🇰🇪 Kenyan / Swahili · Coastal Cuisine
🥥 Kenyan Coconut Bhajia
Bajias za Nazi
Coastal Coconut Bhajia — the Swahili coast's own version of bhajia, where coconut milk replaces water in the gram flour batter, adding a subtle sweetness and rich coconut fragrance to the crispy fried potato slices. A coastal elevation of the classic street snack.
Bajias za Nazi takes the beloved bhajia and gives it a distinctly coastal character — replacing the water in the batter with coconut milk, adding cardamom, and finishing with a tamarind coconut chutney. The result is a bhajia with a subtle sweetness and coconut aroma that perfectly complements the crispy potato and the tangy chutney.
Ingredients
Equipment: Mixing bowl, Sharp knife or mandoline, Deep frying pan, Slotted spoon
- 4 large potatoes — very thinly sliced
- 2 cups gram flour (besan)
- ¼ cup rice flour
- 200ml coconut milk
- ¼ cup water — as needed
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander — chopped
- Oil for deep frying
Method
- Slice potatoes 2—3mm thin. Pat completely dry.
- Combine gram flour, rice flour, spices, cardamom, salt, and baking powder.
- Whisk in coconut milk gradually. Add water if needed to reach a medium-thick batter.
- Stir in coriander.
- Heat oil to 175°C.
- Dip potato slices in coconut batter. Fry in batches for 3—4 minutes until golden.
- Drain on a rack. Serve with tamarind coconut chutney.
Chef Tips
- Coconut milk makes the batter slightly thicker — adjust water accordingly.
- The cardamom is the coastal signature — do not skip it.
- Serve with the tamarind coconut chutney from KEN017.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wet potato slices — batter does not adhere.
- Too-thick batter — heavy, doughy bhajia.
The Science
Replacing water with coconut milk adds fat to the batter, which produces a slightly more tender, less brittle crust than the classic water-based version — a pleasant coastal variation.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- Gram flour provides plant protein and fibre.
- Coconut milk adds healthy MCTs.
Cultural Note
Bajias za Nazi represent the Swahili coast's instinct to add coconut to everything — transforming the already-beloved bhajia into something distinctly, fragrantly coastal.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Best eaten immediately.
Reheating: Oven at 190°C for 5 minutes.
Serve with: Tamarind Coconut Chutney, Kenyan Masala Chai, Fresh Sugarcane Juice