Oven Baked Onion Pakoras

I havent been able to post any recipes in the blog for a while now! We have been busy travelling to India, my son's first birthday, return to UK and resuming work (after a year long maternity leave)... all these left us exhausted and stressed. Slowly life is returning back to normalcy and we are finding time for ourselves... Eventhough the weather is not supporting us we are finding ways to feel relaxed and cosy...

Onion pakoras are one of our favourite snacks... even the little one seems to have got those genes... :) something that we want to enjoy with evening tea when the weather outside looks horrible, wet and windy.... But I usually get put-off by the whole frying business involved in it... the most difficult part of that whole process I find is storing and using the remaining oil in the following days' cooking. After all we are talking about healthy food aren't we? So no fried food... :) but the tummies were roaring... we wanted some spicy bites very badly...

A quick browse online for some baked snacks came up with baked pakoras in many other blogs... I made little tweaks here and there... the results were amazing! so much so that my little one kept on demanding for more and more...

These are so easy to make and does not take long to bake...

Ingredients:

Besan (Chickpea flour) - 6 tbsp
Ajwain (Carom Seeds) - 1 tsp
Saunf (Fennel Seeds) - 1/2 tsp
Onions (finely chopped) - 2
Green chilli (Finely minced) - 1 (Use more if you want spicier)
Coriander leaves  - handful (mince it finely) - I didnt have any so I didnt add.
Salt - To taste
Olive oil - 1 tbsp (I used Extra Virgin)
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Water - As needed

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degC.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil.
• In a mixing bowl place all the ingredients except water.
• You have to mix the onion first with everything to see how much more water is needed.
• Add water 1tbsp at a time, until you get a thick batter (not pourable batter, the one that can still hold it shape when scooped)
• Place little scoopfuls onto the lined baking sheet.
• Bake it in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes.
• You will get a nice aroma and the bites will get golden brown on the outside.
• Keep checking based on  your oven settings and once they are evenly golden brown, take one out and test (and taste!!!) before taking the whole batch out.

We enjoyed these tasty little bites with some masala chai... You could even have them with some dipping sauce or ketchup on the side.. :)