Mirchi Bajji Recipe: A Spicy and Crispy Indian Snack

Mirchi bajji is a popular Indian snack made with green chillies dipped in a spiced chickpea flour batter and deep-fried. It is a crispy, flavorful, and slightly spicy treat that is perfect for enjoying with tea or coffee.

Ingredients for Mirchi Bajji:

• 12-14 green chillies (bhajji mirchi)
• 2 cups besan (chickpea flour)
• 4-6 tablespoons corn flour (or ¼ cup rice flour)
• ¾-1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• 1-1¼ teaspoon crushed ajwain (carom seeds)
• ½ teaspoon red chili powder (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons oil (to add in the batter)
• Oil for deep frying
• ¾ cup water (plus 2-3 tablespoons as needed)

Instructions for Making Mirchi Bajji:

1. Wash and pat dry the green chillies.
2. Make a slit along one side of each chili, keeping the stem intact.
3. Deseed the chilies using a small knife or spoon. Be careful not to break the chilies.
4. Optional: Stuff the chilies with a mixture of crushed ajwain, salt, and tamarind paste.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together besan, corn flour (or rice flour), salt, ajwain, red chili powder (if using), turmeric powder, and baking soda.
6. Gradually add water to the dry ingredients, whisking until you get a thick and lump-free batter. The batter should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
7. Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the batter and mix well.
8. Heat oil for deep frying in a pan or kadai over medium heat.
9. Dip each chili in the batter, making sure to coat it evenly.
10. Carefully drop the coated chilies into the hot oil.
11. Fry the bajjis for 2-3 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
12. Drain the bajjis on paper towels.
13. Serve hot with your favorite chutney or sauce.

Tips for Making Mirchi Bajji:

• Use fresh, firm green chillies for the best results.
• If you don’t like your bajjis too spicy, you can remove the seeds from the chillies before stuffing or frying them.
• Be careful not to overcrowd the pan when frying the bajjis. This will prevent them from crisping up properly.
• The batter should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. If it is too thin, the bajjis will be soggy.
• Adjust the amount of red chili powder to your taste.
• Serve the bajjis hot with your favorite chutney or sauce, such as mint chutney, coconut chutney, or tomato sauce.

I hope you enjoy this recipe for mirchi bajji!

Additional Notes:

• You can also add other vegetables to the batter, such as chopped onions, potatoes, or carrots.
• For a healthier version of mirchi bajji, you can bake them instead of deep-frying them. Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) and bake the bajjis for 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.

Enjoy your delicious homemade mirchi bajji!