Cauliflower Pakoras Recipes

CAULIFLOWER PAKODA

Steps:

• Separate the florets from cauliflower. Do not chop them to small florets. (check the pictures in the step-by-step guide)
• Heat 4 cups of water in a pot until hot (not boiling). Add the cauliflower florets and sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt. You may also add turmeric to the water. This step is done to bring out the worms if any in the florets.
• Leave them for a minute or 2 and then drain the water. Rinse them thoroughly. Drain to a colander.
• Transfer them to a mixing bowl. Add ginger garlic paste, chopped curry leaves & green chilies. Sprinkle chili powder, carom seeds and garam masala all over. Mix them well.
• Sprinkle gram flour, rice flour and salt all over evenly. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tbsps water and begin to coat the gobi well with all the dry ingredients.
• Keep splashing more water as needed and mix until all of the flour coats the cauliflower well. It should resemble a wet marinade. (check pictures above)
• Taste test the batter and add more salt if needed.
• Heat oil in a deep pan for frying until hot enough.
• To check if the oil is ready to fry, Drop a small portion of batter to the hot oil. The batter should rise if the oil is hot enough.
• Regulate the heat to medium. Gently drop each floret separately in the hot oil. Do not crowd a lot of them as they will get stuck and won't fry well.
• Do not stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Then use a perforated ladle and stir them gently. Fry until golden & crisp on a medium heat.
• The bubbles in the oil will reduce when the florets are fried well.
• Remove them to a steel colander. Serve cauliflower pakoda hot with a cup of hot tea or coffee.

GOBI PAKORA (CAULIFLOWER PAKODA)

Steps:

• In a pan, Boil enough water with salt.
• Break or chop the cauliflower in medium sized florets.
• Rinse them well and add them to the boiling water.
• Switch off the flame and let the cauliflower florets be immersed in the water for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Drain the water from the cauliflower florets. In a pan marinate the cauliflower with red chili powder, turmeric powder, ginger-garlic paste, garam masala powder. Mix very well and keep aside for 8 to 10 minutes.
• In another bowl, make a smooth batter with the besan/gram flour, asafoetida, baking soda or baking powder, salt and water.
• Next add carom seeds to the batter and mix well.
• Heat oil in a kadai or deep fryer. You can use any neutral tasting oil with a high smoking point.
• Take each marinated cauliflower and dip in the batter.
• Coat each floret evenly with the batter and add them carefully in the medium hot oil.
• When one side becomes slightly crisp and the batter firms up then turn over with a slotted spoon and continue to fry the other side.
• Fry till the cauliflower fritters are crisp and golden evenly. You will have to turn the pakora a couple of times for even frying.
• With a slotted spoon remove the pakoda and drain as much oil as possible. Then keep them on paper towels to remove excess oil.
• Serve the cauliflower pakoda hot or warm with any green chutney or sauce, sprinkled with chaat masala, lemon juice and chopped coriander leaves. You can also have them with roti or stuff them between bread slices or dinner rolls.

VIJ'S BUTTERMILK PAKORAS

Steps:

• Wash the cauliflower in a colander; allow to drain for approx 15 minutes (the vegetables need to be very dry otherwise the extra water will make the batter runny).
• Peel and wash the potatoes, cut in half and cut each half in thin slices (I quarter the potato).
• In a large mixing bowl combine the chickpea flour, buttermilk, peppers, coriander, cumin, mango powder, turmeric and salt, using your hands.
• Make sure everything is well combined and that there are no lumps of chickpea flour left.
• Now add the cauliflower, potatoes and the red onion.
• It should be all sticking together.
• To test the right thickness, take a spoonful and drop it from an 8-10 inch height back into the mixing bowl, the ball should remain its shape for a few seconds.
• If too runny add some more chickpea flour, 2 tablespoons at the time and no more then 4.
• Heat the oil, test with a drop of batter, when it floats to the top in a few seconds and is sizzling, the oil is hot enough.
• Drop approx 2-inch balls (they will not be round, and I use two tablespoons to do this) into the oil and fry for approx 2 ½ minutes or until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels.

CREAMY CAULIFLOWER PAKORA SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, bring first 14 ingredients to a boil. Cook and stir until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Process in batches in a blender or food processor until smooth. Adjust consistency as desired with water or additional stock. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro. Serve hot, with lime wedges if desired., Freeze option: Before adding cilantro, freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add water if necessary. Sprinkle with cilantro. If desired, serve with lime wedges.

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.

CAULIFLOWER PANKO PAKORAS (BREADED AND BAKED/FRIED)

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 475°. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 1/2 cup panko, the garam masala, baking soda, salt, and remaining spices. Whisk in lemon juice and club soda. Set aside.
• 2. In a small bowl, use a clean whisk to beat egg whites until foamy.
• 3. Whisk whites into flour mixture. Using your hands or a spatula, add cauliflower and combine until all florets are coated. Place remaining panko in a medium bowl. Lift florets, 1 at a time, out of batter and toss to coat with panko.
• 4. Place florets on a large nonstick baking sheet coated with oil. Bake until browned and crispy, about 20 minutes.