Chicken Fritters (Pakora)

Name: Chicken Fritters (Pakora)
Ingredients: 250 gm. boneless chicken breast, cut in small pieces/stripes*; Oil for deep frying; <b>For Marinade: </b>; 1 tsp. grated root ginger; 1 tsp. grated/crushed garlic; 1 tsp. <a href="/recipe/garam-masala/">Garam Masala</a>; Juice of half a lemon or 1 tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar; Salt to taste; <b>For batter: </b>; 100-150 gm. or 1 cup Bengal gram or kala chana flour/besan (not chickpea flour); 1 tbsp. rice flour or ground rice (makes pakoras crisper); 1/2 tsp. carom seeds or ajwain; 1 tsp. coriander or dhania powder; 1 tsp. chilli powder, adjust to taste; 1/4 tsp. baking powder; 1 green chilli, chopped finely (optional); 1 tbsp. chopped coriander leaves; 1/2 tsp. oil; Salt as per taste; Water; * If making pakoras with chicken drumsticks (legs) or thighs with bones, cook the marinated chicken on it�s own first, until almost cooked, and then make pakoras with batter. 2. You can cut strips from cheaper cuts of chicken.

Murg Pakora or Bhajias

Mamta Gupta

Easy Free From Tomato Indian Main Meat Snack

Chicken pakoras are a delicious snacks, suitable as a snack, light lunch (with salad) or served as starters. All amounts are approximate; you can adjust spices to suit your own taste.

Serves 4 as a snack

Pictures are by Heather Gregory and Catherine Knott

Edited March 2023

Ingredients

250 gm. boneless chicken breast, cut in small pieces/stripes*
Oil for deep frying
For Marinade:
1 tsp. grated root ginger
1 tsp. grated/crushed garlic
1 tsp. Garam Masala
Juice of half a lemon or 1 tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar
Salt to taste
For batter:
100-150 gm. or 1 cup Bengal gram or kala chana flour/besan (not chickpea flour)
1 tbsp. rice flour or ground rice (makes pakoras crisper)
1/2 tsp. carom seeds or ajwain
1 tsp. coriander or dhania powder
1 tsp. chilli powder, adjust to taste
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 green chilli, chopped finely (optional)
1 tbsp. chopped coriander leaves
1/2 tsp. oil
Salt as per taste
Water
* If making pakoras with chicken drumsticks (legs) or thighs with bones, cook the marinated chicken on it�s own first, until almost cooked, and then make pakoras with batter. 2. You can cut strips from cheaper cuts of chicken.

Instructions

Place all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix.
Add chicken pieces, mix well and allow to marinate for an hour or two. For a party, you can prepare a day before and keep in the fridge overnight.
For the batter, place all the ingredients in a bowl and add enough water to make a batter of dropping consistency. Beat well. Trapped air in the batter makes pakoras lighter and crisper. Batter should not be made too far in advance, or you will loose the 'lightness' of trapped air.
Heat oil in a wok or karahi. Oil is hot enough when a pakora dropped into the oil sizzles and rises to the top. Cooking in very hot oil will make the batter burn quickly, without cooking the chicken thoroughly. Uncooked chicken is dangerous to eat. Cooking in oil not hot enough will make it absorb too much oil and it will be leathery, not crisp.
Dip chicken pieces one by one in the pakora batter and slide gently into the oil from the side of the wok, taking care not to splash the oil.
Deep fry on medium heat, until golden brown.
Lift out with a slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper or old newspaper, to help absorb the surplus oil.
Serve with Green Mango Chutney or any other chutney/sauce of choice.
You can serve chicken pakoras as a main course, along with Mixed Vegetable Pulao/Pilaf Rice or with a Salad and Naan.