Vegetarian Sides & Snacks

Crispy Golden Vegetable Bhajis

Spiced vegetable fritters with a crispy golden exterior and tender, aromatic filling. Carrots, potato and onions with ginger, garlic and warming Indian spices. Perfect starter or snack.

By Ricky Robinson Updated April 8, 2025

These vegetable fritters are not complicated to make, but they deliver a distinctive contrast of textures. A good crunch gives way to soft, spiced vegetables that never fails to please. What I like about this recipe is that you can adjust the spice levels to suit yourself. If you are not keen on too much heat, just use one chilli instead of three.

The trick with bhajis is to squeeze out as much moisture as you can from the grated vegetables before mixing them with the spices.

The combination of carrots, potato and onions creates a lovely base, while the fresh ginger and garlic bring warmth to the proceedings. Squeezing out moisture using a clean tea towel helps them crisp up nicely when they hit the hot oil.

Crispy Golden Vegetable Bhajis recipe image
Crispy Golden Vegetable Bhajis

These make a great starter when you are having friends round. I often serve them with a mint yoghurt dip on the side, but they are just as nice with the fresh lime wedges suggested in the recipe. The other handy thing about bhajis is that you can prepare the mixture ahead of time and just fry them when you are ready to serve.

Though I must say, they are at their absolute best when eaten straight away while still hot and crunchy. Do not worry if your first few bhajis are not perfect, it takes a moment to get the hang of dropping the right amount into the oil. Once you have made them a couple of times, you will find your own rhythm with it.

Crispy Golden Vegetable Bhajis

Carrots Onion Potato
Total Time 35 min
Servings 4 servings
Calories 280 cal
Protein 6g

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Deep Fryer
  • Grater
  • Tea Towel
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Slotted Spoon

Instructions

  1. 1
    Place the grated carrots and potato in a clean tea towel and squeeze out any excess moisture.
  2. 2
    In a large mixing bowl, combine the grated vegetables with the sliced onions, chopped chillies, and chopped coriander (reserve some coriander for garnish).
  3. 3
    Add the grated ginger, minced garlic, mustard seeds, turmeric, garam masala, cumin seeds, and sea salt to the bowl. Mix well to ensure all vegetables are coated with the spices.
  4. 4
    Gradually add the self-raising flour to the mixture, stirring as you go.
  5. 5
    Squeeze in the lemon juice and add a splash of water if needed to create a thick batter that coats the vegetables but isn't too wet.
  6. 6
    Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan or fryer to 180°C. To test if the oil is hot enough, drop a small amount of batter in - it should sizzle and rise to the surface.
  7. 7
    Using a tablespoon, carefully drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the hot oil. Fry in small batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan or basket.
  8. 8
    Cook for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally, until the bhajis are golden brown and crispy.
  9. 9
    Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper to absorb excess oil.
  10. 10
    Serve hot with lime wedges and the reserved coriander sprinkled on top.
Ricky Robinson - Recipe Author
Ricky Robinson

Home cook sharing delicious recipes with a focus on flavour and simplicity.

More About Ricky Robinson Follow on Instagram

Serving Suggestions

Serve hot with mint yoghurt dip, mango chutney, or fresh lime wedges. Perfect as a starter or snack with drinks.

Variations

For a milder version, reduce chillies to 1. For extra heat, add 1 teaspoon of chilli powder to the spice mix. Try adding 1 teaspoon of nigella seeds for extra flavour.

Crispy Golden Vegetable Bhajis

Rate & Review

Did you make this? What did you think?

Share this recipe:

Never miss a recipe

Get my latest recipes and food inspiration delivered to your inbox weekly.

Completely free. Unsubscribe at any time.