Indian samosas and bhaji

India is one of the countries blessed with resources. There is a wide array of spices, different kinds of meat to choose from, and everything else that a chef could wish for. Aside from that, India is also a country where people usually have snacks in between their main meals. However, curry dishes as well as kababs or kebabs are not the preferred delicacies during these times. Most of the people in India, no matter where they are located in the country, usually opt for the two most famous snacks namely the Indian bhaji and the Indian samosa.

The Indian samosa is also known as the stuffed pastry. Not only that it is eaten in India but in other parts of the Central Asia as well as the countries in the Middle East as well. The samosa is usually shaped in a triangular form and then deep fried in vegetable oil. But before doing so, you must put some stuffing inside including spiced potatoes, coriander, peas, and onions. There are also times that paneer or Indian cottage cheese are included in the stuffing as well. However, it is not limited to such ingredients only. Some people include green chillies and other Indian spices to have that extra flame in the snack. Aside from that, the Indian samosa are sometimes seen eaten with chutneys including mint, tamarind, or coriander.

On the other hand, there is also what they call the Bhaji or Bhajji. It is said that the bhaji is India’s version of the fritter. The most common variety of bhaji is the onion bhaji. This is snack in India that can be eaten by those who love spicy foods. Usually, the main ingredient in here is no other than the onion. Decades ago, the onion bhaji were eaten as a viand, along with the staple foods of India such as bread or rice. But locals have discovered that the onion bhaji is best eaten as a snack.

Onion bhaji is very different from the typical onion rings that most people in Western countries eat. In this snack, the onions must be chopped and mixed with other ingredients such as gram flour, dough with rice, Indian spices, and even herbs. It will be fried until it is golden brown

More often than not, onion bhaji are eaten as starters before they serve the main dish. Aside from that, you can also enjoy the onion bhaji along with salads and lemon as well. However, if you want something mild that would contrast the spice in the onion bhaji, you must eat it with the mango chutney to get that mild taste.

Another variety of the bhaji is the Pav or Pao bhaji. This is a native dish of the Maharashtrians. But nowadays, it is one of the most popular snacks in the metropolitan parts of India particularly in Mumbai. Not only in India that the pav bhaji is served. It is also gaining popularity in countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, London, and even in some areas in United States.

There are several ingredients included in preparing a delicious pav bhaji. This includes the main ingredient – the potato, diced tomatoes, green peas, grilled onions, green pepper, and cauliflower. A successful mixture must result in a gravy-like texture. Afterwards, the masala or a mixture of different special Indian spices will be added.