These gluten free Vegetable Fritters, pakora, are also called pakoda, bhajji or bhajia. They're made with chickpea flour so are naturally gluten free. This recipe is the reason I had chickpea flour in my kitchen long before I ever heard of gluten free.
These Vegetable Fritters are included in my collection of favourite Indian recipes from over the years. When I am planning an Indian meal I've got more favourite dishes than I could make for a single meal. If cooking this cuisine at home is new for you, here's an Indian themed Dinner Club menu that ends with a frozen lemon kulfi. I hope you'll try some of the dishes.
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Ingredients
Made from dried chickpeas, chickpea flour is a staple ingredient in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Chickpeas come in varieties so the flour has a few different names. It can be called chickpea flour, garbanzo bean flour, gram flour or besan.
- chickpea flour
- mustard seeds
- cornstarch
- poppy seeds
- turmeric
- cumin
- coriander
- cayenne pepper
- baking powder
- vegetables
See recipe card for complete list of ingredients.
Get The Tools: Deep Frying at Home
I don't do a lot of deep-frying so if you don't have a deep fryer and don't want to buy one here's my system.
A flat bottom wok has a small base but provides a large surface area for cooking. It requires less oil than a frying pan or pot. My wok and the long-handled wire strainer live in the cupboard above my fridge making it easy to grab when I need it. An inexpensive deep frying thermometer is a helpful little tool that clips to the rim of the wok and tells you the temperature of the oil.
Top Tip: Start a Dinner Club
Adventurous cooks want to try all the cuisines and gluten free cooks want to learn about naturally gluten free recipes from around the world. Expect to expand your spice collection and bring new ingredients into your pantry. Invite like minded to go on a culinary adventure with you. This specific recipe is from one of my early Gourmet Dinner Club menus some 30 years ago. Check out this post, How To Start a Gourmet Dinner Club if you're intrigued.
Gluten Free Vegetable Fritters (Pakora)
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups gluten free chickpea flour
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon poppy seeds
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon coriander
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ cup water
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 3 cups vegetables cut into bite size pieces; use any combination of broccoli, cauliflower, red pepper, green onion, squash, eggplant, mushrooms
SERVING
- mango chutney or raita
Oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Heat oil in deep fryer or wok to 350°F. Line a plate with paper towel and set aside.
- In a medium bowl add chickpea flour, spices, cornstarch and baking powder. Stir with a whisk until evenly mixed.
- Add water and oil whisking until smooth.
- Fold in chopped vegetables.
- When oil is at 350°F begin cooking. Using a large spoon slowly add big blobs of fritter mixture to the oil. Work in batches cooking only as many fritters as you can manage, starting with 3 or 4 at a time.
- Cook fritters for 4-5 minutes then gently roll over using a slotted spoon. Cook another 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Remove fritters to paper towel lined plate.
- Repeat until all fritters are cooked. Sprinkle with salt while still warm.
- Serve with mango chutney or raita.
Nutrition
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New here? Overwhelmed or frustrated? Get started with these 29 Tips about GF flour and get cooking. I can help you learn to cook gluten free food everyone wants to eat, and have fun doing it.
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Steshni Corea
I love these pakoras they make me think of home!