Bottle Gourd Leaves & Parsley Leaves Pakora / Fritters

 

           These Pumpkin leaves and parsley leaves can be turned into some amazingly delicious pakoras / fritters. Just pick up some tender bottle gourd leaves and parsley leaves and dish out these yummy pakoras. Relish them as appetizers with some chutney / sauce as an evening tea-time snack or as an accompaniment to dal-rice combo. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare these yummy fritters. 

          Tea time without some fried snacks is just meaningless. One can't resist the temptation of deep fried pakoras. A bowl of hot and crispy pakoras is anytime welcome. So dish out these easy to make yummy pakoras / fritters made of bottle gourd leaves and parsley leaves. 

          These crispy treats are just perfect with your evening cuppa. You can also serve them as appetizers with chutney, sauce, labneh, hummus or cheese spread. They are absolutely easy to prepare as it requires only few basic ingredients. I made them both spicy and tangy. However, it can be adjusted accordingly. 

             

           If it happens to be a rainy day or a cold winter night, then the excitement of having these pakoras reaches to another level. These amazing pakoras are also great as an accompaniment to dal chawal or curd rice. 

          Any leftover pakoras can be made into Kadhi Pakora the next day and enjoyed with hot steamed rice / jeera rice for a great comfort meal. You can also dish out pakora chaat for a light dinner.

• 10-12 Pumpkin Leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup besan (gram flour)
• 1/4 cup rice flour
• 1 tsp. nigella seeds (kalonji)
• pinch of baking soda
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• oil to deep fry / shallow fry

            In a bowl, combine together all the above mentioned ingredients (except oil). Add very little water, only if required and prepare a dough. keep aside for 10 minutes.

            Take a small portion of the dough and give a round and slightly flat shape.

           Heat oil in a pan and drop the prepared pakoras, few at a time and fry on a low flame on all sides till light golden in color. 

            Drain on a tissue paper and serve hot with sauce or chutney as an appetizer, as a tea time snack or as a side dish with rice-dal combo.

In a bowl, mix all the above mentioned ingredients (except oil). 

Add very little water, only if required & prepare a dough. keep aside for 10 minutes.

Take a small portion of the dough & give a round and slightly flat shape.

Heat oil in a pan & drop the pakoras, few at a time, & fry on a low 

flame on all sides till light golden in colour. 

                              Drain on a tissue paper.

                        Serve hot with chutney, sauce or with a cup of tea. 

Naan Pakora

 

               Have any leftover naan and wondering what to do with it? Then dish out these crispy and crunchy pakoras / fritters. It is a very quick recipe and is apt for any in house or kitty party. I promise you they will be finished in no time. Easily available ingredients are needed for this recipe and you can surprise your loved ones and guests with this amazing treat. 

              You just need to cut the naan into small pieces and mix with all the ingredients mentioned and deep fry them to perfection. Voila, you have crispy fritters to be relished with mayo, green chutney, hummus or tomato ketchup. They can also be served as a tea time snack. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this wonderful appetizer. 

• 2 naan, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 cup gran flour (besan)
• 1 egg
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. red chili flakes
• 1/2 tsp. carom seeds
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• pinch of baking soda
• 1 tsp. kasuri methi, crushed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• 1 tsp. garlic, grated
• 2-3 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• oil to deep fry

              In a mixing bowl, take the naan pieces. To it add the gram flour and all the dry spices. Give it a mix.

              Now add rest of the ingredients (except oil) and combine everything well. Keep aside for 10 minutes.

               Heat oil in a pan and drop spoonful of the batter. Fry on a medium flame till it is well browned. 

               Drain on a tissue paper and serve with mayo, green chutney, hummus or tomato ketchup.

                       In a mixing bowl, take the naan pieces.

              To it add the gram flour and all the dry spices. Give it a mix.

                    Add rest of the ingredients (except oil).

                    Combine everything well. Keep aside for 10 minutes.

                   Heat oil in a pan and drop spoonful of the batter. 

                   Fry on a medium flame till it is well browned. 

                   Drain on a tissue paper.

     Serve with mayo, green chutney, hummus or tomato ketchup.

Raw Jackfruit (Kathal) Pakora

 

             Tea time without some fried snacks is just meaningless. One can't resist the temptation of deep fried pakoras. A bowl of hot and crispy pakoras is anytime welcome. So here are some easy to make yummy raw jackfruit pakoras / fritters. 

             These crispy treats are just perfect with your evening cuppa. You can also serve them as appetizers, with chutney, sauce, labneh, hummus or cheese spread. They are absolutely easy to prepare as it requires only few basic ingredients. I made them both spicy and tangy. However, it can be adjusted accordingly. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

          If it happens to be a rainy day or a cold winter night, then the excitement of having these pakoras reaches to another level. These amazing pakoras are also great as an accompaniment to dal chawal or curd rice. 

          Any leftover pakoras can be made into Kadhi Pakora the next day and enjoyed with hot steamed rice / jeera rice for a great comfort meal. You can also dish out pakora chaat for a light dinner.

• 1 small raw jackfruit, peeled & cubed
• 3 tbsp. chickpea flour
• 2 tbsp. semolina
• 2 tbsp. rice flour
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. amchur
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• 1  tbsp. kasuri methi, crushed
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 tsp. carom seeds, crushed
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 3 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp. hot oil
• oil to deep fry

          Pressure cook the raw jackfruit for one whistle. Set aside to cool down. Then mash / shred them.

