Pakoras

The pakoras are a snack widely consumed in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. A very tasty option for a snack on the street or at home and is also a very economical product affordable for the entire population of the country.

What are the pakoras?

The pakoras are a vegetable stir-fry made with chickpea flour. You could say they are Indian-style fritters or tempura.

These Indian fried foods are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and they are super tasty.

They are usually eaten as appetizer but they can also be served as a main dish.

The pakoras in India

The pakoras are available in all corners of the country and in neighboring countries. They are prepared at home (the pakoras and consumed with the family are a delight), in restaurants of all types of budgets (there are Michelin-starred restaurants that make fancy pakoras) and street stalls or the famous street food. 

At the street stalls or pakora wallahs, it is very common to find a chai wallah next to it, as this snack is usually accompanied by a masala chai.

What are the ingredients in the pakoras?

To make pakoras basically you need vegetables or other ingredients such as chicken, shrimp or fish, spices and chili and chickpea flour.

• Chickpea flour: this ingredient is indispensable to make the pakoras traditional. This flour gives it a very special texture. It can also be made with other flours such as rice flour or buckwheat flour...but the texture will be different and it will not have the original flavor.
• Vegetables: can be made from a single vegetable or by mixing several. You can get some pakoras great with onions, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach... but you can use any vegetable.
• Garlic: gives a special flavor (this ingredient is optional)
• Green chili: always fresh and finely chopped (optional ingredient)
• Spices: cumin, fresh or powdered ginger, chili powder, garam masala, chaat masala or any spice of your choice
• Aromatic herbs: give it freshness. You can use cilantro or parsley.
• Sunflower oil: you can replace it with another vegetable oil with a neutral flavor.

Variants of this appetizer

The most popular are the pakoras of assorted vegetables, the pakoras made with onion and the pakoras made with cauliflower , but there are also lentil, spinach, potato with peas and with chicken or shrimp. A very versatile appetizer that accepts any type of vegetable (so you have no excuse...whatever you have in the fridge).

Recipes for pakoras

Onion pakoras recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

Are pakoras and pakodas the same thing?

Yes, they are the same, in Hindi they are called pakodas.

 

I trust that this article about pakoras will be useful for you. If you have any questions you can leave me a comment in the little box below. pakoras at home!