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Maru crispy bhajiya

Thin, crunchy potato fritters, Nairobi style

The famous East African potato bhajiya: wafer-thin potato slices coated in a garlicky, chilli gram-flour batter and fried until crisp. Make them in small batches so the batter doesn't go watery. Serve hot with maru bhajiya chutney.
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

For the batter

Method

0/6 done
  1. Step 1: Mix 2 ⅞ oz gram flour (besan), 2 tsp garlic paste, 2 tsp ginger paste, 2 tsp chilli paste, 2 tbsp fresh coriander, 2 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp salt and 4 tbsp water into a thick batter. It should cling, not run.

  2. Step 2: Heat oil in a kadai over a medium-high heat (350°F).

  3. Step 3: Put a third of the 1 ⅛ lb potatoes in a bowl, add a third of the batter and mix well so every slice is coated.

  4. Step 4: Deep fry immediately, dropping the slices in one by one, for 4–5 minutes, until golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper.

    5 min
  5. Step 5: Make the rest of the bhajiya the same way, in two more batches. Prepare the batter and slices in small portions so the batter doesn't turn watery.

    10 min
  6. Step 6: Serve hot with maru bhajiya chutney.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
290 kcal
Protein
7 g
Carbs
35 g
Fat
14 g
Fibre
5 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does maru crispy bhajiya take?
About 35 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
Is it very spicy?
It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
What can I use instead of potatoes?
Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
What can I use instead of garlic paste?
1 crushed garlic clove per ½ tsp.

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