• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Greedy Gourmet | Food & Travel Blog

Greedy Gourmet is an award winning food and travel blog. Eclectic recipes from all over the world are regularly published, satisfying the blog's audience of adventurous eaters' needs.

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Pantry
    • Ingredient Substitutes
    • Q & A
    • Recipe Compilations
    • Cook By Ingredient
    • Quizzes
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Special Diets / Vegan / Mushroom Bhaji

Mushroom Bhaji

24th October 2019 - By Michelle Minnaar
This post may contain affiliate links.

Facebook27TweetPin1.6kYummly466Shares2.1k
Jump to Recipe

Mushroom bhaji is a deliciously spiced Indian mushroom recipe. Basically, it is pan-fried mushroom paired with the traditional Indian spices.

Bowl of mushroom bhaji

Typically, a bhaji recipe is served as a starter dish or a side dish to other Indian recipes such as mixed vegetable curry or beef kofta curry. So, feel free to get creative with your pairings.

Also, if you are a bhaji lover, you’ll know that mushroom bhajis come in all forms and sizes.

For example, you can find a version of a bhaji recipe in the form of spheres that have been deep-fried in a batter; just like this mushroom pakora that works best with a homemade pakora sauce.

In addition, you can also find healthier versions like my recipe, without the deep-frying and the batter.

So, if you’ve found gorgeous mushrooms on sale, or if you’ve got excess mushrooms, then dare to try these vibrant mushroom bhajis. Indulge in some earthy and spicy Indian flavours.

You can easily master this recipe and make it in under 30 minutes. Enjoy!

mushroom bhaji recipe

On top of this mushroom bhaji recipe, I’ve made plenty of bhaji recipes before. For example, I’ve enjoyed making brinjal bhaji, bhindi bhaji and potato bhaji.

They’re all vegetarian-friendly, nutritious and tasty, and are an excellent way to use up any leftover vegetables that you spot at the bottom of the fridge.

If you are still wondering what a bhaji is, let me explain. In essence, a bhaji is a fritter or a fried snack food, originating from the Indian sub-continent, and there are many variations of them throughout India and Pakistan.

In general, bhajis are popular snacks in the regions of Kerala, Assam, Maharashtra, Odisha, Bengal and many more. In some of these regions, bhajis are also known as pakoras. Indeed, they are practically the same

Lastly, a mushroom bhaji can also be called bhajji, bhajiya as well as bajji. You can find mushroom bhajis being served as starters in restaurants, or being sold as street food in tapris (on the streets) as well as the dhabas (roadside eateries). 

Mushrooms being sauteed in pan

how to make a bhaji recipe

Here’s a list of things that can help you complete this authentic mushroom bhaji recipe:

  • Vegetable mandoline cutter and slicer – this will help you prepare the vegetables twice as fast 
  • Cut-resistant gloves – remember, safety is important in the kitchen!
  • Japanese knife set with knife block – always make sure that you have the right kitchen tools when you cook
  • Deep-fryer – in case you plan to make a deep-fried version of mushroom bhaji
  • Frying pan – you can use this pan for more recipes such as pan-fried scallops, pan-fried garlic butter prawns or teriyaki salmon

 which mushrooms are best for bhajis?

For any mushroom bhaji recipe, you should be sourcing firm and fresh mushrooms. The mushroom bhaji will taste even better if you have completely fresh mushrooms, picked from the forest.

If you have the opportunity to source fresh mushrooms, by all means use them in this recipe. Freshness is key. 

In either case, here are the best types of mushrooms you can use for making a mushroom bhaji:

  • common mushroom – also known as button mushrooms
  • oyster mushrooms – one of my favourite mushrooms (careful, they are quite fragile)
  • Portobello mushrooms – these are more expensive, hence they are usually cooked whole. However, when you chop them up, you can use them in a mushroom bhaji recipe.
  • Cremini mushrooms – one of the best mushrooms, which also works in stews
Ingredients to make mushroom bhaji

What are your go-to mushrooms? Let me know in the comments section.

If you haven’t used up all your mushrooms in this mushroom bhaji, then feel free to take inspiration for another mushroom recipe:

  • chicken in oyster sauce stir fry with mushrooms
  • beef and mushroom pies 
  • beef stew with mushrooms and red wine
  • mushroom and bacon spaghetti

Cooking tip: Here’s a handy tip for frying mushrooms. When you roast or pan-fry the mushrooms, don’t crowd them. If you do, they won’t brown as efficiently. This is true also for the making of this mushroom bhaji.

Close up of mushroom bhaji

is mushroom bhaji healthy?

