Add Preferred SourceHot onion pakoras and a cup of masala chai is the first thing that comes to mind for most Indians when it rains. We can call pakoras India's favorite tea-time snack, which every household in India has enjoyed for generations. Some other popular ones are paneer pakora and chicken pakora.
Crispy and golden onion pakora made in an air fryer is perfect with a cup of masala chai on a rainy day. Also called onion bhajiya or bhajji, it is simple and easy to make and can be done in no time. While the most common way of making them is by deep frying them, this
Why you will love this recipe?
- This air fryer onion pakora recipe is easy to make and gets done in 20 minutes.
- They are crunchy, crispy, and oh-so-delicious. Enjoy crispy onion bajji on its own, or serve it with mint chutney, sweet tamarind chutney, apple chutney, tomato ketchup, or your favorite dips. Pair them with sweet dilpasand for an indulgent treat.
Ingredients
Onions: Use thin slices of red onions for the best-tasting pakoda. Brown onions, white onions, and yellow onion slices can also work.
Flour: Besan is mainly used to make pakoras. It is also called chickpea flour or gram flour. A small amount of rice flour is also added to make it crispy. Both these flours are gluten-free.
Water: We will need water to make the batter. Two things to remember here are to use cold water (not room temperature) and add water gradually.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
Paneer pakora: Made with Indian cottage cheese, this variation is hugely popular. See the recipe to make the best paneer pakora here.
Spinach pakoras: Add finely chopped spinach to this recipe to make palak pakora.
Vegetable pakora: Add veggies like cabbage, potato, carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli to make veggie pakora. Finely chop the veggies before using them.
Bhindi pakora: This lesser-known variation is made using okra and does not have onion or garlic. These okra fritters are one of the best ways to enjoy the flavor and texture of okra.
Mirchi pakora: Mirchi means chili, and this variety of pakoda is made using banana chili dipped in chickpea flour and deep fried.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, add the onion slices, green chilli, cilantro, and salt. Mix well and squeeze the mixture so that the onion releases moisture (images 1 and 2).
Step 2: Add the besan flour, rice flour, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and hot oil. Give it a good mix. Slowly add one tablespoon of cold water at a time and bring it together to form a thick and sticky batter. You will not need more than ¼ cup of water (images 3 and 4).
Step 3: Take small portions of the batter (around two tablespoons) and place it in the basket. Place more pakora batter in a single layer, making sure they do not touch each other (image 5).
Step 4: Air fry at 350 F (180 C) for 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye after the 7-minute mark. Spray oil on the top. Then, increase the temperature to 400 F (200 C) and air fry for another 2-3 minutes until they are golden brown (image 6).
Expert Tips
Before adding water, mix the onion and salt well. This will help the onions to release moisture.
It is important to add water gradually. The batter must be thick and come together easily. Thin or runny batter will make the bhajiya soggy and also difficult to air fry. Also, do not mix the batter too much. Mix just until it comes together.
Place the bhaiyas in a single layer without overcrowding the
PRO-TIP: Use cold water to mix the batter. This will give the pakodas a crispy texture.
Recipe FAQs
Pakora or bhajiya can turn soggy if the batter has too much moisture. Make sure you add water to the batter gradually so that the batter is thick and comes together easily.
Yes. Air fryer pakoda is freezer-friendly and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Place them on a tray and flash freeze before transferring them to a ziplock bag and storing them.
Air fryer onion bhajis can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Leftover pakora can also be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
More air fryer recipes
If you tried this Air Fryer Onion Pakora Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ? star rating and let me know how it went in the ? comments below.
Recipe card
Air Fryer Onion Pakora (Onion Bhajiya)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large red onion thinly sliced
- 1-2 green chilies finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon cilantro chopped
- 1 cup besan
- 2 tablespoon rice flour
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt adjust as per taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (hot)
- ¼ cup water approximately (cold)
- Oil spray
To serve:
- Chaat masala
- Green chutney
- Ketchup
Instructions
Prep:
- Thinly slice the red onions. Finely chop the chilies (deseed them if you prefer less hot).
- In a small pan, take one tablespoon of olive oil. Heat it and set it aside.
Making the batter:
- In a large bowl, add the sliced onions, green chili, cilantro, and salt. Mix well and squeeze the mixture so that the onion releases moisture.
- To this, add the besan, rice flour, chili powder, and ground cumin. Do not add any water at this stage.
- Add the hot oil and mix using a spoon. Once the oil cools down, mix using your hands.
- Slowly add one tablespoon of water at a time and bring the batter together. You will need around ¼ cup of water. Also, make sure the water is cold (and not room temperature) to get crispy pakoras.
Air fry the pakora:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 F (200 C) for 5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with oil.
- Take some bhajiya batter (around 2 tablespoons) and place it in the basket. Place more pakora batter in a single layer, making sure they do not touch each other.
- Air fry at 350 F (180 C) for 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye after 7 minutes mark.
- Spray oil on the top. Then, increase the temperature to 400 F (200 C) and air fry for another 2-3 minutes.
- Carefully take the parokras out and sprinkle chaat masala.
- Serve hot with green chutney or ketchup.
Sarita Harbour says
Pakoras in the air fryer - brilliant. I wonder what my Indian grandmother would think of this, lol!
These were simple, fast, and delicious.
Thank you!
Sue says
I loved using my air fryer to make these delicious onion pakora. My new favorite snack!
Shilpa says
Haha, I've wondered that too lol!
Kris says
Man, were these tasty! We made them when we had a family over and they were loved by all. We served them with mint chutney and already cannot wait to make them again!
Sherry L Ronning says
I have been experimenting with different air fryer recipes and your air fryer onion pakora was delicious!!
Jennifer says
Wow, are these good! These tasty bites are easier to make than I thought they'd be but they're addictive! Yum!
Ksenia says
I order onion pakora anytime I go out for dinner, and this was just amazing! Now I don’t have to go out to enjoy them
Anusha Thomas says
Tried these and they were amazing!! Didn't feel that they weren't deep fried.
Shilpa Kerur says
Hi Anusha, Thank you for your feedback. I am so glad you enjoyed them.
- Shilpa