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Chicken Pakora

By Mita Mondal
Chicken pakora refers to a crispy appetizer made from succulent chicken pieces combined with black pepper powder, kasuri methi, coriander seeds, yogurt, and lots of other aromatic spices. It is then fried golden brown.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Non Veg Snacks
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4
Calories 176 kcal

Ingredients
  

For marinating the chicken pieces:

  • 500 gm chicken boneless, cut into small pieces
  • ½ tsp black pepper powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
  • 1 tbsp coriander seeds crushed in a mortar and pestle
  • 1 tbsp Kasuri methi crushed to a powder
  • 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
  • 2.5 tbsp yogurt
  • 1/2 piece onion large, finely chopped
  • 4 pieces green chilies finely chopped
  • 1 cup coriander leaves finely chopped
  • 1 tsp lemon juice half a lemon
  • 3 tbsp corn flour
  • 1.5 tbsp rice flour

For frying the pakoras:

  • Sunflower oil Adequate amount

For garnishing the pakoras:

  • Chat masala powder a pinch
  • Tamarind chutney a small bowl
  • Onion a few rings

Instructions
 

  • Take 500 gm of boneless chicken (cut into small pieces) in a large bowl. Add ½ tsp of regular table salt to it.
  • Now, add ½ tsp of black pepper powder, ½ tsp of turmeric powder, 1 tsp of Kashmiri red chili powder, and 1 tbsp of crushed coriander seeds to it.
  • Now, take 1 tbsp of kasuri methi in your hand, crush it to a powder, and add to it. (Pro tip: You can dry roast the kasuri methi before for enhanced flavor).
  • Follow it with 1 tbsp of ginger and garlic paste and 2.5 tbsp of fresh yogurt. (Pro tip: The amount of ginger and garlic should be equal in the paste. Adding yogurt to the chicken will help the chicken to be soft),
  • Now, finely chop half a piece of one large onion and add to it along with finely chopped pieces of 3 to 4 pieces of fresh green chilies. (Pro tip: Adjust the number of green chilies according to your preference).
  • Then, add 1 cup of finely chopped fresh coriander leaves and also add about 1 tsp of lemon juice to it (half a lemon), which will make the chicken soft as well apart from adding to its tangy taste.
  • Finally, add 3 tbsp of corn flour and 1.5 tbsp of rice flour to it. (Pro tip: Ensure a balanced ratio by using twice the quantity of corn flour compared to rice flour when preparing the chicken pakora batter. If rice flour is unavailable, substitute with refined wheat flour or gram flour. However, be mindful that the substitution may result in a compromise on the crispiness of the chicken pakoras).
  • Now, mix everything very nicely so that every single chicken piece is coated with the corn flour and other ingredients nicely to ensure the crispiness of the chicken pakoras. Cover it with a plate and keep it aside for about 15 to 20 minutes before frying. (Pro tip: If you want better taste and flavor, you can refrigerate it at this stage for a longer period).
  • Now, take an adequate amount of sunflower or any other refined oil in a heavy-bottom wok and heat it on a high flame very nicely. Turn the flame to low and put the chicken pieces one by one in the hot oil. Fry them for about 5 to 7 minutes, flipping them occasionally to fry them evenly on both sides and turn golden brown in color. (Pro tip: Heating the oil is crucial. Hot oil will not allow the chicken pieces to stick to the surface. It will be easy to turn their sides. Also, do not overcrowd with too many pieces at a time to ensure even frying and easy flipping of the chicken pieces).
  • When you have completed frying all the chicken pieces, flash fry them for a second time on a high flame for about a minute so that they change to a lovely brown in color.
  • Your tasty and spicy homemade chicken pakora is ready. Transfer them to a tissue paper on a plate so that the excess oil is absorbed. Serve them hot alongside chutney and salad of your choice. I prefer keeping things simple, and so I served it with only a little tamarind chutney and a few onion rings.
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Notes

I prefer using boneless chicken pieces to make pakoras at home. This allows for quicker and more even cooking. However, you may use chicken pieces with bones. 
Ensure that the chicken pieces are small and of uniform size regardless of using boneless chicken pieces or with bones. This will facilitate uniform marination and even cooking.
Make sure that other ingredients like the yogurt and coriander leaves are absolutely fresh. It will help achieve the authentic taste and rich flavor in the chicken pakoras.
I typically crush the coriander seeds in a traditional mortar and pestle. You should do the same and may even roast them a bit before crushing. This will add more depth to the flavor.
Adding an egg is optional. You can add it if you want the pakoras to be crispy from the outside and juicy inside. Egg also acts as a good binding agent.

Nutrition Info (Estimation Only)

Nutrition Facts
Chicken Pakora
Amount per Serving
Calories
 
176
Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
3
g
5
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
 
0.01
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
65
mg
22
%
Sodium
 
1350
mg
59
%
Potassium
 
566
mg
16
%
Carbohydrates
 
13
g
4
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
24
g
48
%
Vitamin A
 
433
IU
9
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
51
mg
5
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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