You exercise, eat healthy, and sleep right. Yet, there are days when only a delicious, deep-fried snack can do the trick of lifting you out of a bad mood.
Bread pakora originates from India, where it is usually sold by street vendors. More than just your everyday sandwich, the filling often consists of vegetables such as potatoes and onions, and the whole thing is coated in seasoned flour batter and deep-fried to crispy, golden perfection.
So if you’re down in the dumps, stop beating yourself up about how many calories you’re consuming and just whip up a batch of these scrumptious snacks straightaway!
Ingredients (for 4 pieces)
- 4 slices white bread
- 4 tsp green chutney
For the filling
- 2 potatoes, boiled and mashed
- 1 green chilli, finely chopped
- 2.5cm ginger, finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp chilli powder
- 2 tbsp coriander, finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp chaat masala
- 1/4 tsp salt
For the batter
- 100g flour
- 2 tbsp rice flour
- 1/4 tsp red chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 pinch baking soda
- 120ml water
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the boiled and mashed potatoes, green chilli, ginger, coriander, chilli powder and chaat masala. Set aside.
- Next, mix together all the ingredients for the batter and set aside.
- Spread a teaspoon of green chutney over one slice of bread and cut it in half.
- Now spread a tablespoon of filling over the half-slice of bread. Cover with the other half and dip into the batter.
- Deep-fry immediately in hot oil on medium heat for 5-6 minutes or until the pakora turns golden and crisp.
- Repeat the process with the other slices of bread. You may, of course, make as many pieces of pakora as you wish!
- Serve and enjoy with green chutney or tomato sauce.
This article first appeared in butterkicap.com, a food and culture platform and community that enables anyone to experience Malaysia through stories of her people, food and places.