Mixed vegetable pakora fritters, a popular Indian appetizer or snack, are crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside. Made with a batter of chickpea flour, spices, and vegetables, they are an excellent way to enjoy the bounty of fresh produce. Whether you are looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or an impressive party appetizer, this versatile dish is sure to satisfy.
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PAKORA (INDIAN VEGETABLE FRITTERS)
Recipe video above. Vegetable fritters can be so bland and uninspiring ... but not in the hands of Indian cooks! Pakoras are a traditional Indian street food made with all sorts of vegetables. I've used onion, potato and caulifloiwer, but see Note 5 for other options. Serve as starter for an Indian menu, light meal or pass around as canapes. They're gluten free and vegan so everybody can enjoy them!Spiciness: Mild. Large chillies are not that spicy, and we are using 2 across lots of pakoras! Feel free to omit/reduce the fresh chilli and chilli powder.No deep fry method - See Note 7 for shallow pan-fried version.
Provided by Nagi
Categories Appetiser Light Meal Starter
Number Of Ingredients 26
Steps:
- Make batter: Place chickpea flour in a bowl with the spices (turmeric, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, chilli). Slow whisk in the water.
- Mix in Vegetables: Add potato, cauliflower, onion, ginger, chilli and coriander. Mix well with a wooden spoon. It should be a thick batter, almost paste-like.
- Preheat oven to 80°C/175°F - to keep cooked pakoras warm. Set a rack over a tray.
- Heat oil: Heat 4cm / 1.5" oil in a large heavy based pot to 180°C/350°F (Note 6).
- Form patties: Drop 2 tbsp of batter roughly formed into a patty shape into the oil. I use my hands (as is typical in India!) but you can also use 2 tablespoons (be careful of splash-age). Don't crowd the pot, it will lower the temperature too much.
- Fry pakoras: Fry 2 - 3 minutes until golden. Drain on paper towels. Keep cooked pakoras hot in the oven on a rack set over a tray.
- Serve: Serve pakoras with Coriander Mint Sauce or Minted Yogurt Sauce!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 64 kcal, Carbohydrate 8 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 3 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, TransFat 1 g, Sodium 155 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 1 g, ServingSize 1 serving
MIXED VEGETABLE PAKORAS
Nidhi Jalan loves her snacks. The owner of Brooklyn-based Masala Mama calls these deep-fried veggies the "tempura" of Indian food. The spice-infused batter fries up into a puffy and crunchy coating -- fresh cilantro chutney is the perfect dipping sauce. Though pakoras are usually served at tea time, Nidhi also loves them at cocktail hour.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 40m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- For the green chutney: Combine the chilies, cilantro, garlic, ginger, mint, lime juice, sugar, cumin, 2 tablespoons water and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Season to taste with additional salt if needed. Transfer to a serving bowl and set aside. Makes: 3/4 cup.
- For the batter: Combine the chickpea flour, cilantro, ajwain, asafoetida, chili flakes, baking soda, if using, and a heaping tablespoon of salt. Gradually add enough water, while mixing, to form a smooth batter that has the consistency of thin pancake batter, about 2 cups water; it should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- For the vegetables and frying: Fill a large Dutch oven halfway with oil, attach a deep-fry thermometer and heat over medium-high heat to 340 degrees F. (It is important that the oil be medium hot, if too hot then the pakoras will brown on the outside but the vegetables will be raw on the inside.)
- Toss together the kale and yellow onion in a bowl. Then put the cauliflower/broccoli, red onion and potato into separate bowls. Once the oil is at temperature, add enough of the batter to the bowl of onions to coat. Then drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the hot oil (being careful not to overcrowd) and fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining batter and vegetables: 5 to 7 minutes for the cauliflower/broccoli florets, 6 to 10 minutes for the potatoes and 5 to 7 minutes for the kale.
- Sprinkle the pakoras with sea salt and serve hot with the green chutney for dipping.
CRISPY VEGETABLE PAKORAS
These are very yummy, and if any of you have ever had Japanese tempura coated veggies, you'll love this recipe. It's similar, yet it is unique in it's taste. Serve with a chili sauce, mint yogurt sauce, or sweet and sour sauce. Try other vegetables for dipping, such as sweet potatoes, broccoli and asparagus.
Provided by veggigoddess
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Spicy
Time 25m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Sift the chickpea flour into a medium bowl. Mix in the coriander, salt, turmeric, chili powder, garam masala and garlic.
- Make a well in the center of the flower. Gradually pour the water into the well and mix to form a thick, smooth batter.
- Over medium high heat in a large, heavy saucepan, heat the oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Coat the cauliflower and onions in the batter and fry them in small batches until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 216.5 calories, Carbohydrate 15.9 g, Fat 15.9 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 4.6 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 406.4 mg, Sugar 4.3 g
Tips:
- Use a combination of vegetables to add variety and flavor to your pakoras.
- Cut the vegetables into uniform pieces so that they cook evenly.
- Soak the vegetables in a spiced yogurt or chickpea flour batter before frying.
- Heat the oil to a medium-high temperature before frying the pakoras.
- Fry the pakoras in small batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Drain the pakoras on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Serve the pakoras hot with a dipping sauce.
Conclusion:
Mixed vegetable pakoras are a delicious and easy-to-make snack or appetizer. They are perfect for parties or gatherings. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can enjoy these tasty pakoras at home. So next time you are looking for a tasty and healthy snack, give mixed vegetable pakoras a try!
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