Traditional Delight, Must-Try Bhai Dooj Recipe To Make Celebrations Unforgettable

Bhai Dooj is celebrated every year just two days after vibrant Diwali festivities. On this day, siblings come toger to honour ir bond by participating in rituals where sisters perform an aarti for ir brors and apply a tilak to ir forehes, symbolizing wishes for ir long life and prosperity. Alongside this ritual, a festive meal is shared, bringing family toger to enjoy dishes specially prepared for occasion, followed by exchange of gifts and or family activities.

Now, let’s focus on preparing a popular Bhai Dooj snack! This sibling day, indulge in making a tritional treat called Bhaji, a savoury vegetable fritters that are a beloved snack during celebrations. 

Here’s a simple recipe to make delicious Bhaji for your Bhai Dooj feast.

Ingredients

For Bhaji:

• 1 1/2 pounds vegetable(s) of choice
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup grated or crumbled cheese
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or chickpea flour, if gluten-free)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh herbs, or 1 teaspoon ground spices
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
• Dipping sauce (optional)

For Serving:

• Tamarind chutney

Instructions

• Prepare ingredients: Grate root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potato on large holes of a box grater. Grate and drain zucchini and summer squash. Chop and steam cauliflower and broccoli florets. Cut corn off cob.
• Blanch leafy greens: If using leafy greens like Swiss chard, d chopped greens and ir chopped steams to salted boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and plunge m into ice bath to stop cooking process. Once blanched, drain and chop greens.
• Whisk egg: In a large bowl, whisk egg thoroughly.
• d vegetables: Squeeze handfuls of wet vegetables, like blanched leafy greens or grated zucchini, to remove excess liquid before ding m to bowl
• d remaining ingredients: d cheese, 1/4 cup of flour, herbs, spices, garlic, salt, and pepper to bowl.
• Mix batter: Use a spatula to mix everything toger so that it's evenly combined.
• Test batter: Check to see if you can form a patty in your hands and it holds toger. If not, d a little more flour to mixture.
• Heat oil and d batter: Heat oil in a large skillet or frying pan, preferably cast iron or nonstick, over medium-high heat until shimmering. Drop 1/4 cup of batter into pan, flatten it slightly with a flat spatula, and continue dropping more batter, leaving about 2 inches of space between fritters and being careful not to overcrowd pan.
• Fry fritters: Let fritters cook undisturbed until browned on bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip patties with spatula and cook until browned on second side, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Drain fritters: Remove fritters to a paper towel-lined large plate. Repeat making fritters.
• Serve fritters: Transfer fritters to a plate and serve warm, at room temperature, or cold with a dipping sauce of your choice, if using.

(Recipe credit: kitchn.com)