Indian Pakora
Pakora is a famous Indian dish primarily made from chickpea flour and fresh vegetables, allowing for variations depending on the vegetables and ingredients available at home. It closely resembles falafel but is made using chickpea flour instead of soaked chickpeas. The dish is rich in spices like turmeric, curry, and garam masala, making it flavorful and sometimes spicy for those who enjoy heat. Additionally, Indian pakora is highly nutritious, containing plant-based protein from chickpeas along with vitamins and minerals from the vegetables.
Ingredients for Indian Pakora
- 1 cup chickpea flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- ¾ cup water
- 1 sweet potato, diced and boiled
- 1 cup chopped broccoli florets
- 1 red onion, diced
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cups boiled cauliflower
- 2 cups frying oil
- 1 cup fresh cilantro for garnish
For the Sauce:
- ½ cup full-fat coconut milk
- ⅔ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup water
How to Make Indian Pakora
- Prepare the sauce: Blend coconut milk, sunflower seeds, lemon juice, salt, cilantro, and water at high speed until smooth. Pour into a serving dish.
- Prepare the pakora batter: Mix chickpea flour with salt, black pepper, garam masala, and curry powder. Gradually add water while whisking until smooth.
- Add the sweet potatoes, broccoli, red onion, green onions, and cauliflower to the batter. Mix well.
- Heat oil in a frying pan. Using a spoon, scoop portions of the batter into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer fried pakoras to a paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Drizzle coconut sauce over the pakoras, garnish with fresh cilantro, and serve immediately.
Indian Pakora with Yogurt
Ingredients:
- 1 cup ground chickpeas
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon dried coriander
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Water as needed
- 2 cups hot oil for frying
For Serving:
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup yogurt
How to Make Indian Pakora with Yogurt
- In a blender, mix ground chickpeas, onion, garlic, cilantro, and parsley. Blend well.
- Add spices (salt, black pepper, curry powder, turmeric, dried coriander, chili powder, ground ginger, and baking powder). Mix thoroughly.
- Gradually add water until a dough forms.
- Shape the mixture into small patties and fry in hot oil until crispy.
- In a bowl, whisk together milk and yogurt.
- Soak the fried pakoras in the yogurt mixture before serving.
Crispy Indian Pakora
Ingredients:
- 2 cups chickpea flour
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon crushed coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 grated potato
- 1 grated zucchini
- 1 grated carrot
- Water as needed
- 2 cups oil for frying
How to Make Crispy Indian Pakora
- Blend chickpea flour, oil, baking powder, garlic powder, curry powder, crushed coriander, cumin, potato, zucchini, and carrot.
- Gradually add water until a shapeable dough forms.
- Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
- Shape into patties and fry in hot oil until crispy. Serve hot.
Baked Indian Pakora
Ingredients:
- 2 large onions, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 5 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chickpea flour
- Water as needed
- 5 tablespoons oil
How to Make Baked Indian Pakora
Bake in the oven until golden brown and crispy. Serve hot.
In a mixer, combine onions, green pepper, cilantro, salt, baking powder, turmeric, cumin, all-purpose flour, and chickpea flour.
Gradually add water until a firm dough forms.
Shape the dough into small balls and place them on a baking tray.
Brush each pakora with a little oil.