Sharing food in the gurdwara langar hall, or Guru's Free Kitchen, is an integral part of the Sikh lifestyle and worship service. Pakora, a crispy deep fried, delicious, and nutritious, spicy vegetable snack, is a favorite to serve in the gurdwara langar hall along with programs such as:or any time an appetizer or tasty snack is appreciated.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Besan (chick pea flour)
- 1 - 1½ cups Yogurt
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Turmeric (haldi)
- ½ tsp Cayenne (red pepper)
- ½ tsp Cumin powder
- 1.2 tsp ground Coriander
- 2 Jalapeño Green Chile (Mirche) peppers minced
- 1 Onion diced
- 1 bunch Spinach (palak) chopped
- 1 Potato (aloo) quartered lengthwise thinly sliced
- 1 head Cauliflower florets (gobi)
- Vegetable oil for deep frying
Preparation:
Blessing
During pakora preparation keep the mind focused on the divine:
- Recite "Waheguru"
- Recite passages from scripture.
- Listen to Gurbani kirtan recordings.
Batter
Add salt and spices to besan flour and stir. Add yogurt half a cup at a time and mix thoroughly to make a thick sticky batter.
Deep Fry
Dip prepared vegetables in besan (chickpea) batter to coat. Carefully drop from spoon and deep fry in heated oil until crispy and golden.
Serve
Remove from oil and drain. Eat while fresh and crispy. Serve plain, with ketchup, chutney, or other condiment.
Hint: To make ahead - Deep fry halfway, just until batter begins to form a crust and color changes. Cool and freeze. To reheat - Let thaw, microwave to thaw, or simply remove from freezer and deep fry in heated oil until crispy and golden.
