Onion Bhaji Curry

Ingredients

• 500g (2 cups) Greek yoghurt
• 25g (1⁄4 cup) gram (chickpea) flour
• 1⁄2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
• 1⁄2 tsp ground coriander
• 3 tbsp rapeseed (canola) oil
• 1 tsp black mustard seeds
• 5 fenugreek seeds
• 1⁄2 tsp cumin seeds
• 2.5cm (1in) piece of cinnamon stick
• 15 fresh or frozen curry leaves
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp garlic and ginger paste
• 12 onion bhajis (pakoras)
• Salt, to taste
• 3 tbsp finely chopped coriander
• (cilantro), to garnish

Steps

1. Strain the yoghurt into a mixing bowl until creamy smooth (straining the yoghurt will help prevent it from curdlingwhen cooked).
2. Sift in the flour, turmeric, chilli powder and ground coriander and whisk it all in too.
3. Add 400ml (scant 13⁄4 cups) of water and stir until combined into the yoghurt. Set aside.
4. Now heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium–high heat.?When bubbly hot, add the mustard seeds and when they begin to crackle (after about 30 seconds), stir in the fenugreek seeds, cuminseeds and?the cinnamon stick.
5. Infuse these spices into the oil until they become fragrant – 30 seconds should do the job. Be careful not to burn the spices or they will become bitter.
6. Add the curry leaves and the onion and fry over a medium to medium–high heat for about 5 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent.
7. Add the garlic and ginger paste and fry for a further 30 seconds, then pour in the yoghurt mixture. Slowly bring to a simmer, then stir in the pakoras.
8. Cook the sauce down until you are happy with the consistency. Season with salt and garnish with the coriander (cilantro).