Kadhi Pakora - Vegetarian Comfort Food
Ingredients
For yogurt mixture
- 1 cup natural set @onkenyogurt
- 1/2 cup gram flour (besan)
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 4-5 cups water
For base
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp methi seeds
- 1 onion, diced
- 1/2 tsp ginger paste
- 1/2 tsp garlic paste
- 2 green chillies, sliced in half
For pakoras
- 2 tbsp natural set @onkenyogurt
- 1 onion, finely sliced
- 2 green chillies, finely sliced
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup gram flour
- 1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- Chopped coriander
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
For tadka
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 3 red chillies
- 1/3 tsp chilli powder
- 12 curry leaves (optional)
Preparation
Prepare the yogurt mixture - In a large bowl, mix the yogurt with gram flour, chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, salt, garlic paste, and ginger paste. Whisk until smooth and no lumps remain. Slowly add water until well combined.
Prepare the base - In a large wok or kadhai, heat oil and add cumin seeds, methi seeds, diced onion, ginger paste, garlic paste, and sliced green chillies. Saute until the onions are soft. Add the yogurt and gram flour mixture. Bring it to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens slightly.
Prepare the pakoras - In a bowl, mix yogurt, finely sliced onion, finely sliced green chillies, garlic paste, ginger paste, salt, gram flour, bicarbonate of soda, chopped coriander, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, chilli powder, and turmeric powder. Mix until well combined. Heat oil in a deep pan and drop spoonfuls of the pakora batter into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil.
Prepare the tadka - In a separate pan, heat ghee and add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, red chillies, chilli powder, and curry leaves (optional). Let it sizzle for a few seconds.
Combine everything - Add the tadka to the simmered base and mix well. Add the pakoras to the kadhi and let it simmer for another 5 minutes.
Serve hot with steamed rice or roti.