Pakoras

Servings: 4 servings Difficulty: Intermediate
Crispy, golden-fried Indian fritters with a savory spice blend and tender vegetable filling.
Pakoras recipe image

Pakoras

Difficulty: Intermediate
Servings: 4 servings Calories: 291.2
Dietary:

Description

These classic Indian pakoras are the ultimate comfort food snack, featuring a crisp, golden crust made from spiced chickpea flour (besan) batter. The batter is infused with aromatic garam masala, earthy coriander, and a hint of heat from cayenne pepper, creating a complex flavor profile that pairs perfectly with the natural sweetness and texture of the vegetables inside. Whether you choose eggplant, potatoes, or onions, each bite offers a satisfying crunch followed by a soft, savory interior. Simple to prepare with pantry staples, these vegan-friendly fritters are a crowd-pleaser that delivers authentic home-style flavor every time.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine besan, lemon juice, ground coriander, melted margarine or oil, salt, garam masala, baking powder, turmeric, and cayenne pepper.
  2. Add water gradually, mixing until a thick, smooth batter forms that coats the back of a spoon.
  3. Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large saucepan or deep skillet over medium-high heat until hot (about 350°F/175°C).
  4. Prepare vegetables: Cut eggplant into wedges, potatoes into thick slices, peppers into wedges, and onions into thin slices.
  5. For eggplant, potatoes, peppers, and mushrooms: Dip pieces into the batter, allowing excess to drip off.
  6. Carefully add batter-coated vegetables to the hot oil, a few pieces at a time, to avoid overcrowding.
  7. Fry until golden brown and tender, adjusting heat to medium if oil smokes or spatters excessively.
  8. For onion pakoras: Sprinkle onion slices with salt and let drain for 10 minutes. Mix besan with chopped scallions, cilantro, and green chile. Coat onion slices in this mixture, forming small fritters.
  9. Fry onion fritters for 3-5 minutes until golden and crispy.
  10. Drain all fried pakoras on paper towels to remove excess oil.
  11. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4 servings


Amount Per Serving
Calories 291.2kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0.8g2%
Saturated Fat 0.2g1%
Cholesterol 0.0mg0%
Sodium 1.6mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 60.8g21%
Dietary Fiber 2.2g9%
Sugars 0.2g
Protein 8.0g16%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: pakoras, indian, fritters, besan, chickpea flour, vegan, appetizer, snack, eggplant, potato, onion, spiced batter, deep fried, vegetarian, party food
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