Back of the fridge pakoras
Delicious vegetables and onion fried in hot oil, pakoras are a go-to when we want a snack. We usually make them when we have lots of veg knocking around at the end of the week to use up.
Ingredients
- 2 onions, thinly sliced
- 300²µ/10½´Ç³ú thinly sliced vegetables (potatoes, carrots, courgettes, broccoli, cauliflower)
- 3 spring onions, thinly sliced
- 3 green chillies, sliced
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- 2 tsp salt
- large handful fresh coriander
- 300²µ/10½´Ç³ú chickpea flour
- vegetable oil, for deep frying
Method
Put your sliced onion in a large bowl and separate the onion strands. Add the thinly sliced vegetables, spring onion, chillies, turmeric, salt and coriander. Using your hands, mix everything together. Cover and leave for 30 minutes. You will see some moisture being released from the onion mixture, which is exactly as it should be.
Sprinkle in the chickpea flour and add 100ml/3½fl oz water. Using your hands, mix until you have a sticky dough that holds the vegetables together. Add more water if the mixture is too dry.
Half fill a deep pan or deep-fat fryer with oil and heat to 180C. Using three fingers, take clumps of the vegetable mixture and gently drop into the oil. Don’t be tempted to shape into balls: what we want are straggly pakoras that are crisp and uneven. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.)
Fry and turn in the oil until crisp and the batter golden-brown. Drain on a tray or plate lined with kitchen paper. Fry the remaining mixture, eating as you go.
Recipe Tips
Turmeric is notorious for staining clothes so be very careful not to get any on yourself when mixing in with your hands and wash them regularly to be on the safe side.