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British Indian Restaurant Recipe Requests => British Indian Restaurant Recipe Requests => Topic started by: curry_monster on April 13, 2005, 08:37 PM

Title: onion bhaji help
Post by: curry_monster on April 13, 2005, 08:37 PM
hi all

ive been using the 'stash' below for my bhaji's. but the problem is they seem to taste a bit 'bland'

1 LARGE ONION
GRAM FLOUR
TUMERIC
GROUND CUMIN
GROUND CORRIANDER
GARAM MASALA
CORIANDER
SALT

all mixed together with water and deep fried  ::)

can anyone recomend how i can pep it up some, or lmk how to go about the bhaji in the correct manner. or is there somthing missing from my stash. your help very much apreciated

CM :(
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: joe2 on April 13, 2005, 09:24 PM
I've tried many times the same recipe as yours and usually been dissapointed. Kris Dillon's take a bit more work but really are the business - fantastic.
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: curry_monster on April 13, 2005, 09:31 PM
I've tried many times the same recipe as yours and usually been dissapointed. Kris Dillon's take a bit more work but really are the business - fantastic.

kris dillons? tell me more, not clued on this thanx anyway CM
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: ghanna on April 13, 2005, 09:35 PM
HI, Currymonster
There are different methods for pre-cooking the onions before you mix them with the other ingredients and make the bahiji her are some of them :
Some recipes boil the onion slices for a short time
Others just fry the onion slices until they are wilted. Please do not brown them
Some just cut the raw onion into slices ?( no boiling or frying )


A very nice spice recipe for onion bhaji :
20g coriander seeds
20g black peppercorns
20g turmeric
20g dry fenugreek leaves
10g chillies
10g cumin seeds

only dry ?roast the cumin seeds for less than 2 minutes while you move the seeds all the time over high heat. Please leave until it is completely cool.

Add the ?rest of the spices and grind in a coffee grinder until fine.


Chickpea flour
eggs
yogurt
fresh green chillies
Salt...to taste

Method :
choose which kind of onions you want to use ( from above ).
Add egg or eggs? ,it depend upon how many onions you are going to use
Add yogurt? ? ? ? ? ............................................................................
Add spices ( from above ) and fresh chillies to your taste ,......................
Add salt
Add fresh coriander leaves if you like them in your bhaiji
Add chickpea flour? to make not very stiff dough
mix together ?and leave for some time so the onion can soak some of the liquids, and the flavor to develop.
make into shape and fry in hot oil

enjoy
thanks
ghanna


If you do like the raw taste of onions don't use the boiled? or the? fried? onions just use raw onions.
Try not to make the bahiji too? big as you don't want it to be raw (not cooked ) in the middle, if it did happen just cook them for another minute or two in the microwave oven .

If you do like them crisp fry them for a short period first until they are just yellow.Leave them to get cool and then re-fry them again until they are brown.

Some recipes use some cornflour with the chickpea flour they say it make the onion bahiji crisper.but i didnot try it my self.
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: london_lhr on April 13, 2005, 09:38 PM
Hello Curry Monster,
Welcome to the site. Have a look at : http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=9.0
This is a copy of the classic book by Kris Dhillon.( The curry secret.doc ) It is free for download.

Hello ghanna,
Your recipe looks good. Will try it over the weekend.

Cheers,
Barry.
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: ghanna on April 13, 2005, 09:44 PM
Hi,IondonIHR
Thank you
Please come back and tell me if you like it
Thanks
ghanna
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: curry_monster on April 13, 2005, 11:40 PM
WOW thanx guy's i will be putting this in to practice. as soon as i get the time, your help very much apreciated thanx for sharing all of u, and will post back and luk the outcome. your star's (http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/r/happy.gif)
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: Curry King on April 14, 2005, 10:12 AM
I find to get them like the restaurants do, ie flat, brown and greasy, I cook them in a frying pan or wok.  This way you can press them down to flaten them out in the oil and cook them through the middle.  Once done I think there a little better left to stand and then heated up again.
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: merrybaker on April 14, 2005, 03:32 PM
Kris Dillon's take a bit more work but really are the business - fantastic.
I've been meaning to try that recipe but didn't know about the mint sauce.? Is it a vinegar-based sauce such as Crosse & Blackwell?? Thanks.?
-Mary?
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: curry_monster on April 17, 2005, 01:20 PM
big thanx ghanna.. tried your's and very good. used semi fried onion's and followed ure instruction's-spot on m8 thanx' also tried kris dillons with the mint sauce procedure, also very good (http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/_950/omelet.gif)am in heaven now many thanx CM(http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/b0/pray.gif)cr0
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: curry_monster on April 17, 2005, 01:30 PM
Kris Dillon's take a bit more work but really are the business - fantastic.
I've been meaning to try that recipe but didn't know about the mint sauce.? Is it a vinegar-based sauce such as Crosse & Blackwell?? Thanks.?
-Mary?

