Aloo Bhajia

After the scorching heat in Mumbai, when it first sprinkles and then rains heavily, it is time for celebration! And this is what Mumbaites need to celebrates... Some fried bhajia, kanda bhajia, wada pav, and pakoras (variety of deep fried fritters) This is what I miss the most being away from my hometown. And no restaurants serve as authentic and deliciously made bhajias and wada pavs here as the street hawkers in India :(

It is just the beginning of the rainy season, but it has already rained more than 100 inches now. Good Job Clouds!! :) Not only in Mumbai, it has rained well throughout India which is great for farmers and their agricultural land. Heavy rains and floods have ruined some houses too :(

As a part of Rain celebration, we made hot potato and onion bhajias/fritters :) You could try these quick snacks and enjoy with hot chai tea.

Mix 1 1/2 cup besan/chickpea flour/ gram flour with 3/4 to 1 cup water to make a smooth flowing batter.

Add salt, chilli powder, pinch of turmeric and hing/asoefotida.

Thinly slice potatoes.  This is my husband job. He loves to help me in the kitchen and calls himself my sous chef :) :) ha ha! He uses a slicer to slice potatoes.

Soak potatoes in water to avoid it from browning/oxidizing.

My sous chef loves to fry some potato chips before we actually make bhajias :)

Potato chips and potato noodles/ sev made by my mom :) Yum Yum!

Dip sliced potatoes in chickpea batter to coat it well. Gently lift it, let excess batter drip, and gently drop in hot oil to deep fry.

You will notice them puffing up nicely. Turn then and allow them to brown from both sides.

Some Kanda bhajis/Onion fritters. :)

Slit and fry green chillies.

Slit and dip green chillies in chickpea batter and fry them.

Serve hot bhajias with dry garlic chutney. This is Authentic Mumbai/Maharashtrian chutney, a mixture of dry coconut, garlic, dry red chillies, sesame seeds. salt and little oil. 

Made some palak/spinach bhajias too by dipping clean spinach leaves in batter and deep frying in hot oil.

Street food  tastes better when wrapped and served in newspaper!! :)

Enjoy the rains Mumbaites!