Moringa Pakoda | Drumstick Leaf Fritter | Crispy Baked Pakoda | No Fry Pakoda | Baked Bhajia
Note that this recipe will work with most vegetables like corn, cauliflower, onion, chilli or palak pakodas too. But it wont work with vegetables which has high water content like tomato, parwal etc.
Preparation Time : 10 minutes
Baking Time : 22 minutes
Serving : 1
- Moringa Leaves (Drumstick Leaves) - 1 cup packed, washed and air dried
- Potato - 1 medium (grated)
- Garlic Cloves - 4 (chopped)
- Green Chilli - 1 (chopped)
- Curry Leaves - 5 to 6, washed and air dried
- Cashew Nut - 5 to 6 (chopped roughly)
- Asafoetida (Hing) - 1 pinch
- Baking Soda - 1/8th tsp
- Chickpea flour (Besan) - 3/4 th cup
- Rice Flour -
- Kashmiri Red Chilli powder - 1 tsp *
- Salt to taste
- Olive Oil / Any refined oil - 1 tsp + 1 tsp
- Rimmed Sheet Pan
- Parchment Paper
- Microwave/ Traditional Oven
- Knife
2. Take a mixing bowl and roughly grate the raw potato with skin on.
3. Add the moringa leaves, chopped green chilli, curry leaves, chopped garlic, chopped cashew nut, asafoetida, baking soda, chickpea flour, rice flour, red chilli powder, salt and 1 tsp of oil.
Tip: Chickpea flour often has lumps in it, so in order to avoid this clumping sift it in using a sieve. I sifted both the chickpea flour and rice flour together. The chickpea will bind teh fritter and the rice flour will give it the much needed crispiness.
4. Now use your hands to mix it all. Start kneading it with your hands, the moisture in the potato will help in binding the mixture together. Give it an occasional light press to release the moisture into the mixture. Knead it all into a sticky mixture
Note: Add 1 tsp of water, at a time, only if you feel mixture is too dry. Ideal consistent should be sticky and not runny.
5. Preheat oven to 180/200 degrees (depending on the strength of the oven).
Note: I baked this in convection mode in my microwave oven at 180 degrees.
6. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and put dollops of the mixture maintaining gap between two dollops. Slightly flatten the dollop with gentle press of fingers or spoon, somewhat like a patty. Now brush off the top of the dollops with pinch of oil.
7. Put the tray into the oven and bake for about 20-22 minutes, depending on the strength of your oven. Keep checking at every 5 minutes if you are doing it for the first time, so that you don't end up burning them.
Tip: After about half the time, flip the pakodas so that the bottom layer is also evenly cooked. Brush the top off with pinch of oil and put it back in the oven for 10 more minutes.
Carefully take the tray out as it might be extremely hot. Enjoy it with chai or any beverage of your choice.
Pro Garnishing Tip: Sprinkle some curry leaves podi powder on top and chopped fresh coriander leaves for that heightened zing in flavours! Have some sweet Imli (tamarind) chutney or tomato sauce in the side.
Check the Podi Recipe Here
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