Are you craving a delightful and crispy snack that will tantalize your taste buds? Look no further than pakoras, a beloved appetizer or side dish that originated in the vibrant culinary traditions of India. These deep-fried fritters, made with a savory batter and an assortment of vegetables, are a perfect blend of flavors and textures that will elevate any gathering. Whether you prefer the classic potato pakoras, the tender okra pakoras, or the delectable onion pakoras, this article will guide you through the process of creating the perfect pakoras, ensuring that every bite is a burst of crispy perfection.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
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
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.
CAULIFLOWER PANKO PAKORAS (BREADED AND BAKED/FRIED)
I found the original recipe on another site with half the spices and reviewers said it was too bland so I'm posting it here to try myself with a little more punch. I also want to try mixing some coconut milk into the batter and frying in peanut oil. If it's worth posting I'll add it but if someone else has an opinion there first I'd love to hear it. :)
Provided by InAGourmetMinute
Categories Cauliflower
Time 30m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 475°. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 1/2 cup panko, the garam masala, baking soda, salt, and remaining spices. Whisk in lemon juice and club soda. Set aside.
- 2. In a small bowl, use a clean whisk to beat egg whites until foamy.
- 3. Whisk whites into flour mixture. Using your hands or a spatula, add cauliflower and combine until all florets are coated. Place remaining panko in a medium bowl. Lift florets, 1 at a time, out of batter and toss to coat with panko.
- 4. Place florets on a large nonstick baking sheet coated with oil. Bake until browned and crispy, about 20 minutes.
CAULIFLOWER PANKO PAKORAS
Make and share this Cauliflower Panko Pakoras recipe from Food.com.
Provided by TattooedMamaof2
Categories Cauliflower
Time 30m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 475°F In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 1/2 c panko, baking soda and remaining spices. Whisk in lemon juice and club soda. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy.
- Whisk whites into flour mixture. Using your hands, add cauliflower and combine until all florets are coated. Place remaining panko in a bowl. Lift florets, one at a time out of batter and toss in panko.
- Place on a large baking sheet coated with oil. Bake until brown and crispy, about 20 minutes.
VEGETABLE PAKORAS WITH MINT AND CILANTRO CHUTNEY
Vegetable Pakoras are savory little vegetable dumplings that are fried. Often times, they are served over mint and cilantro chutney, then drizzled with sweet and sour sauce. Besan (the chickpea flour) is easier to find in supermarkets these days; I found mine in the baking section at Whole Foods. Just ask someone at your grocery store. Enjoy!
Provided by Sommer Clary
Categories Vegetable
Time 40m
Yield 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Combine the flour, oil, spices, salt, water and peppers in a blender and blend on high for 4-5 minutes (this is important because it will incorporate air to make the batter fluffy). Set aside to rest in a warm place.
- Pierce the sweet potato with a fork and place it in the microwave for 4 minutes (this will soften it a bit before frying). Allow to cool, then peel and cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Chop the cauliflower and onion.
- In a large bowl, combine all of the vegetables with the batter and mix evenly. Fill a heavy pot with 2 inches of oil and heat to 375 degrees. Very gently place a heaping spoonful of batter into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, flipping over once if necessary. Drain on paper towel.
- For the Chutney: Finely chop the mint and cilantro. Add the chopped herbs to a bowl and mix in vinegar, sugar and oil. Spoon a bit over a small plate and place pakoras on top. Drizzle the pakoras with sweet and sour sauce and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 94.6, Fat 3.1, SaturatedFat 0.4, Sodium 262.5, Carbohydrate 14.2, Fiber 3.5, Sugar 4.8, Protein 3.7
PAKORAS - SPICY BATTER-DIPPED FRIED VEGGIES
Shandana, a friend from Pakistan, made these for me while in grad school... and I tried them out on my DD... who loved them as much as I did! You can use any vegetable you like... I tried quiet a few and liked them all! Makes a nice light meal too! (Similar to tempura)
Provided by Impera_Magna
Categories Vegetable
Time 20m
Yield 3-4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix all dry ingredients together in bowl.
- Add water and mix until batter is consistency of pancake batter.
- Let batter sit for 10 to 15 minutes while you cut up vegetables (thinly sliced or julienned vegetables: carrots, potato, eggplant, onion, tomato, green pepper, mushrooms, or whatever you'd like to try).
- Dip veggies in batter and fry until browned.
- Also, you can chop up vegetables and mix them into the batter; fry by dropping spoonfuls in hot oil.
SPICY CORN PAKORAS WITH MANGO-TAMARIND CHUTNEY
Crisp and deeply seasoned, pakoras are Indian fritters that can be made from almost any vegetable. To emphasize the corn flavor here, fine cornmeal joins the more traditional chickpea flour - along with fresh corn. A ridiculously flavorful chutney, which is sweet, hot and a little sour, accompanies the dish. But a jarred version from the supermarket would certainly work in a pinch.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories appetizer, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 16-18 pieces (about 4-6 servings)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a mixing bowl, combine chickpea flour, all-purpose flour, cornmeal, salt, baking powder and turmeric.
- In a food processor, grind corn kernels to a rough purée. Add purée to flour mixture and stir well to make a stiff batter.
- Put ghee in a small pan over medium-high heat. Add cumin, fennel and mustard seeds. When seeds are lightly toasted and begin to pop, pour mixture into the batter. Add chile, scallions, cilantro and ginger, and stir well. (Batter may be prepared several hours in advance.)
- Pour vegetable oil into a cast-iron skillet to a depth of 1 inch. Heat on medium-high until oil looks wavy. Using two large soup spoons, carefully slip morsels of batter into the oil, working in batches if necessary. Adjust the heat so pakoras brown gently on one side, about 2 minutes. Turn pakoras and brown on other side, about 2 minutes more. Remove with a slotted spoon or spatula and blot on paper towels. Serve hot with lime wedges and mango-tamarind chutney, or another chutney if desired.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 486, UnsaturatedFat 20 grams, Carbohydrate 52 grams, Fat 28 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 7 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 336 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
CAULIFLOWER PAKORAS
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 475°. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 1/2 cup panko, the garam masala, baking soda, salt, and remaining spices. Whisk in lemon juice and club soda. Set aside. 2. In a small bowl, use a clean whisk to beat egg whites until foamy. 3. Whisk whites into flour mixture. Using your hands or a spatula, add cauliflower and combine until all florets are coated. Place remaining panko in a medium bowl. Lift florets, 1 at a time, out of batter and toss to coat with panko. 4. Place florets on a large nonstick baking sheet coated with oil. Bake until browned and crispy, about 20 minutes. While cauliflower bakes, make Cilantro Mint Dipping Sauce.
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your pakoras.
- Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing will make the pakoras tough.
- Use a light hand when frying the pakoras. Don't overcrowd the pan, and don't stir them too much.
- Serve the pakoras hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Conclusion:
Pakoras are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, snack, or main course. They are easy to make and can be customized to your own taste. With a little practice, you'll be able to make perfect pakoras every time.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
#30-minutes-or-less #time-to-make #course #cuisine #preparation #occasion #healthy #appetizers #asian #indian #holiday-event #low-fat #vegan #vegetarian #deep-fry #dietary #spicy #low-cholesterol #low-saturated-fat #low-calorie #ramadan #low-in-something #taste-mood #technique
You'll also love