These pakoras (or pakodas: delicious spiced Indian chickpea fritters) are filled with tender slices of potato, onions, spinach, and cilantro. Toasted whole coriander seeds and red chili pepper flakes add bright pops of flavour and just the right amount of heat.

Notes

Be sure to slice potatoes thinly and evenly for thorough cooking. Alternatively, you can use leftover boiled potatoes instead.

Prep
20 mins
Cook
15 mins
Serves
2
Ingredients
23

Equipment

  • Small dish
  • Medium skillet

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Little Potatoes, boiled and sliced thin
  • 1 cup chickpea flour
  • 1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • tsp ground turmeric
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp vegan butter or olive oil, divided
  • 1 small white onion, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 Tbsp whole coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp red chili pepper flakes
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 handful spinach
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
  • (For frying) neutral tasting vegetable oil

Creamy Cilantro Sauce:

  • (1 handful) cilantro
  • (1 handful) baby spinach
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 big pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Step 1

    In a small dish combine turmeric, cumin, and salt.

  • Step 2

    Melt two-thirds of the vegan butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Evenly distribute the hot butter over the surface of your skillet.

  • Step 3

    Add onion and garlic to the skillet and cook for one minute. Add the potatoes and half of the mixed spices. Stir, and move the vegetables to one side of the skillet.

  • Step 4

    Add the remaining vegan butter to the other side of the skillet and add the coriander seeds and red chili pepper flakes. Cook, stirring both sides often, while keeping the vegetables mostly separate from the spices. Cook until the onions are tender and translucent and the spices are fragrant. Do not overcook the spices (the potatoes don’t need to be fully cooked).

  • Step 5

    In a deep, heavy bottomed saucepan, heat one inch of frying oil over medium-high heat. Allow plenty of time for the oil the get hot (between 325 °F to 350 °F).

  • Step 6

    In a large bowl, mix together chickpea flour, remaining spices, lemon juice, and water to make a smooth batter.

  • Step 7

    Gently fold the spinach, cilantro, potatoes, onions, and spices into the batter.

  • Step 8

    Use a large tablespoon to drop loose spoonfuls of the pakora batter into the frying oil. Don’t compress the batter too much when you scoop it. Cook the first side until deeply golden and crispy, flip and cook the other side. Drain cooked pakoras on cooling rack or paper/kitchen towel.

  • Step 9

    Serve with creamy cilantro sauce, chutney, or your favourite dipping sauce (like sweet chili sauce).

  • Make the Creamy Cilantro Sauce:

    Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse on high until well-blended with plenty of green flecks left intact.