Chana dal pakora (lentil fritters)
A yummy deep fried, savory snack made of split chick peas along with onions, chilis and spices. These lentil fritters are absolutely perfect to go with your cuppa masala chai
Equipment
- Shallow cooking pot
Ingredients
- 2 cups chana dal or split chick peas
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2-3 fresh green chilis finely chopped (optional)
- ½ inch ginger root finely chopped
- 3-4 tbsp fresh coriander leaves finely chopped
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp red chili powder optional
- 2 tbsp rice flour
- salt to taste
- oil for frying
For garnishing
- 2 tsp chaat masala
- 1 tsp fresh coriander leaves chopped
Instructions
- Keep the chana dal soaked in water for around 2-3 hours
- Drain and add it to a mixer jar. Grind to a coarse paste without adding any water
- Add 2-3 tbsp of water and make a finer paste*
- Whisk the ground chana dal using your hands until the batter feels light**
- Add the remaining ingredients in the batter (except the oil and garnishing ingredients) and mix well
- Heat oil in a pan. Once hot lower the flame to a medium and add the chana dal mixture in roundels to it
- Fry well on both sides until golden brown
- Sprinkle some chaat masala and chopped coriander leaves, and serve the chana dal pakoras (lentil fritters) hot with mint and tamarind chutneys! Enjoy
Notes
- *Even if there remain a few unground lentils, it is fine
- **Drop a dollop of the batter in a glass of water to check for lightness. If it floats it is perfect, otherwise whisk for some more time
- tbsp - tablespoon
- tsp - teaspoon