Yes, my version of mushroom bhaji is definitely healthy. Above all, it is completely vegan. So, this bhaji recipe is an excellent idea for those on a vegetarian diet, vegan diet, keto diet as well as for those who strive to eat better and healthier. 

The reason why you don’t have to panic about this bhaji recipe is because my version doesn’t involve the batter and the deep-fryer. Even then, you can use unscented coconut oil and enjoy your mushroom bhaji guilt free. 

In either case, if you want to take this mushroom bhaji one step further, there is a way in which you can make it even healthier. Instead of using vegetable oil to fry the mushrooms, use a low-calorie cooking spray or a premium olive oil.

These are excellent substitutes for vegetable oil. If you are looking for more similar healthy recipes like this mushroom bhaji, check these out:

  • beetroot curry
  • beetroot poriyal
  • cabbage poriyal
  • vegan split pea soup
mushroom bhaji in a silver bowl with spoon and fork

cauliflower and mushroom bhaji

You can make many variations of this mushroom bhaji recipe. For instance, you can toss cauliflower into the frying pan.

You can also consider using these:

  • onions – even onion bhajis are excellent
  • peppers – if you use banana peppers this is called mirchi pepper
  • spinach – the earthy flavours with the spinach will work perfectly
  • bread – yes, you can make bread bhajis!
  • potato or aloo – if you’ve got leftover potatoes then make bombay aloo or saag aloo

best toppings for mushroom bhajis

Here are my favourite toppings:

  • fresh coriander
  • fresh spinach
  • lemon or lime juice
  • fresh parsley
  • fresh red or green chilli peppers

how to serve mushroom bhajis

You can serve the mushroom bhaji as a starter or as a side dish to other typical Indian dishes. For instance, you can also consider making sides dishes like basmati rice, naans, rotis or kerala parathas.

In addition, you can enjoy the mushroom bhaji as a main course. Just double up on the portion size. Full Indian meal

How would you serve and enjoy your mushroom bhaji? Let me know in the comments section below!

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon print print icon squares squares icon

Mushroom Bhaji


★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

  • Author: Michelle Minnaar
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Try this irresistible mushroom bhaji recipe today, which is perfect for vegetarians and vegans.


Scale

Ingredients

  • 30ml (2 tbsp) vegetable oil
  • 1 onion, peeled and sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • 5ml (1 tsp) ground cumin
  • 5ml (1 tsp) ground coriander
  • 1 green chilli, washed and finely diced
  • 2.5ml (½ tsp) chilli powder
  • 450g (1lb) mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
  • 15ml (1 tbsp) tomato puree
  • 2.5ml (½ tsp) garam masala
  • 60ml (4 tbsp) fresh cilantro, washed and chopped

Instructions

  1. Gently fry the onion in the oil for about 10 minutes, or until softened.
  2. Add the garlic and fry for another 2 minutes.
  3. Stir in the cumin, coriander and chilli powder and fry for another 2 minutes.
  4. Turn up the heat and fry the mushrooms until cooked, which should take no more than 5 minutes.The onions should be tender by then, if not, cook for a little longer.
  5. Stir in the tomato puree and garam masala and cook for another 2 minutes.
  6. Serve immediately as a side dish to an Indian meal, topped with fresh cilantro.

Notes

  • Depending on the type of chilli and chilli powder used, this mushroom bhaji has the potential to be very spicy. Tweak the quantities used to your desired heat. You can omit it altogether, if needed.
  • Category: Side DIsh
  • Method: Pan Fry
  • Cuisine: Indian

Keywords: mushroom bhaji, mushroom bhajia recipe, how to make mushroom bhaji

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @greedygourmet on Instagram and hashtag it #greedygourmet

Bowl of mushroom bhaji
Facebook27TweetPin1.6kYummly466Shares2.1k

RECEIVE FAB RECIPES, WIN EXCLUSIVE PRIZES + MORE

Subscribe to my free newsletter and receive an eCookbook of my most popular recipes!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Don Schuldes says

    1st November 2019 at 7:39 am

    This turned out amazing- the lemon in the end gave it an extra kick- loved the recipe- thank you!

    Reply
  2. Sally says

    19th April 2020 at 8:25 pm

    I just love Indian food especially vegetarian options, will try this!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

RECEIVE FAB RECIPES, WIN EXCLUSIVE PRIZES + MORE

Subscribe to my free newsletter and receive an eCookbook of my most popular recipes!

Footer

 

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

 

  • Home
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Copyright, Privacy & Disclosure Policy
  • Food Photography
  • Recipe Development
  • Food Videography
  • Site Map

All photos found on Greedy Gourmet are available for licensing. Contact me for quotes. Alternatively, go to Stock Photos to see what's available.

Copyright Greedy Gourmet© 2007–2021