Bread Pakoras
Spicy Bread Pakoras are great as an appetizer, finger food for any gathering, and a tasty compliment for your afternoon tea.
Ingredients
- 4 slices white firm bread
- 1 cup besan (gram flour)
- 1 tbsp rice flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp asafetide (hing)
- 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- 2 tbsp green finely chopped
- 1/4 cup cilantro finely choppes (hara dhania)
- 1/2 cup water little more or less use as needed
Method
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Remove the crust from all sides of the bread. Slice the bread lengthwise into 3 equal parts.
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Mix all the dry ingredients together: Gram flour (besan), rice flour, asafetida, cumin seeds, and salt. Rice flour adds to the crispness. Add the water slowly to make a smooth batter. (Batter should be the consistency of pancake batter or dosa batter)
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Next, add the green chilies and cilantro. Mix well.
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Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium high heat. Frying pan should have at least 1 inch of oil. To check if the oil is ready, put one drop of batter in the oil. The batter should come up but not change color right away.
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Dip the bread slices in the batter one at a time and slowley drop into the frying pan. Fry the Pakoras in small batches. The pakoras will take about 4 to 5 minutes to cook.
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Turn them occasionally. Fry the Pakoras until both sides are golden-brown. Repeat this process. The crispy, delicious Bread Pakoras are ready to serve.
Recipe Notes
Tips:
If oil is too hot Pakoras will cook too fast and will not be crispy; if oil is not hot enough Pakoras will be greasy. You may have to adjust the heat as needed while cooking.
Variations:
Use 1/4 cup of chopped spinach or 2 tablespoons of chopped fenugreek leaves as a substitute for the chopped cilantro.
Serving suggestions:
The bread pakoras are best when dipped with a fresh cilantro chutney or
Pakoras taste best when they are served hot.
Pakoras can be made one day in advance do not refrigerate. When ready to eat, place on a cookie sheet and heat in the preheated oven on 300 degrees.
Manjula, thank you so much for this recipe. Can you suggest any other vegetables to add to the batter? Thank you!
Natalie, chopped spinach, or shredded potato or both
Very intriguing recipe.
There is a similar, but sweet version which is of Medieval origins which we called “frittelle di pane”, which are slices of bread (usually stale-ish) that are first immersed in a batter of sugar, milk and eggs, and then fried and topped with a dusting of cinnamon (French toast is a similar recipe and has the same roots). Being that these use eggs they are not indian vegetarian, but by using besan maybe I can achieve a similar result. But if I fry a batter made with besan and sugar, do I have to roast the besan beforehand to get rid of the raw taste?
What type of cups do you use for measuring out the ingredients in all your recipes? Are they the universal type that are used in English and American recipes? Thank you
Anu, I use the universal measuring cups and measuring spoons, and I am very precise
Thanks for the wonderful receipe
I own Restaurant in Udaipur. I love to know about various Food and Cuisine Styles to add in my Restaurant Menu. Thanks for the detailed Recipes.
Dear Manjula. I am sure I would love this. I have two questions, though.
1. Is it very spicy-hot? I like hot, but not others who I would like to make this for.
2. What do you do with the oil in the karahi after you have finished? Can it be saved for future use?
Thank you.
Hey Manjula,
I have tried these bread pakoras and they have turned out very well. My husband n kids loved it. Thank you.. Will try other recipes as well…
Saritha, thank you, it always feel good to hear that
Thanks Manjula for the wonderful recipe.. I tried it n it turned out to be awesome… A great accompaniment with evening tea..
Thank you madam… easy to make.. let us try…
Nice bread pakoda
I am GermanAmerican with an Indian Husband. Manjula, you have made our marriage 100x better by teaching me how to cook Indian specialties. I have watched your videos for the last 1 and half years, and everything is so delicious! Thank you for sharing your good soul with the world. Big hug! You are beautiful!
Luv your measurements specially amt if water thanks u r great chef
Mam you are best
NICE
Dear Mam,
IO have tried many of your recipes and have come turned out very well. Pls let me know what kind of oven to buy to bake /roast vegetables. I am not getting correct results ion the microwave
thanks and cheers
Anita
You need a normal oven to roast any kind of vegetables or meat. A gas oven or an electric oven but you definitely cannot roast in a microwave
Good. A starter for Parties. Simple to make.
very nice pakora
Really informative
Thanku so much … Ur recipes r just exotic & described very well
Lovely pakoras.I will do simple baaji.This is new to me.Lovely clicks
where do you get the firm white bread from? what brand?
I will surely try this..in the photo it look awesome
Thanks !!!!!Great hit.
I love Bread Pakoras, that was amazing. you made me chef bro…. Thank you!!!