Namaste🙏
Fried Indian snack made with chickpea(gram) flour and veggies(onion/ cauliflower/ Cottage cheese and many more)
Well, can you imagine that you enjoy food so much that you name your child after the food name?
Hmmm!!! So that holds true for Indian Vegetarian Snacks, pakoda.
It is a spicy snack made with chickpea flour and vegetables along with some aromatic spices. However, Indian food & spices go hand in hand. We generally enjoy it during matches, most relished on rainy days (so soul filling) and also in winters along with Chai (Tea). Also the dips are called chutney. We have mint chutney, coriander chutney, tomato sauce and tamarind chutney which goes with a serving of pakoras.
The oil I prefer is mustard oil, as it is a little strong in aroma & has many health benefits. Meanwhile, you can use any cooking oil of your choice, be it olive oil or any other cooking oil.
The memories of enjoying pakoras after coming home from playing out, being so low on energy. There is time for dinner, so the best treat I got was pakora. I am a BIG FAN of pakora, Period. We Indians have our versions of each dish, suiting our taste buds. Same goes for pakoras as well. Have a feel of home, away from home & indulge yourself in the process to prepare this lip smacking snack.
Pakoras are life, pakoras are fun!!! 🤩😋
What is Pakoda/ Pakora/ Bhajiya
This is a crispy, crunchy and delightful fritter commonly called Pakora in India. It is mostly enjoyed with a cup of hot tea. On almost every corner of Indian streets you will find a tea stall making pakoras to serve with tea.
This light, Vegan, Gluten Free & Guilt free snack is healthy although deep fried, but not greasy. The best preparation shall be at home as the oil to fry the pakora will not be reheated many times.
Benefits of having pakoras
Pakoras are these crispy veggie snacks. It is the snack you can take along with you and binge while watching your favorite TV shows. It tastes even better when eaten on rainy days & colder days. The bomb of spices blasts in your mouth, and instantly gives you happy feeling and fills your heart with joy.
- Although fried, pakoras are still healthy as they have veggies in them. They are extremely filling & are rich in fiber because of vegetables.
- Keeps you full for a longer period of time. They provide energy as chickpea flour is made from chickpea. You must have heard that chickpeas are a staple diet of horses.
- The chickpea helps in keeping your skin glowing and provides a lot of energy.
Recipe, Serving – 2 persons
Preparation Time – 20 minutes
Pakoras are easy to prepare, with all ingredients available in your kitchen or readily available at any local store near you. So, let’s get started & have a taste of home, away from home.
All you need:
- 1 cup gram chickpea flour
- Water, 1 cup or less (10 ml total)
- One medium sized onions, thick slices onion
- One large size potato, thin sliced
- Handful of small diced Tofu/ paneer
- Handful of small diced cauliflower
- ¼ tablespoon salt
- ¼ tablespoon turmeric powder (optional)
- ¼ tablespoon chili powder
- ¼ tablespoon coriander powder (optional)
- Cooking oil for frying, preferably mustard oil
- Pinch of carom seeds
Recipe
- Put the chickpea flour in a bowl
- Add all spices that are ¼ table spoon salt, turmeric, chili powder, coriander powder and carom seeds.
- Now gradually add water in the flour & spice mixture. The consistency should be thick, not very thin.
- Add the veggies in the batter & let it rest for 2-3 minutes.
- Keep the flame on, heat the oil. If you are using mustard oil, then make sure that the oil is very hot & on the verge of burning. Once mustard oil is hot enough, switch off the lid & let it cool down. Once cooled, switch on the gas lid again.
- Carefully, now add the veggies covered with batter in hot oil. Fry until golden brown.
- Flip them, allow to be crisp & staring them & take it out of the pan.
- Keep them on a tissue paper to soak excess oil.
- Garnish with coriander leaves (optional ) & relish.
I can bet that the mesmerizing taste of pakoras will leave you craving for more. Children & adults both enjoy snacking on pakoras. In different regions, we have different names for it, in North India we call it pakora. On the south side, it is called bhajia. Names may be different, but the feeling is the same.
Pro Tips
To have the best experience, keep in mind the below points:
- Cut the onions not very thin, not very thick. Medium thickness for that crunch;
- Preheat the oil to a high temperature;
- Do not add much water, keep the batter on thicker side;
- Keep the batter to rest for at least 10 minutes before frying.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
- What does pakora taste like?
- Crispy, salty & spicy fritters.
- Is pakora vegan?
- Yes, pakoras are vegan.
- Is adding soda important?
- No, it is not at all important.
- Is pakora Gluten free?
- Yes, pakoras are gluten free.