Paneer Pakora is a popular Indian snack made with paneer (Indian cottage cheese) that is coated in a spiced gram flour batter and deep-fried until crispy. It is a delicious and satisfying appetizer or tea-time snack. Here’s a recipe for Paneer Pakora:
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Ready in: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
- 200 grams paneer, cut into bite-sized cubes or rectangles
- 1 cup gram flour (besan)
- 2 tablespoons rice flour
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chaat masala
- A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, add gram flour, rice flour, red chili powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, chaat masala, asafoetida, and salt. Mix well to combine.
- Gradually add water to the mixture and whisk until you achieve a smooth and thick batter. The batter should be thick enough to coat the paneer cubes.
- Heat oil in a deep pan or kadai for deep frying the paneer pakoras.
- Dip each paneer cube into the batter, ensuring it is well coated on all sides. Shake off any excess batter.
- Carefully drop the coated paneer cubes into the hot oil and fry them on medium heat until they turn golden brown and crispy. Flip them occasionally for even frying.
- Once cooked, remove the paneer pakoras from the oil and drain them on a paper towel to remove excess oil.
- Serve the Paneer Pakoras hot with chutney or sauce of your choice.
Paneer Pakoras are best enjoyed when they are fresh and crispy. The combination of the soft and creamy paneer with the crispy gram flour coating creates a delightful texture and flavor. Paneer Pakoras make for a great appetizer or snack for parties, gatherings, or even as a side dish for meals. Enjoy the crispy goodness of these delicious paneer fritters!