hi, i used CB mint sauce in mine on my first attempt..and was very good will be trying fresh mint, and dried mint soaked in water. and see what i like best, will post back L8er's
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: ghanna on April 17, 2005, 01:40 PM
Dear Curry monster.
I am very glad .
You made me smile.
I am very thankfull ?for you for trying it and comming back and telling us all.
Really it is not my recipe , It is from one of the top Indian chefs.
When i eat any thing and i like i always ask for the recipe and try at home.
After i ?try it and i am pleased with the outcome i give it to any one that ask for it .
If you are in heaven please pray for me.
I am having a difficult time in getting any information about a fruit called Kachri , i hear-ed that they use it in the curry gravy and this fruit ?produce that very nice taste that i was looking for . really very long time mate .
Wish me luck.

Thanks
ghanna
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: curry_monster on April 17, 2005, 02:12 PM
(http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/b0/pray.gif)give this man what he deserv's(http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/u/pape.gif) hope this help's 'good luck' CM
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: Mark J on April 17, 2005, 02:55 PM
Its mentioned here : http://royalkhyber.com/spice.html
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: ghanna on April 17, 2005, 02:56 PM
Hi , Curry monster.
You are very funny.
Thank you
ghanna
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: ghanna on April 17, 2005, 08:38 PM
Hi ,Curry monster
Did you used the cornflour when you made it.?
Was it very hot or just right. ? Did you add any fresh chilli's ?
Was it soggy ? or crisp ?
One chef told me  add bicarbonate of soda to make it crisp .
The commercial  bahaji is always very oily.
Thanks
ghanna
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: ghanna on April 18, 2005, 06:23 PM
Hi, all
There is a lady in my area that sells home made bahaji , samosa and? True Butter Ghee.
I use to buy a lot of the three.
Now i am only buying True Butter Ghee.
Her bahaji use to be very oily and not nice at all .
I made the bahaji long time ago and took a sample to her . She liked? it and now she is selling it instead of her version
I am quite happy? . When i feel that i am not in the mood to start making them i always go and buy from her.They are delicious.
She always think i hided some of the ingredients from her, because mine are better than  her.
Honestly i did not hide any thing? . I gave her the chef recipe.
I think all of us do that , we always think that the other ones are better than ours.
She is trying hard to get my recipe for the samosa , but at the time been i want her recipe for the True Butter Ghee and she is saying? ?...no ..no..no.
One of her family gave me the recipe , but they are a little bit naughty, it does not taste the same .they told me to use margarine and i know it is not? true
So i am putting in some pressure to get the recipe, and at the same time they are putting in? a lot .
i am saying ...yes...yes..yes? ? , but please the Butter ghee recipe
Wish me luck
Thanks
ghanna








Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: curry_monster on April 18, 2005, 07:25 PM
Hi ,Curry monster
Did you used the cornflour when you made it.?
Was it very hot or just right. ? Did you add any fresh chilli's ?
Was it soggy ? or crisp ?
One chef told me? add bicarbonate of soda to make it crisp .
The commercial? bahaji is always very oily.
Thanks
ghanna

hi,ghanna
i did'nt use the corn flour as i never had any. but will try some very soon
i did add some fresh'ish chillies i had, i only had a small amount so added some dried 'chopped small chillies as well '3'
was it soggy or crisp. = i found it to be just right that in between texture
i did add a small amount of bicarb but not a lot
[The commercial ?bahaji is always very oily.] i agree to oily for me. i also once bought a frozen bag of bhaji's from the supermarket and was not impressed to say the least(http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/j0/glasses.gif)

i came home from work today, and decided to have a play with the bhaji again.'posted below' at the end of the week when i can get some fresh herbs and spice's im on to a winner . sure on the right track thanx to u guy's

anyhow this is what i tried , and i must admit i realy realy was impressed..... that may just be me having made some dodgy attempts in the past..i dont know but this one ive printed and is now in my curry folder

most is from what ghanna posted..i will be using fresh coriander and trying diferant methods as i keep plugging away. however im out of stock so here's what i used.. this makes 6 bhaji's hope u enjoy them as much as what i did..''there's only 2 left(http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/_950/friendship.gif)

