Spicy stuffed chillies swimming in a tangy and flavorful curry, served with some flatbread or steamed rice- this mirchi bhajji curry recipe is one you’ve definitely got to try out.
But before you jump right into making it, here’s a quick rundown of everything you need to know.
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Ingredients For the Recipe
You’ll need two sets of ingredients to make the mirchi bhajji curry from scratch.
- Tamarind paste: ¼ cup
- Cumin seeds: 1 tsp
- Bhajji Chilies (large green chilies): 4-5
- Besan: ½ cup
- Red chili powder: 1 tsp
- Coriander powder: 2 tsps
- Cumin powder: 1 tsp
- Black pepper powder: 1 tsp
- Salt: 1.5 tsps or as per taste
- Garam masala: 1 tsp
- Water: As required
For the Curry
- Onions (roughly chopped): ½ cup
- Tomatoes (roughly chopped): 1 cup
- Green chilies: 1-2
- Oil: 1 tbsp
- Cumin seeds: 1 tsp
- Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
- Fenugreek seeds: ½ tsp
- Curry leaves: A bunch
- Bay leaf: 1
- Turmeric powder: ½ tsp
- Red chili powder: 1 tsp
- Coriander powder: 1 tsp
- Cumin powder: 1 tsp
- Salt: 1 teaspoon or as per taste
- Prepared air fried bhajjis
- Water: ⅔ cup
- Coriander leaves (finely chopped): For garnish
How to Make the Mirchi Bhajji Curry
Once you have all the ingredients handy, here’s the process you need to follow to make the curry from scratch.
Pre-heat the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes.
In a bowl, add the tamarind paste and cumin seeds. Mix them.
Take the Bhajji Chilies and make slits at the center.
Using a spoon, put the tamarind and cumin seeds mixture into the slits.
Next, take a bowl and mix the following ingredients: besan, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, black pepper powder, salt, and garam masala. Add water little by little and make a paste of the besan mixture. The consistency of the mixture should be flowy.
Add the Bhajji chilies into the besan mixture and coat them well.
Spray the air fryer basket with oil.
Transfer the coated Bhajji chilies to the air fryer basket and spray a bit of oil on them, and cook them at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until they are done.
You can flip them once in between so that they are cooked well.
Once they are cooked, chop them into smaller pieces.
Next, blend together the onions, tomatoes, and green chilies. Keep it aside.
For the curry, heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, and bay leaf. Saute.
Next, add all the powdered spices and salt and mix well.
Add the blended onion tomato paste next and mix well. Cook for a minute.
Add in the air fried mirchi bhajji pieces into the curry and mix well.
Add water and adjust the consistency of the curry.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or roti of your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is best to use large chillies for this recipe, since they are the ones that have a mild spiciness to them as opposed to their smaller counterparts which are extremely spicy. Also known as Bhavnagari chillies, these are the ones best use to make the fritters.
Jalapeños can also work well if you are not able to source these chillies- just remember that they will have a different intensity of spice though. 
While the mirchi bhajjis are the star ingredient of the curry, you can also add a few other veggies into the mix to bring in some variety and bump up the nutritive value of the curry.
Potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant and baby corn are all excellent veggie choices that work well in the curry. Remember that each of these veggies have different cooking times, and you’ll need to add them into the curry after sautéing them for a while until they soften. 
Tips & Tricks to Make the Mirchi Bhajji Curry
Ready to give this recipe a shot? Wait up! Take note of these little tips and tricks that ensure you get the flavors and textures right.
- This mirchi bhajji curry is best prepared using any leftover air fried stuffed chillies you might have made.
- If you don’t have the time to stuff the chilies and then use them for the recipe, you could just use the large chillies as is for the recipe- just stir fry them in a pan for a few minutes until they soften, and then follow the rest of the process as is.
- To add some extra nuttiness and flavor to the curry, you can add some ground cashews, sesame seeds or peanuts- depending on what you have at hand.
- Coconut milk can also be an excellent addition to the curry, and can lend it a nice bit of creaminess and richness.
- If you can, use mustard oil to make the curry. It lends the curry a nice rustic and earthy flavor.
- Looking to thicken the curry and lend it a bit more volume? Add some whisked yogurt or heavy cream into it. Remember that you’ll need to adjust the seasonings and spices when you do this.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
Your mirchi bhajji curry is super versatile- you can serve it with naan, parathas or any other bread of your choice. If you prefer rice, some steamed rice or lemon rice can really work well and complement the flavors of the curry. Team all this up with a crunchy side salad and you have a complete meal to dig into!
Can’t wait to try out some more fun Indian curries after relishing this delicious one? Here are a few handpicked ones you might want to check out.
- Red Lentil Coconut Curry
- Assamese Boror Tenga: Sour Curry With Fritters
- Vegan Chicken Kofta Meatballs in Curry Sauce
📖 Recipe
Mirchi Bhajji Curry
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Mirchi Bhajji
- ¼ cup Tamarind paste
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 5 pcs Bhajji Chilies , (large green chilies)
- ½ cup Besan
- 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
- 2 teaspoon Coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper powder
- 1.5 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Garam masala
- 1 cup Water
Ingredients For the Curry
- ½ cup Onions , (roughly chopped)
- 1 cup Tomatoes , (roughly chopped)
- 2 pcs Green chilies
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon Fenugreek seeds
- 1 bunch Curry leaves
- 1 pc Bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 bowl Prepared air fried bhajjis
- ⅔ up Water
- 1 bunch Coriander leaves , (finely chopped)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, add the tamarind paste and cumin seeds. Mix them.
- Take the Bhajji Chilies and makes lits at the center.
- Using a spoon, put the tamarind and cumin seeds mixture into teh slits.
- Next, take a bowl and mix the following ingredients: besan, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, black pepper powder, salt, and garam masala. Add water little by little and make a paste of the besan mixture. The consistency of the mixture should be flowy.
- Add the Bhajji chilies into the besan mixture and coat them well.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil.
- Transfer the coated Bhajji chilies to the air fryer basket and spray a bit of oil on them, and cook them at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until they are done.
- You can flip them once in between so that they are cooked well.
- Once they are cooked, chop them into smaller pieces.
- Next, blend together the onions, tomatoes, and green chilies. Keep it aside.
- For the curry, heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, and bay leaf. Saute.
- Next, add all the powdered spices and salt and mix well.
- Add the blended onion tomato paste next and mix well. Cook for a minute.
- Add in the air fried mirchi bhajji pieces into the curry and mix well.
- Add water and adjust the consistency of the curry.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or roti of your choice.
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