Vegetable Pakoras Recipes

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.

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.

Steps:

• Whisk the besan, rice flour, salt, turmeric, ajwain seeds and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add the ginger, lemon juice and enough water (roughly 1/2 cup) to form a batter. (Consistency-wise, it should be slightly thinner than heavy cream.)
• Warm the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until it registers 375 degrees F on a thermometer. Set a cooling rack over a paper-towel lined baking sheet.
• Drop the onions, kale and cauliflower into the batter. Using tongs or your fingers, knock the excess batter off each piece before dropping into the hot oil. Fry in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pot. Fry smaller, thinner vegetables like the onions and kale for 1 to 2 minutes. Fry the cauliflower for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the pakoras from the hot oil using a spider. Set on the cooling rack, then quickly sprinkle with salt and the ground black lime. Eat hot!

Steps:

• Place the sweet potato in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes or until just tender. Drain and cool to room temperature.
• Combine flour, curry powder, cumin and salt with a whisk. Combine 1/3 cup water and egg, stirring with a whisk. Add egg mixture to flour mixture stirring until smooth. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Add sweet potato, cauliflower, onion, cilantro, garlic and jalapeno pepper to flour mixture. Stir until well combined (batter will be thick).
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 tsp oil to pan, swirling to coat. Drop 2 tbsp of batter into pan, and flatten slightly with the back of a spoon. Repeat procedure to make 6 pakoras.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels.
• Repeat cooking procedure with remaining 1 1/2 tsp oil and batter. Serve with chutney.

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.

Steps:

• Mix together the gram flour, salt, cayenne in a bowl; add the water stirring to make a thick batter.
• Stir until thick and smooth, adding just a touch more water if you need it; allow the batter to sit for about 1/2 hour before using it.
• Before dipping the vegetables, stir the chopped chilies, the cilantro, and the ghee into the batter, mixing well.
• Heat oil and coat vegetable pieces thickly with batter.
• Carefully drop coated vegetables into hot oil and cook until crisp and golden; remove from oil and drain on paper toweling.
• Serve warm with chutneys such as tamarind and coriander chutney and hot onion relish.