Vegetable pakoras are a delicious and healthy North Indian appetizer or snack that can be easily prepared at home. These crispy and flavorful fritters are made with a batter of gram flour (chickpea flour), spices, and herbs, and then deep-fried until golden brown. They are often served with a mint and cilantro chutney, which adds a refreshing and tangy flavor to the pakoras. In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to make the best vegetable pakoras with mint and cilantro chutney, along with some tips and tricks to ensure that your pakoras turn out perfect every time.
Let's cook with our recipes!
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
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.
ONION AND SPINACH PAKORA WITH CILANTRO CHUTNEY
Pakora are a street-food favorite across India and in many other parts of the world. These crispy fritters make a fabulous snack or appetizer and are fairly quick to pull off at home. Pakora usually feature besan (chickpea flour) and can include a variety of seasonal vegetables; onions are standard, and here I add tender baby spinach. These are a favorite of mine, especially on a rainy day with a hot cuppa chai.
Provided by Maneet Chauhan
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- For the pakora: Pour the oil into a large, deep pot and place over medium heat until it registers 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
- Meanwhile, combine the spinach, onion, cilantro, besan, rice flour, ginger garlic paste, fenugreek, turmeric, chaat masala, garam masala, chili powder and salt to taste in a large bowl. Stir the mixture well. Stir in enough water to make a thick batter.
- When the oil is hot, working in batches, drop balls of the batter mixture into the oil. Fry until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with chaat masala and serve hot.
- For the cilantro-mint chutney: In a food processor or blender, combine the cilantro, mint, mango, chiles, lime juice and salt to taste and process or blend until smooth. Serve alongside the pakora.
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
VEGETABLE PAKORA
Simple and fast, yet delicious, these Indian battered and deep fried vegetable bits are great served by themselves as a snack or as an appetizer or side dish. Might I shamelessly suggest my Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) as a main dish? Serving size depends on how many other items are on one's plate to fill up on!
Provided by Sandi From CA
Categories Potato
Time 15m
Yield 2-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Boil the potato or yam slices until *just* tender, being careful not to overcook.
- Mix batter ingredients well. Beat in a blender for 4-5 minutes to incorporate air (this will make the batter fluffier). Let batter rest 1/2 hour in a warm place.
- Add the vegetables and mix in evenly.
- Deep fry in oil that is heated to 375° until deep brown (somewhere between 4-6 minutes per batch). Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.
- Serve with cilantro or mint chutney or cucumber raita.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 682, Fat 32.3, SaturatedFat 11.8, Cholesterol 49.7, Sodium 1931.7, Carbohydrate 69.9, Fiber 12.8, Sugar 16, Protein 31.4
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
Tips:
- For a crispier pakora, use a batter that is slightly thicker than pancake batter.
- To make sure the pakoras are cooked through, fry them until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve the pakoras hot with your favorite chutney or dipping sauce.
- For a healthier version of pakoras, bake them in the oven instead of frying them.
- You can use any type of vegetable you like in pakoras. Some popular choices include potatoes, onions, carrots, peppers, and cauliflower.
Conclusion:
Vegetable pakoras are a delicious and easy-to-make snack or appetizer. They are perfect for parties or potlucks. Serve them with your favorite chutney or dipping sauce for a complete meal.
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 »
You'll also love