Vazhakka Baji

Snack time is always made special with variety of bajis. Vazhakka baji or raw banana baji is an evening snack which is always served with tea. The spicy and crispy vazhakka bajis are always a tempatation for the evenings.

The peculiarity of bajis is that they are extremely tasty with tea. Baji can be made with besan or gram flour alone. Usually we find people adding rice flour to it. Adding one teaspoon of rice flour to the gram flour would make the baji crispy. It also helps in enhancing the taste too. As for me, I like it with besan or gram flour alone.

While preparing the batter for any baji, make it a point to make it a little thinner. Too much thin batter will not stick on to the bananas. A thick batter will not fry properly. Hence care should be take while mixing the batter.

Usually while preparing batter for vazhakka baji or any other baji, I prefer to mix it in the morning soon after my morning’s kitchen session is over. I would simply mix up al the ingredients and then leave it in the vessel and keep it closed till evening. This will help the batter to rise up quite well. The bajis will turn out super soft and tasty while doing so.

Being one of my favorite snacks, I make it a point to prepare bajis at least once in a week. Usually, I choose coconut oil for frying bajis. It gives a special aroma to the baji and would taste good. You can even try out any of the vegetable oils available in the market these days. Since everyone is health conscious these days, most of us prefer rice bran oil or sun flower oil for cooking purposes, especially while deep frying. To remove excess of oil from the bajis, you must always place hot fried bajis on a kitchen tissue. If your baji has turned out cold, don’t worry just wrap it around a kitchen tissue and microwave for a minute or two. All the oil will come out and you need not fear for any excess oil in the deep fried bajis.

You can try out Vazhakka baji by checking out the recipe given below. 

      

      

  Ingredients

• Vazhakka or raw bananas- 4 nos
• Besan or Gramflour  - 2 cups
• Chilly powder   - 1tsp (or 2 tsp according to your taste)
• Asafoetida  - 1/4 tsp
• Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
• Salt  
• Oil - For frying

Method

1. In a bowl, add Gramflour or Besan, chilly powder, asafoetida, baking soda and salt
2. Mix well with a spoon
3. Now add water to the bowl and mix it to a fine batter
4. Allow the batter to rest for twenty minutes
5. After 20 mnts, heat a pan and pour oil 
6. Cut the ripe bananas into thin slices
7. Apply salt to them
8. Dip the bananas into the batter and deep fry
9. Serve hot with corriander chutney or tomato sauce
10. Enjoy!!