspoon of my favorite herb rosemary
salt

Preparation:

In a pan sift the flours and add the spices and ingredients.
Take a cup of water and start mixing it in to make the batter
It should flow like a thick syrup from your hand - So go easy on the water as you get further into the mixing- In all you will need 1-1/2 cups, approx

Prepare the veggies
In this case, we made Zucchini and Musrooms,  Onions - We made Capsicum bajjis too but sorry forgot to take a picture of it - rest assured it is SUPREME in taste!

For the frying:

Heat a medium-sized deep dish pan 2/3 filled with oil
Soak the veggies in the batter and drop them carefully but briskly into the oil - the idea is the batter should be thick enough that it does not drip into the oil or off the veggie
Wait until golden brown
Eat hot

NOTE: In most of my recipes, I try to make the batter self-sufficient in taste, in that it does not taste dodh or tasteless - And no sides are required. But I know lots of people love some ketchup of coriander chutney (the recipe of which will follow soon) on the side.

Secret Tip: Chop up some curry leaves and mix in with the batter for additional flavor
Happy Thanksgiving
                                                                            ZUCCHINI BAJJIS

                                                              BATTER CONSISTENCY

                                                                MUSHROOM BAJJIS

                                                                     ONION BAJJIS

                                                                THE FRYING PROCESS