Onion Pakoda (South Indian Style Pakoras)

Onion pakoda or onion pakora are onion fritters that are battered with chickpea flour and then deep fried.These are very commonly prepared in most south Indian homes and is a popular street food too.These are easy to prepare when you have a sudden guest or friend at home and you want to make them feel special. These make a good tea time snack especially during the cold winters.

INGREDIENTS:

• Onion – 1 medium or 1⅓ cups Sliced
• Green chilies – 2 small, finely chopped
• Ginger paste – ½ teaspoon
• Curry leaves – 4-5, chopped
• Cilantro – few sprigs, chopped finely
• Salt- to taste
• Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon
• Red chili powder – 1 teaspoon
• Coriander powder – ½ teaspoon
• Carom seeds (Ajwain) – ¼ teaspoon
• Rice flour – 2 tablespoons
• Besan (Chickpea flour) – 5 tablespoons

Method: 

• Take sliced onion in a bowl.
• Add chopped green chilies, cilantro, curry leaves and ginger paste.
• Mix it very well.
• Add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and carom seeds.
• Then add rice flour and besan.
• Mix it well. So all the flour and masala coat the all sliced onions. Adjust the besan quantity to coat the onions. Make sure all the sliced onion should be coated with flour.
• Leave it aside for 20 minutes. So onion will start to leave its water and flour mixture will get wet. We don’t want to make batter of flour so do not add any extra water. Water from onion is enough. Less water = crispy pakoda.
• Heat the oil (few inches deep) in the pan on medium heat for deep frying. Once oil is hot, add spoonful of pakoda mixture.
• Fry it till it becomes golden brown on both sides. Turn them around while frying for even cooking. Deep fry few pakodas at a time. Do not over crowd them.
• Then remove it on paper towel lined plate.
• Serve onion pakoda hot with a cup of tea or coffee.

Notes:

•  If amhcur isn't available then just add some chat masala instead.
• The batter has to be thick and not thin.
• Fry them on medium heat else they might get burnt.
• You could add baking soda if you wish to. However I haven't added.
• The onion need to be sliced thinly else it would take a longer time to cook.