Methi Gota Bhajji

Gota Bhaji in Marathi

Time: 25 to 30 minutes
Makes: 15 to 18 medium Bhajji

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Besan (tip 1)
1/2 cup mung dal flour (tip 1)
3 tbsp coarse rava
1/4 cup Kasoori Methi
1 tsp garlic paste
1/2 cup yogurt or as much as needed
Spices: 2 cloves, 2 pinches of cinnamon powder, 1 tsp coriander seeds, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 7-8 black pepper corns - Crush together and make a coarse powder
1 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp hing
2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp baking soda
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying

Method:
1) Take a mixing bowl. Add besan, mung dal flour, kasoori methi, garlic paste, coarse spice powder, red chili powder, hing, turmeric, sugar and salt. Mix well. Add yogurt, a spoon at a time. Mix and make a semi-thick, sticky batter. Batter should not form a dough, but it should not be runny. Add Baking soda and mix.
2) Heat oil in a kadai. Once oil is hot, reduce the heat to medium to medium-high. Grease your palms. Take a tbsp of mixture and make a smooth round ball without any cracks on the surface. Drop carefully into hot oil. Deep fry until golden brown.
Serve hot with green chutney or Tamarind chutney.

Tips:
1) Use coarse flour to get more nice textured goda bhajji.
2) Pakoda made from doughy batter will remain uncooked from the inside. Opposite to that, you won't be able to form perfect rounds if the batter is loose in consistency. Therefore, make sticky and gooey batter. Use some oil while handling this batter, otherwise the batter will stick to your hand.
3) Kasoori methi gives nice flavor. However, you may add fresh methi leaves instead of kasoori methi.