Saturday, January 24, 2009

Veggie Pakoras on a chilly January night

Today Jackie (my sister) and I spent much of our day shopping at the Domain, one of Austin's high end retail centers, it's beautiful but because it's all outdoors with lots of walking it was pretty chilly today at 44 degrees! After our shopping excursion, we hit the grocery store and came home, what to make, how about a warm veggie fritter (ala Cooking Light) and some frozen Coconut Shrimp (not so healthy but very tasty). We put away the groceries and I got started on the veggie pakoras, which I have been wanting to try since I saw them in the December 08 issue of Cooking Light (another fabulous find in the same vein as my earlier 'light' fried fish post).

Vegetable Pakoras

3 oz all-purpose flour (appx 2/3 cup)
2 tsp Madras curry powder
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup water
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup (1/4 inch) diced peeled sweet potato
1 cup (1/4 inch) diced cauliflower
1/2 cup finely diced onions
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 jalapeno pepper, finely diced (somehow I managed to not have this so I subbed 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes)
3 tbsp peanut oil
mango chutney - as a dipping sauce

1. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, curry powder, cumin and salt, stirring with a whisk. *If you sub something for the jalapeno that is dry (i.e. pepper flakes), add them with the dry ingredients. Combine 1/3 cup water and egg, stirring with whisk. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; stir until smooth. Cover; let stand 10 minutes.

2. Place sweet potato in a small saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes or until just tender. Drain and cool to room temperature. Add sweet potato, cauliflower, onion, cilantro, garlic and jalapeno to flour mixture; stir until well combined (batter will be very thick).

3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 tbsp oil to pan, swirling to coat. Drop 2 tbsp batter into pan, and flatten slightly with the back of a spoon. Repeat procedure to make 6 pakoras. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove from pan; drain on paper towels. Repeat procedure with remaining oil and batter. Serve with chutney.
My recommendation for the chutney (and what I used) is something Dee-licious my mom made around the holidays, Spiced Mango Chutney, it was excellent with both the pakoras and the shrimp. The beauty of this dinner was that my sister, who isn't really apt to walk into an Indian restaurant with me, loved the pakoras....curry and all! They were easy, filling and good for you.




10 comments:

Dee said...

Yummy! Those look fabulous. I really want to make these. I am also laughing since I tore the kitchen up looking for the cumin seeds I was certain I had "here"...I guess they are there, ha,ha! I'll bring back a new jar of mango chutney for you next trip home if you are on your last jar:) Looks delicious, baby girl!

Tangled Noodle said...

Very nice! BTW, I love the photo montage - wish I could do something like that. Now you've got me craving these pakoras!

Hornsfan said...

Mom - I'd love as many jars of that chutney as you'll bring me :) As for the cumin, it's been here as long as you've been gone!

Tangled Noodle - thanks, the photos are done in Picasa, such a great free tool! The pakoras are absolutely worth it - next time I'm thinking of making some with zuchinni in them even!

Dee said...

Will bring it, next trip. I need to keep track of what is where. One would think I would have plenty of Cumin here in MX, ha!

Chef E said...

I worked in two Indian/Ethnic restaurants for three years, and I could not get enough of these...mint chutney with tamarind sauce...YUM!

Yours look perfect!

Anonymous said...

These look really yummy! Love the photos!

Christo Gonzales said...

wow these look really,really tasty...

Reeni said...

What a delicious dinner! I am trying to eat more veggies and this is an awesome way to do that!

*Kimmie* said...

Oh I love the Domain! But it is a bit rough on a cold day! Dinner looked delicious!

Hornsfan said...

5 Star & Doggybloggy - thanks!
Reeni - this is a great way to sneak in more veggies!
Kimmie - it was a little too chilly for some Domain walking for sure!