Carrot Pakoras Recipes

PAKORA RECIPE | VEGETABLE PAKORA

Steps:

• Wash the veggies and cut to thin 2 inch long strips. Check the pictures in the post.
• Add them to a bowl along with ginger garlic, green chilies (or chilli flakes), salt, garam masala, mint or other herbs. Mix well & squeeze them gently to release moisture. Keep aside for 10 mins.
• Add the gram flour, rice flour (or corn starch) along with ajwain (optional). Mix well to a slightly sticky dough. If the dough is too dry, sprinkle a few tablespoons of water and mix. It must be of a sticky dough consistency and not batter consistency.
• Taste test and add more salt, garam masala or green chilies.
• Heat oil in a deep pan on a medium heat. Test by dropping a small portion of dough, it must sizzle and come up but not brown. This is the right temperature.
• Take small portions of dough and flatten with your fingers to 1½ inch size portions and gently slide to the hot oil. You won't shape it or drop it in lumps.
• Regulate the flame to medium. Do not disturb for a minute or 2 until they firm up a bit. Then stir them and fry until golden, crisp and aromatic.
• Remove the vegetable pakoras to a cooling rack or steel colander. To make the next batch, ensure the oil is hot enough but not smoking hot. Fry in batches until you finish all of the prepared dough.
• Serve vegetable pakora hot with a cup of masala tea or green chutney.
• To keep them crispy for longer, place them on a wired rack in a low oven setting. You can also reheat them in air fryer.

CARROT PAKORAS

Steps:

• Tip the carrots and shallots or onion into a colander set over a sink, and toss with 1 tsp sea salt. Leave to wilt for 10 mins. Meanwhile, for the dip, combine the yogurt, pickle and mint. Chill until ready to use.
• When the vegetables have wilted, wrap in a clean tea towel and squeeze out any excess water. Tip into a bowl along with the coriander, spices and egg, and mix well. Add the cornflour and stir until all the veg is evenly coated in thick batter - it's important that all the cornflour is mixed in properly.
• Fill a deep, wide pan no more than two-thirds full of oil and heat to 180C, or until a cube of bread dropped in browns in 20 seconds. Working in batches, carefully lower in two spoonfuls of the pakora mix at a time, well spaced apart, and fry for 2 mins on one side, then 1-2 mins more on the other side until golden and crisp. Transfer to kitchen paper using a slotted spoon to drain. Serve hot with the dip.

CRISPY VEGETABLE PAKORAS

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.

PAKORA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 120C/100C fan/ gas 1/2. Make a paste by blitzing the chilli, ginger and tomato together, then set aside.
• Mix the gram flour with the spices. Add all the prepared vegetables and toss in the mix. Slowly add 150ml water until the batter coats the vegetables - they should be well coated, but not swimming in it.
• Add the tomato mixture and get your hands in there, mixing well until everything is incorporated. Add a little lemon juice and seasoning.
• Heat the oil to 180C. Take a handful of the mix and squeeze it into a loose little ball, to ensure the vegetables stick to each other when lowered in the oil. Use a spoon to carefully drop the ball into the oil.
• Fry for about 4 mins until golden and crispy, then taste to test for seasoning and consistency. You may also need to add a little water or gram our to the mixture at this point if your tester ball didn't hold together. Repeat, frying the remaining mixture in batches.
• Drain on kitchen paper and keep warm in the oven as you go. Serve immediately with chutney.