Vegetable Fritters With Chick Pea Batter Food

PAKORA (INDIAN VEGETABLE FRITTERS)

Steps:

• Make batter: Place chickpea flour in a bowl with the spices (turmeric, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, chilli). Slow whisk in the water.
• Mix in Vegetables: Add potato, cauliflower, onion, ginger, chilli and coriander. Mix well with a wooden spoon. It should be a thick batter, almost paste-like.
• Preheat oven to 80°C/175°F - to keep cooked pakoras warm. Set a rack over a tray.
• Heat oil: Heat 4cm / 1.5" oil in a large heavy based pot to 180°C/350°F (Note 6).
• Form patties: Drop 2 tbsp of batter roughly formed into a patty shape into the oil. I use my hands (as is typical in India!) but you can also use 2 tablespoons (be careful of splash-age). Don't crowd the pot, it will lower the temperature too much.
• Fry pakoras: Fry 2 - 3 minutes until golden. Drain on paper towels. Keep cooked pakoras hot in the oven on a rack set over a tray.
• Serve: Serve pakoras with Coriander Mint Sauce or Minted Yogurt Sauce!

CHICKPEA BATTER-FRIED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Sift together the chickpea flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and cayenne. Whisk in the water. If the batter is stiff, add more water. Allow the batter to rest for 30 minutes.
• Steam the broccoli florets and stems for four minutes until just tender. Refresh with cold water, and pat dry.
• Heat 3 or 4 inches of canola oil in a wok, frying pan or deep fryer to between 360 degrees and 375 degrees. It's important that the oil be hot enough that the vegetables will cook quickly without absorbing much oil. Use a deep-fry thermometer, and make sure to bring the oil back up to temperature between batches. Whisk the batter, which will have separated. Working in batches so that you don't crowd the pan, dip the vegetables in the batter to coat thoroughly, and carefully place in the hot oil. It should take less than two minutes to achieve a golden brown crust. Carefully remove from the oil using a deep-fry skimmer, tongs or a spider, and drain on paper towels, then transfer to a baking sheet. Keep warm in a 200-degree oven while you continue to cook the remaining vegetables. Serve once all the vegetables have been cooked.

CHICKPEA FRITTERS

Steps:

• Combine the red pepper, shallots, garlic, lemon peel and ginger in a large bowl. Squeeze the carrots to remove the excess juice then add to the bowl.
• Place the chickpeas in a food processor and whizz for a few seconds until broken down and crumbly. You don't want a puree so don't blend too far. If you don't have a food processor just crush with chickpeas with the back of a fork.
• Add the chickpeas to the bowl along with the garam masala, cumin and ground coriander.
• Add the egg and mix well then sieve over the flour and mix again.
• Shape into small discs and fry for around 3 minutes a side in a little olive oil.
• When cooked remove and place on kitchen paper to cool.
• To make the tzatziki combine the cucumber, garlic and yoghurt in a bowl. Top the fritters with the chopped coriander.