Vazhakka Bajji (Plantain Fritters)

Vazhakka Bajji is one of the easiest and very popular South Indian snacks. Just five ingredients and easy to make, the chances of getting this wrong is minimal. Unless you burn it while frying :).

Vazhakka used for bajji is different from the raw banana/ kaya we use for making stir fries or curries. We need the raw version of the yellow banana (Plantain or Kerala banana as it is popularly called). Here’s a pic - the one on the left is for bajji and the one on the right is for stir fries.

So here's the recipe.

Serves: 2

What you need:

1. Vazhakka (Raw Banana)- 1 large
2. Besan / Kadala maavu - 1 cup (I used a 250ml cup)
3. Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
4. Salt
5. Oil - I used vegetable oil. Feel free to use the oil of your choice.

How I made it:

• Mix besan, chilli powder and salt with enough water to make a batter. The batter should be thick enough to coat the vazhakka pieces but at the same time not too much.
• Wash and clean the vazhakka. Cut it into two or three portions and make thin slices out of each portion. I like smaller pieces, so I usually make it into 3 portions. you will easily get 10-12 pieces that way.
• Add the slices into the batter and make sure each piece is well coated.
• Heat oil in a frying pan.
• Once the oil is hot, gently add the vazhakka pieces and fry on each side till it is a medium brown. 
• Take out of the pan and dab with a paper towel to remove excess oil.
• Serve hot bajji with ketch-up or just as it is.

Tips:

1. Sometimes the bajji may not turn medium brown, which is how we usually identify that it is ready. In that case, once the sizzling sound reduces, you can take the bajji off the pan.
2. You can add 1/4 tsp of Kashmiri chilli powder for added color.