An onion bhaji burger may sound a bit bonkers, but these delicious crispy fried onion patties taste incredible and the raita sauce is genius.
These delicious burgers are pretty easy to make and come together in around 35-40 minutes, but cooking only takes 10 minutes!
Onion Bhaji Butty
I’ve got a pretty solid track record of my burger recipe collection being a bit more “left-field”.
I’ve got everything from shredded duck burgers to a minced cod fish burger with Thai flavours and venison burgers with peaches & blue cheese to Spicy Indian influenced lamb burgers.
My latest offering runs once again with some Indian influences and it is a glorious, if slightly daft, bhaji burger!
The star is a glorious fried onion bhaji that uses a similar spice mix to my air fryer onion bhajis. This mix is a little “wetter” because they are fried to give them that classic flavour.
The toppings include many ingredients from a classic kachumber salad: red onion, cucumber, tomato and chilli peppers.
When it comes to sauce, they rock a cucumber-free version of my mint raita and some mango chutney.
I’ve got a few vegetarian burgers on my website, but in recent months these have become my absolute favourite. They may sound bonkers, but they are simply stunning!
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of buns have you used?
I’ve used Lancashire oven bottom buns made by Sheldon’s in these pictures. They are gloriously soft and squidgy but large enough and robust enough to hold the bhaji patty.
In terms of alternative recommendations, I would suggest any large soft white roll. I’d also advise steering clear of brioche buns, they are too sweet.
Can I use store-bought raita?
Absolutely, I think my cheats raita made with mint sauce is gloriously simple. But if you want to buy a jar, fill your boots!
Can you make mango chutney at home?
Yes, homemade mango chutney is easy to make and delicious.
Can I make the bhajis in advance?
No! The batter that holds the bhaji together will become soft and flabby, it also does not reheat very well.
A QUICK NOTE:
If you are watching your calories, this recipe can also be made using my air fryer onion bhaji recipe.
Serving Suggestions
The classic side with any burger would be chips or fries, and this bhaji butty is no different.
However, I would definitely add an Indian slant to my chips to complete the vibe. You could, of course, sprinkle on a little garam masala or chaat masala on my air fryer chips or chip shop style chips.
I’d go a step further and add some of my masala chips on the side!
If you prefer fries over chips, you can cook perfect crispy French fries in an air fryer. Sweet potato fries are also super with this crispy onion burger.
Sticking with potatoes, you could also serve this with my roast Bombay potatoes!
Equipment Used
I only name-check brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But, if you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Hob/stovetop.
- 30cm or 12″ frying pan.
- A second pan to toast the burger buns.
- Spatula.
- Whisk.
- Mixing bowls.
- Kitchen and bread knife.
- A combination of weighing scales, measuring jug, cups and spoons.
Onion Bhaji Burger Recipe
Us Brits are happy to shove anything in a bun or between two slices of bread and call it a sarnie, this bhaji burger or butty is my latest squeeze. It comes with a simple mint raita-style sauce, a bit of mango chutney and even some salad!
Ingredients
- 1 Large (250g) Onion
- Oil for Frying
- 2 Burger Buns
For the Toppings:
- Shredded Lettuce
- Thinly Sliced Red Onion
- Thinly Sliced Tomato
- Thinly Sliced Cucumber
- Thinly Sliced Red Chilli
- Coriander Leaves
- 3 Tbsp Mango Chutney
For the Raita Style Sauce:
- 75g (¼ Cup) Mint Raita
- 1 Tbsp Mint Sauce
- 5g (½ Tsp) Honey
- Pinch of Salt
For the Bhaji Batter
- 75g (½ Cup) Besan or Gram Flour
- 35g (3 Tbsp) Rice Flour
- ½ Tsp Salt
- ½ Tsp Salt Black Pepper
- 1 Tsp Garam Masala
- ½ Tsp Turmeric
- ½ Tsp Cumin Seeds
- ½ Tsp Black Mustard Seeds
- ½ Tsp Black Onion Seeds
- ½ Tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ Tsp Ground Ginger
- 1 Green Finger Chilli Pepper
- 135ml (½ Cup + 1 Tbsp) Cold Water
Instructions
- Throw all of the ingredients for the bhaji batter into a bowl and whisk to create a fairly smooth batter, a few lumps are not problematic.
- Add all of the ingredients for the raita sauce to a bowl and mix.
- Prepare the remaining toppings for the burger before you begin to create the bhajis.
- Cut the large onion in half, peel it and then cut it into 2-3mm (⅛") thick half-moon shapes, add this to the batter you made in step one and mix to coat thoroughly.
- Heat a 30cm or 12" frying pan over a fairly high heat with enough oil to create a 2-3mm (⅛") deep pool of oil in the base.
- Divide the bhaji mix in two and add them to the oil flattening them out to form a kind of patty. Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side or until you have a deep gold colour and the batter is cooked.
- Whilst you are frying the bhajis slice and toast your buns.
- Build your butties, I start with a bed of shredded lettuce and a good slug of mang chutney, then the bhaji, followed by tomato, cucumber, red onion, chilli, coriander and finally the raita sauce.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 691Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 1742mgCarbohydrates: 108gFiber: 9gSugar: 34gProtein: 21g