What To Serve With Onion Bhajis: 9 Delicious Choices!
Got a craving for onion bhajis that you just can’t kick? These curry house favourites can be served as a side for your favourite curry, as part of a multiple course Indian banquet, or even used to create lunch or dinner as the star of the show.
Here, we’re going to consider delicious choices for what to serve with onion bhajis.
What to serve with onion bhajis
The best sides and accompaniments for onion bhajis include sauces like coriander dip and minty garlic raita, Indian chopped salad, garlic and chilli naan bread, Bombay potatoes, South Indian mushroom biriyani, and keema pakoras.
Want to try making some of these sides at home? Check out these easy to follow recipes…
1. A selection of Indian inspired sauces
There are plenty of choices for sauces to serve with onion bhajis! They’re perfect for spooning over to add some extra flavour to the plate. Here are the best recipes to try:
I love to serve a variety of different sauces alongside my onion bhajis so everyone can help themselves to what they fancy. This makes for a wonderful communal starter, and if you like, you can add extras to a sharing board such as pakoras and poppadoms.
2. Garlic and chilli naan bread
For a simple but absolutely delicious meal, serve your onion bhajis on top of a pillowy naan bread, or if you prefer, chop your bhajis into bitesized chunks and make into a wrap with a naan.
Add finely sliced red onion, your favourite sauces as mentioned above, and you’ve got a creative way to serve Indian food when you don’t have the time or the energy to make a big curry. This is also a great way to use up leftovers from a curry night.
This garlic and chilli naan recipe is laden with aromatic garlic and warming chilli, and it’s another great way to offer a bit of heat to those who enjoy it.
If you like, you could keep a couple of naans plain, so everyone has a choice that will suit their tastes the best.
3. Bombay potatoes
You really can’t beat a potato side dish, can you?
My recipe for Bombay potatoes is perfect for what to serve with onion bhajis as part of a banquet style meal, and it’ll be a big hit with those who don’t particularly enjoy rice.
Thanks to the turmeric that’s included in the ingredients, they’re a beautiful golden colour, and have a rich, slightly earthy taste. You can add some extra chillis if you like, to create a little extra heat.
4. South Indian mushroom biryani
Rice is a classic choice for serving alongside Indian food, but if you find plain rice a little boring, there are plenty of ways to jazz it up a little.
I love to make this South Indian mushroom biryani, which incorporates wonderfully fragrant spices including cumin, cardamon, star anise, and cinnamon. The smell of it cooking may well remind you of the festive season, though it’s great at any time of the year!
If you can, use ghee for this recipe. Though it’s high in fat and best used in moderation, it gives food a delicious buttery flavour and it has a higher smoking point than standard butter.
5. Keema pakora
If you love meat, you might decide that you want to make some keema pakoras to serve with your onion bhajis. These keema pakoras use minced chicken breasts, though you can substitute with minced beef or mutton if you prefer.
They’re juicy, succulent, and flavoursome, and they can be served as a starter with a dollop of mango chutney and a few green salad leaves, or as a side dish.
I like to add these to a serving platter alongside bhajis and other finger foods, and invite my guests to help themselves to whatever they like the look of.
6. Indian salad
Indian food can be rich and filling, and a bright and vibrant salad can be the perfect accompaniment to ensure you have balance in a meal. It can also be a good way to cut down on calories if that’s something that’s important to you when it comes to menu planning.
When you make this delicious Indian salad, you really won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything. With cucumber, tomato, pomegranate, red onion, chilli, and lime juice, it’s refreshing and zesty on the palate, and it requires no cooking.
Onion bhajis with naan bread and a salad can make for a delicious lunch or light dinner, even if you’re not making a curry.
7. Lemon pilau rice
A citrus based rice brings bright zest to the dinner table, and this lemon pilau rice couldn’t be any easier to make.
You’ll use cooked and cooled rice, making it a tasty way to use up any leftover rice that you might have, and add a range of flavours including lemon peel, turmeric, and fresh coriander.
Add your favourite sauce, and you’ve got an exciting way to serve up your usual Indian favourites, and it’s a great choice if you don’t have the time to make a curry but still want to enjoy your favourite flavours.
8. Lamb samosas
These lamb samosas are Indian pastry parcels stuffed with lean lamb mince, tikka paste, carrot, mint, and peas. Using a packet of filo pastry helps to cut down on the preparation time, and make this recipe a perfectly achievable one for any home cook who wants to expand their Indian culinary repertoire.
They’re freezable too, so you might want to make a bigger batch so you have some ready and waiting for you the next time you’re in the mood for a curry night.
They’re a wonderful finger food option, and I love to serve these as canapés with onion bhajis before the main course gets starter.
9. Indian roasted potatoes
You really need to try these roasted potatoes with East Indian spices.
Mint, coriander, and lime juice all come together to create a fresh and vibrant flavour profile, and it’s an exciting and unique choice for what to serve with onion bhajia.
If you want to add some extra heat, you could throw in some cayenne pepper, or garnish with fresh chopped red and green chillis. Don’t be scared to experiment a little and make these potatoes your own!
Choosing the best sides for onion bhajis
Some of the best sides for onion bhajis include:
- Sauces like coriander dip and minty garlic raita
- Indian chopped salad
- Garlic and chilli naan bread
- Bombay potatoes
- South Indian mushroom biriyani
- Keema pakoras
With a little creativity, onion bhajis can be a starter, an accompaniment to your main course curry, or even a meal in their own right.