          In a large bowl, combine all the mentioned ingredients (except oil to deep fry) into a thick batter. Add water only if needed.

          Heat oil in a pan / kadai and drop spoonful of the mix. Deep fry on a low to medium flame on all sides till crisp and brown. Drain on a tissue paper.

          Serve as an appetizer / tea time snack with any chutney of your choice, sliced onion, green chilies and lemon wedges.

                     Pressure cook the raw jackfruit for one whistle. Set aside to

                     cool down. Then mash / shred them.

                      In a large bowl, add all the ingredients (except oil to deep fry)

                               Mix well into a thick batter. Add water only if needed.

                    Heat oil & drop spoonful of the mix. Deep fry till crisp & brown. 

Drain on a tissue paper.

                     Serve as an appetizer / tea time snack with any chutney of

                     your choice, sliced onion, green chilies and lemon wedges.

Pui Shak Chingri Bora (Malabar Spinach & Prawn Pakora / Fritters - Bong style)

 

          These are simple Bengali homemade style pakoras made of Pui Shak or Malabar Spinach and prawns. For a veg. version, just omit the prawns. These crispy fritters are a great accompaniment to our normal dal-chawal or khichdi. You can also relish them as a rainy day tea time snack or as an appetizer with kasundi (bottled mustard sauce) or any chutney. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare these amazing pakoras.

          Bengalis generally make a curry of these creepers with pumpkin, eggplants, potato, broad beans, etc. Like other greens, Pui Shak too, has a lot of health benefits in the form of vitamin, calcium, protein, iron and fibre. 

           It is cooked with bori (dried lentil dumplings) for the veg. version and prawns / fish head for the non-veg. version. However, pakoras made with them also tastes yummy too. So do give it a try and enjoy them on a rainy day or on a chilled winter night. It is so comforting. 

• 2-3 cups Pui Shak, washed, drained & finely chopped
• 8-10 prawns, deveined, cleaned & rinsed well
• 2-3 green chilies
• 3-4 garlic cloves
• 1 onion, chopped
• salt to taste
• 3-4 tbsp. gram flour
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1 tsp. nigella seeds
• oil to deep fry

          In a bowl, add a pinch of salt to the chopped pui shak and marinate for 5-10 minutes. Then mash well.

          Pound the prawns, garlic and green chilies coarsely. Add to the Pui Shak and along with the  remaining ingredients (except oil). Sprinkle water accordingly. Cover and keep aside for 5 minutes.

 

          Wet your hands and take a little portion of the batter and form into equal size pakoras and keep them ready to be deep fried.

          Heat oil in a pan / kadai. Gently drop the pakoras in the hot oil. Fry on a low flame on both sides till golden in colour.

    

          Drain on a kitchen towel and serve them hot as a tea time snack, as an appetizer with kasundi / green chutney or as a side dish with dal-chawal or khichdi.

                       In a bowl, add a pinch of salt to the chopped pui shak & marinate for

                       5-10 minutes. Then mash well.

                       Pound the prawns, garlic & green chilies coarsely. Add to the Pui Shak 

                       along with the remaining ingredients (except oil). Sprinkle water accordingly. 

                                  Cover and keep aside for 5 minutes.

                      Wet your hands. Take a little portion of the batter & form into equal

                      size pakoras and keep them ready to be deep fried.

                         Heat oil in a pan / kadai. Gently drop the pakoras in the hot oil. Fry 

                         on a low flame on both sides till golden in colour.

  

                                  Drain on a kitchen towel.

                    Serve them hot as a tea time snack, as an appetizer with kasundi / green 

                    chutney or as a side dish with dal-chawal,

Vegetable Peel Pakora / Pakoda / Fritters

 

           Here is an unusual snack made out of some discarded vegetable peels. They contain a lot of fibre and nutrients. So prepare these yummy pakoras with a combination of peels. Relish them as an evening tea-time snack or as an appetizer with green chutney or tomato ketchup. They also tastes yummy with hummus or mayo. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 1/3 cup pointed gourd (parwal) peel, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup bottle gourd (Lauki) peel, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup ridge gourd (Turai) peel, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup coriander stems, finely chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 egg
• 3-4 tbsp. chickpea flour / besan 
• 1-2 tbsp. rice flour
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. nigella seeds
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tsp. roasted coriander-cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. amchur
• oil to deep fry

          In a bowl, combine all the above mentioned ingredients (except oil) and knead into a thick batter. Add water as needed and keep aside for 10-15 minutes. 

          Heat oil in a pan. Drop spoonful of the batter, few at a time and in batches into the hot oil.  Fry till golden in colour and crisp on all sides on a medium flame. 

          Drain on a kitchen towel and serve them hot with green chutney or tomato ketchup.

Note - 

1.  For a pure veg. version, you can omit the egg and add cornflour instead.

2.  You can also make use of carrot peels, potato peels, steamed raw banana peels, steamed cauliflower stem, etc. to make these yummy pakoras. 

                       In a bowl, mix all the ingredients (except oil) & knead into a thick batter. 

                       Keep aside for 10-15 minutes. 

                    Heat oil in a pan. Drop spoonful of the batter, few at a time, into the hot oil.  

                                  Fry till golden in colour on all sides on a medium flame. 

                                  Drain on a kitchen towel.

                                  Serve them hot with green chutney or tomato ketchup.