No matter how old you are snack time always excites everyone. Enjoying some crispy and savoury treat with a hot cup of tea is the best moment of the day. Biscuits, samosa, mathri, kachoris and namak pare are some of the popular picks in India for tea-time. Deep-fried pakoras are another renowned snack among foodies. But have you ever tried bonda?
Available in both sweet and savoury versions, this South Indian fritter is traditionally prepared with rice flour, potatoes and many flavourful spices. They are soft and mushy on the insides and crispy from the outside. So, if you are also planning to make these yummy fried snacks for your next tea-time moment, here are six types of bonda you can try:
Egg Bonda
This delightful treat is made with hard-boiled eggs coated in a spicy batter of gram flour. Loaded with lots of flavourful spices such as carom seeds and garam masala, it is filling and yummy in taste. Egg bonda goes well with a variety of sauces and chutneys. Also known as egg bajji, it can also be served as an appetiser in house parties.
Onion Bonda
If you are a fan of pyaaz pakoras then this crisp delight is surely going to make a place in your heart. Onion bonda is an indulgent snack that is prepared by mixing chopped onions with green chillies, curry leaves, cumin powder and lots of other spices. This mixture is then added to a gram or rice flour batter and fried until perfection.
Aloo Bonda
Potatoes are everyone’s favourite ingredient when it comes to snacks. From desi samosa to French fries, this root vegetable is extremely versatile. Bonda is another yummy treat you can prepare with aloo. Made by combining boiled potatoes with chillies, salt, coriander leaves and lemon juice, they are best served with tomato ketchup.
Sabudana Bonda
Sabudana is a popular fasting ingredient in India that is generally used during auspicious festivals like Shivratri, Navratri etc. But it can become a great addition to your tea-time snack in the form of bonda. This crispy delight is made with tapioca pearls, buttermilk, rice flour, dry coconut and a few spices like cumin seeds and ginger.
Bread Bonda
Do you have an extra packet of bread in the refrigerator? Make this interesting version of bonda in less than half an hour. Primarily prepared with a flavourful potato stuffing, it has a crispy outer layer of bread. Served with tea or any chutney, you can also mix in some peas into the stuffing for an extra taste and flavour.
Mysore Bonda
This crisp, fluffy and light snack is a gift from the cuisine of Mysore. Made from flour, curd, onions and spices like cumin seeds, it is best served with chutney and sambar. Mysore bonda is very similar to the batata vada. Traditionally, it is prepared with all-purpose flour, but you can also replace it with whole wheat flour.