Vegetable Pakoras With Mint And Cilantro Chutney Recipes

VEGETABLE PAKORAS WITH MINT AND CILANTRO CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Combine the flour, oil, spices, salt, water and peppers in a blender and blend on high for 4-5 minutes (this is important because it will incorporate air to make the batter fluffy). Set aside to rest in a warm place.
• Pierce the sweet potato with a fork and place it in the microwave for 4 minutes (this will soften it a bit before frying). Allow to cool, then peel and cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Chop the cauliflower and onion.
• In a large bowl, combine all of the vegetables with the batter and mix evenly. Fill a heavy pot with 2 inches of oil and heat to 375 degrees. Very gently place a heaping spoonful of batter into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, flipping over once if necessary. Drain on paper towel.
• For the Chutney: Finely chop the mint and cilantro. Add the chopped herbs to a bowl and mix in vinegar, sugar and oil. Spoon a bit over a small plate and place pakoras on top. Drizzle the pakoras with sweet and sour sauce and serve immediately.

MIXED VEGETABLE PAKORAS

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.

ONION AND SPINACH PAKORA WITH CILANTRO CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the pakora: Pour the oil into a large, deep pot and place over medium heat until it registers 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
• Meanwhile, combine the spinach, onion, cilantro, besan, rice flour, ginger garlic paste, fenugreek, turmeric, chaat masala, garam masala, chili powder and salt to taste in a large bowl. Stir the mixture well. Stir in enough water to make a thick batter.
• When the oil is hot, working in batches, drop balls of the batter mixture into the oil. Fry until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with chaat masala and serve hot.
• For the cilantro-mint chutney: In a food processor or blender, combine the cilantro, mint, mango, chiles, lime juice and salt to taste and process or blend until smooth. Serve alongside the pakora.

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.

VEGETABLE PAKORA

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.

SPICY CORN PAKORAS WITH MANGO-TAMARIND CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine chickpea flour, all-purpose flour, cornmeal, salt, baking powder and turmeric.
• In a food processor, grind corn kernels to a rough purée. Add purée to flour mixture and stir well to make a stiff batter.
• Put ghee in a small pan over medium-high heat. Add cumin, fennel and mustard seeds. When seeds are lightly toasted and begin to pop, pour mixture into the batter. Add chile, scallions, cilantro and ginger, and stir well. (Batter may be prepared several hours in advance.)
• Pour vegetable oil into a cast-iron skillet to a depth of 1 inch. Heat on medium-high until oil looks wavy. Using two large soup spoons, carefully slip morsels of batter into the oil, working in batches if necessary. Adjust the heat so pakoras brown gently on one side, about 2 minutes. Turn pakoras and brown on other side, about 2 minutes more. Remove with a slotted spoon or spatula and blot on paper towels. Serve hot with lime wedges and mango-tamarind chutney, or another chutney if desired.