Rainy Day Recipes

Bhajias (Pakoras) – Fried Indian Snack
Ingredients
1 head cauliflower (or another vegetable of your choice; potato, spinach leaves, onion, paneer for example)
1 cup Bengal gram flour
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
1 pinch asafetida
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon thymol seeds
salt (to taste)
vegetable, canola, or sunflower oil (for deep frying)

Steps to Make It
Mix the gram flour and all the spices with a little water at a time, to make a thick batter (slightly thicker than pancake batter). Add salt to taste.

If using cauliflower, cut it into bite-sized pieces; for potatoes and onions, slice these thin; for spinach leaves, trim the stems and keep only the leaves; for paneer, cut into 1″ cubes.

Preheat oil, and reduce the flame to medium. This will allow the bhajias to cook well both on the outside and inside.

Coat the vegetables well with batter, and then deep fry till golden.

Drain on paper towels, and serve with tamarind chutney or tomato ketchup.