South Indian Onion Pakodas

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 2 large red onions, finely chopped
• 1 cup chickpea flour
• 1 cup rice flour (can substitute with chick-pea flour)
• 1 pinch baking soda
• 4 green chilies, chopped
• 1 inch ginger, peeled and grated
• 3 -5 curry leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
• salt, to taste
• vegetable oil, for deep frying

Recipe

• 1 sift the flours together.
• 2 rice flour is available in most asian grocery stores.
• 3 using all chick-pea flour will make the pakodas a little less crisp.
• 4 rub a little salt into the chopped onions.
• 5 this is to bring out the natural juices from the onions so that we can add less water later.
• 6 meanwhile, heat oil to about 350 degrees.
• 7 to the onions, add the two flours, chili powder, grated ginger, green chillies, baking soda, curry leaves and salt to taste.
• 8 remove 3 tbsp of the hot oil and add to the mixture.
• 9 mix well.
• 10 the mixture will be slightly dry at this stage.
• 11 divide the mixture into several portions.
• 12 to one portion, sprinkle a little water.
• 13 mix well.
• 14 the mixture should just hold together when pressed.
• 15 please do not add too much water in which case the product will be like the pakoras that we can find in most indian restaurants (not a bad thing really).
• 16 adding water to individual portions is mainly to keep the baking soda active when the mixture is fried.
• 17 you can also test for spicyness and salt after frying a small portion and make adjustments to the other portions, if needed.
• 18 take the mixture and make into small balls or any shape really and drop into the hot oil.
• 19 some mixture can also be sort of crumbled into the oil to get crispy bits of fried onion, chillies and curry leaves.
• 20 the key is to make small bits and pieces rather than a few large fritters.
• 21 fry until golden brown.
• 22 the crumbled bits may be done earlier than bigger bites.
• 23 drain on paper towels.
• 24 repeat for the remaining portions of the raw mixture.
• 25 store in an air-tight container.
• 26 variations: finely chopped mint and cilantro can be added to the mixture.
• 27 or the quantity of onion can be reduced and whole cashew nuts can be added.