Mirchi Bajji, also known as Mirchi Vada, is a popular Indian snack made with deep-fried green chili peppers coated in a spicy gram flour batter. It is a delicious and flavorful dish enjoyed by many. Here’s a recipe for Mirchi Bajji:
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Ready in: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 8-10 large green chili peppers (such as banana peppers or Anaheim peppers)
- 1 cup gram flour (besan)
- 1/4 cup rice flour
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain)
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed (for the batter)
- Oil for deep frying
For the stuffing (optional):
- 2-3 boiled and mashed potatoes
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
Instructions:
- Slit the green chili peppers lengthwise, keeping them intact at one end. Remove the seeds if you prefer a milder taste.
- If you’re using the optional stuffing, heat a small amount of oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter. Then add turmeric powder, mashed potatoes, salt, and chopped coriander leaves. Mix well and cook for a few minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool.
- If using the stuffing, stuff each green chili pepper with a portion of the potato mixture. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the gram flour, rice flour, red chili powder, turmeric powder, carom seeds, and salt. Gradually add water and whisk until you achieve a smooth batter of pouring consistency. The batter should be thick enough to coat the chili peppers.
- Heat oil in a deep frying pan or kadai over medium heat.
- Dip each stuffed or plain green chili pepper into the batter, making sure it is well coated.
- Gently place the coated chili pepper into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crisp. Flip it occasionally to ensure even frying.
- Once the Mirchi Bajjis are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the oil and drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil.
- Serve hot with mint chutney, tamarind chutney, or tomato ketchup.
The Mirchi Bajjis are now ready to be enjoyed! They make a perfect tea-time snack or appetizer for parties. The combination of the spicy gram flour batter and the mildly spicy green chili peppers creates a delightful flavor. Be cautious while consuming as the chili peppers can be hot.
