Crispy Spinach-and-Chickpea Pakoras

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 24 fritters
  • Total: 35 min
  • Prep: 25 min
  • Cook: 10 min
Who can resist these mouthwatering, golden-brown fritters made from chickpeas, spinach, onion and ginger? Popular in the streets of India and beyond, pakoras are made with a variety of vegetables that get tossed in chickpea flour and then fried to crispy perfection.
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Ingredients

1 cup chickpea flour (available at Middle Eastern, Indian or health-food stores), or all-purpose flour

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Kosher salt

1/2 onion, finely chopped

1 cup canned chickpeas, drained, rinsed and roughly chopped

1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1 tablespoon minced peeled ginger

Vegetable oil, for deep-frying

Mango chutney, for serving

Directions

  1. Whisk the chickpea flour, cornstarch, baking powder, cumin seeds, cayenne and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Add 2/3 cup water and whisk until smooth. Add the onion, chickpeas, spinach and ginger to the batter and mix to combine.
  2. Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep heavy-bottomed pot until a deep-fry thermometer registers 325 degrees. Working in batches, drop heaping tablespoonfuls of batter into the oil (do not crowd the pan). Cook until lightly golden, about 2 minutes, turning as needed. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate. Cool slightly, then gently press each fritter into a small disk, about 1/3 inch thick.
  3. Return the fritters to the hot oil and fry until crisp and golden brown, about 1 more minute. Season with salt and serve with chutney.

Let's Get Cooking!

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Annie Heckel

It's a lovely basic recipe--the bigger pieces of chickpea get really lovely and crispy. Don't stint on the ginger! Also, there's no need to remove the fritters, squish them, and return them to the oil--just squish them fairly flat when you flip them the first time.

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