Mirchi Bhaji

Mirchi Bhaji

Mirchi Bhaji

Veg Vegan

Large Byadagi or Guntur green chillies dipped in a thin, spiced besan batter and deep-fried until the batter is golden and puffed around the whole chilli. The evening snack of Dharwad and Hubli, sold at tea stalls from 4pm onwards alongside a cup of strong filter coffee. The long, mildly-hot Byadagi chilli stays intact inside the crispy shell, releasing its smoky heat when bitten.

Cuisines

Kolhapuri North Karnataka Maharashtrian

Best for

Snacks Breakfast

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Total: 35 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

Green Chili 6 Green Chili , slit
Gram Flour 1 cup Gram Flour
red chili powder 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder
Carom Seed 1 teaspoon Carom Seed
Cumin 1 teaspoon Cumin , seeds
asafoetida 1/4 teaspoon Asafoetida
salt 1 teaspoon Salt
baking soda 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
water 1 cup Water
oil 2 cups Oil , for deep frying

Instructions

  1. 1 Wash and pat dry the green chilies. Slit them lengthwise and remove the seeds if you prefer less heat.
  2. 2 In a mixing bowl, combine gram flour, red chili powder, turmeric powder, carom seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida, salt, and baking soda.
  3. 3 Gradually add water to the dry ingredients, stirring continuously to form a smooth, thick batter.
  4. 4 Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat.
  5. 5 Dip each chili into the batter, ensuring it is well-coated.
  6. 6 Carefully place the coated chilies in the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy, turning occasionally.
  7. 7 Remove the fried chilies with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
  8. 8 Serve hot with chutney or ketchup.

Tips

For an authentic flavor, use Bhavnagari chilies and adjust the spice level by removing seeds as needed.