BREAD PAKORA

BREAD PAKORA

Bread pakora is a popular breakfast, tea time snack and a popular street food of India, mainly in Mumbai and is a popular and tasty snack of deep fried bread fritters from the North Indian Cuisine, especially Punjabi Cuisine. One gets to see these even in the tiffin centers & restaurants across India. There are 2 ways these are made, First one is plain bread pakora and the other is potato stuffed one. the recipe is common snack especially in wet and winter season and a popular selling snack in the hilly area tourist destination. These deep-fried snacks are stuffed with spiced potatoes served with green chutney or imli chutney.

Ingredients:

6 slices Bread

Oil as needed for shallow or deep frying

For stuffing:

1+1/2 cups potatoes cubed (3 medium)

1/4 cup green peas (optional)

1 tsp oil

1 sprig curry leaves (optional)

1/2 tsp mustard (optional)

1 pinch asafoetida (hing)

2 green chilies chopped

1/2 tsp ginger paste

3 tbsp coriander leaves finely chopped

1/2 tsp red chili powder

1/2 tsp Garam masala

1/8 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)

For batter:

3/4 cup gram flour (besan)

1/2 teaspoon red chili powder

1/8 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)

1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon carom seeds or ajwain

Water as needed

Recipe:

Make stuffing:

1. Steam or boil potatoes just until done without making them mushy.  
2. You can also boil the potatoes in a cooker for 2 whistles. I prefer to steam them as it is easy to keep an eye.
3. You can skip green peas. If using then steam the green peas too along with the potatoes.
4. Mash them well and set aside.
5. Heat oil in a pan and crackle mustard. 
6. Then saute ginger, green chilies and curry leaves until it begins to smell good. Off the stove.
7. Add red chili powder, garam masala and turmeric. Mix well.
8. Transfer mashed potatoes, peas and salt. Mix everything well. Cool this.

How to make bread pakora:

1. Arrange 3 bread slices on a chopping board or plate.*Optional – If you have green chutney or sauce, you can also smear that to one of the slices.
2. Place the potato mix over 3 bread slices. Cover each slice with another one. Set these aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan for shallow or deep frying. You can use as less as possible if using a nonstick pan.
4. While the oil heats prepare the batter. In another bowl, mix together besan, ajwain, red chili powder, salt, and turmeric. 
5. Pour water just enough to make the batter that is neither too thick nor too thin. It must be similar to the mirchi bajji batter.
6. Check if the oil is hot by dropping a little amount of batter in the oil. The batter has to rise without browning.

Frying bread pakora:

1. Place each sandwiched bread in the batter and gently coat it with the batter on both the sides. You may need to use both your hands.
2. Gently slide this to the hot oil and do not disturb it for a minute.
3. You can add 2 or more pakoras in one batch.
4. Fry bread pakora until golden on both the sides on a medium heat.  
5. Flip when one side is golden and fry.
6. Repeat frying the rest of bread pakora in batches. Remove to a colander or kitchen tissue.
7. Cut in between to 2 triangles.

Serve bread pakora hot or warm with green chutney or sauce.

Enjoy and keep showering your love.