4 small onions finley chopped fried till lame[set aside on kitchen towel]
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp black pepper corns
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves
8 small red chillies [finley chopped]
half tsp cumin seed's [ dry roasted 2 min's]
half tsp dried mint

all the above ground through coffee grinder

now put into a bowl

2 TBS gram flour
1 egg
1 TBS yogurt
half teaspoon of green minced chilli paste
1 tsp of 'BIRDS' custard powder(http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/h0/spineyes.gif)
2 pinch's of salt

mix all the above together with the onions and let stand for a while. there's enough here for 6 good sized bhajis

use a tablespoon and fold a ball on it and drop in hot deep oil for a few minutes .remove place on kitchen towel and let go cold. do this untill all mixture is used.

now squash each ball by using kitchen towel sqash down to about half inch thick ;;;;; now refry untill golden brown

im sure it will be even better with fresh chillie's and herbs. which i will be using when i can. im more than happy with the outcome of this and im sure that i will improve some more so i owe ghanna and all the guy's on here a big (http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/g0/beer.gif)thanx guy's ?CM (http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/f/hump.gif)








Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: ghanna on April 18, 2005, 07:34 PM
HI ,Curry monster
It look fine to me .
The custard powder is mainly  consist of cornflour , egg flavor ,and  a very very small amount of vanilla flavoring .
Did you notice any vanilla flavor.?
You are so funny , i like the icons that you use it make sense.
Cheers
Thank you
ghanna


Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: ghanna on April 19, 2005, 09:07 AM
Hi, All
The lady came and talked to me this morning.
She read every thing
Every one in our neighborhood is reading and watching this site, even the people in the pub are speaking about it .A lot of people will join? soon, now they watch it as guests.
She liked what i say-ed about her, she is 100% sure now that i gave her the origanal recipe and i did not hide any thing from her.
We made a deal .
I am going to make my samosa in front of her own eyes ,and she going to make the True Butter Ghee in front of my own eyes.
She is only putting one condition, i am not going to tell any one about it (True butter ghee ) because this is her own living. i agreed.
Any way i don't think that a lot of people are very concerned about True Butter Ghee.
She is selling a lot of samosa and bahaji to the pubs as well
Thanks
ghanna
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: curry_monster on April 21, 2005, 06:01 PM
HI ,Curry monster
It look fine to me .
The custard powder is mainly? consist of cornflour , egg flavor ,and? a very very small amount of vanilla flavoring .
Did you notice any vanilla flavor.?

hi, ghanna

did'nt notice or taste any vanilla its just somthing i alway's use when making any form of batter. i think if i increse it a little more i may find a diferance in taste. managed to get some fresh herbs today so will be making some more lots of for the freezer (http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/_950/food.gif)CM
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: joe2 on April 21, 2005, 10:21 PM
Bought some bhaji mix in my Indian grocers at the weekend, the make is Gits - its in a packet inside a box - cost ?1. Just mix it with water and add onions etc and fry. Gorgeous.
Title: Re: onion bhaji help
Post by: curry_monster on April 21, 2005, 11:11 PM
Bought some bhaji mix in my Indian grocers at the weekend, the make is Gits - its in a packet inside a box - cost ?1. Just mix it with water and add onions etc and fry. Gorgeous.

they maybe nice ? i dont disagree. but i will say u cant beat a good home made effort. and a chance to prove to yourself u can make somthing better,the one's ive tried and tested are (http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/k/dontknow.gif) i would rather put some time and effort into somthing i like rather than (http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/z/fart.gif)suffer the cheap mass produced crap that has a grip on the few enjoy CM ;)

but i will try this. if i can find it in the shops. as ive never tried packets mix's before..only the frozen bhajis and they were(http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/_950/shock.gif)