Vegetable Pakora

Pakora is a popular street snack or appetiser which originates from India that consists of various vegetables or meat coated in a spiced gram flour batter and deep-fried until crispy. The recipe for vegetable pakoras or any other pakoras can vary depending on the region. Vegetable pakoras are simply vegetables cut into bite-sized pieces and coated in a spiced gram flour batter along with a blend of spices. The coated vegetables are then deep-fried until crispy and golden brown.

Additionally, for many Indians, vegetable pakoras or pakoras in general are considered a comfort food that are savoured on rainy days. The crispy and flavorful snack, often accompanied by a hot cup of tea or coffee, brings back nostalgic memories that many Indians can connect with. The aroma of the pakoras frying in oil and the sound of the rain tapping against the window create a cosy and comforting atmosphere that is hard to resist.

Vegetable pakora or other variants of pakoras have been steadily gaining popularity not only in India but in other parts of the world as well. Pakoras can be found served as an appetiser in most Indian restaurants around the world.

NOTES ON VEGETABLE PAKORA

Vegetables

When it comes to making vegetable pakora, the possibilities are endless. There are countless vegetables that can be used to make this delicious Indian snack such as bell peppers, jalapenos, corn, purple cabbage, potatoes, coriander leaves, cauliflower, french beans or any vegetables that fry well. If you prefer a simpler version, you can just use onions and carrots, omitting the cabbage. Feel free to customise your vegetable pakora recipe to find the perfect combination of vegetables that suits you. It is important to note that to keep the vegetable pakoras crispy, it’s important to slice the vegetables thinly, regardless of which ones you choose to use.

STEPS ON VEGETABLE PAKORA

There is no one definitive way to make vegetable pakora as every recipe utilises a unique combination of vegetables and spices according to different regions in India and personalised taste. However, this version of the vegetable pakora, the recipe is simple and fuss-free, making it an easy appetiser or snack to prepare at home. With its crispy texture and spicy flavour, this vegetable pakora will transport you to the streets of India in a bite!

Let’s get buzzin’:

Carrot

Brown Onion

Round Cabbage

Garlic

Ginger

Green chilli

Cumin powder

Coriander powder

Chilli powder

Garam masala

Gram flour (Chickpea flour)

Salt

Water (optional)

Begin by making the ginger garlic chilli paste. Pound the garlic, ginger, and chilli together in a mortar and pestle until they form a paste. If you don’t own a mortar and pestle, you can mince the ingredients finely or blend them. Transfer the paste to a small plate and set it aside.

Thinly slice the onions and transfer them to a large bowl. Peel the carrots and cut them into matchsticks, then add them to the same bowl. Finally, thinly slice the cabbage and add it to the bowl.

Add the ginger garlic chilli paste, spices, salt, and gram flour to the bowl.

Use your clean hands to mix everything thoroughly. The amount of water needed will vary depending on the vegetables water content, so it’s important to mix everything well. You want the flour and spices to coat the vegetables – not create a batter. If dry flour is visible at the bottom of the bowl, add 1 tablespoon of water and mix again. Once no dry flour is visible and the vegetables are coated with the flour, you’re ready to move on to the next step.

Heat 1-2 cups of neutral-tasting oil like sunflower oil in a deep, large pan. To test if the oil is hot enough, throw in a small piece of vegetable from the pakora mix. If it sizzles rapidly, the oil is ready. Using clean hands, scoop 1 tablespoon of pakora mix and loosely form it into a ball before placing it in the pan. Don’t overcrowd the pan, as this will cause the heat to drop. Fry the vegetable pakoras for 3-4 minutes on one side before flipping them over and frying for another 3-4 minutes.

Gently flatten the pakoras using the back of a spoon when you have turned it over to flatten the pakora. Once fried, remove them from the oil and transfer them to a plate.

Serve the vegetable pakoras as is, with mint or spicy tomato chutney, or with your favourite chilli or tomato sauce (like me!).

Enjoy!

DIFFICULTY:

 1.5/5

INGREDIENTS

Ginger Garlic Chilli paste:

3 cloves of Garlic
1 inch of Ginger
1 small green Thai Chilli

Vegetable Pakora:

1 medium Carrot
1 medium Brown Onion
180 grams of Round Cabbage
Ginger Garlic Chilli paste
1 teaspoon of Coriander Powder
1 teaspoon of Cumin Powder
1 teaspoon of Chilli Powder
1 teaspoon of Garam Masala Powder
100 grams of Gram Flour (Chickpea Flour)
1 teaspoon of Salt
Water (optional)
1- 2 cups of Vegetable Oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Make the ginger garlic chilli paste by pounding garlic, ginger, and chilli in a mortar and pestle. Alternatively, you can mince or blend them.
Thinly slice onions and transfer them to a large bowl. Peel and cut carrots into matchsticks and add to the same bowl. Finally, thinly slice cabbage and add it to the bowl.
Add ginger garlic chilli paste, spices, salt, and gram flour to the bowl. Mix everything thoroughly with clean hands.
If dry flour is visible, add 1 tablespoon of water and mix again. Once no dry flour is visible and the vegetables are coated with the flour, move to the next step.
Heat 1-2 cups of neutral-tasting oil like sunflower oil in a deep, large pan. To test if the oil is hot enough, throw in a small piece of vegetable from the pakora mix. If it sizzles rapidly, the oil is ready.
Using clean hands, scoop 1 tablespoon of pakora mix and loosely form it into a ball before placing it in the pan. Don’t overcrowd the pan.
Fry the vegetable pakoras for 3-4 minutes on one side before flipping them over and frying for another 3-4 minutes. Gently flatten the pakoras using the back of a spoon.
Once fried, remove them from the oil and transfer them to a plate.
Serve the vegetable pakoras as is, with mint or spicy tomato chutney, or with your favourite chilli or tomato sauce.
Enjoy!

Vegetable Pakora

NOTES ON VEGETABLE PAKORA

STEPS ON VEGETABLE PAKORA