Methi pakoda are spiced fried fritters made with gram flour batter, fresh fenugreek leaves, herbs and spices.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes
  • Total time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Snacks
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup methi leaves ((fenugreek leaves) - tightly packed, chopped)
  • ¾ cup gram flour ((besan))
  • ¼ cup water (or add as required)
  • 1 onion (small-sized, finely chopped (optional) or ¼ to ⅓ cup finely chopped onions)
  • 1 green chilli (or ½ to 1 teaspoon finely chopped green chillies)
  • ½ inch ginger (- finely chopped or ½ teaspoon finely chopped ginger)
  • 2 to 3 pinches red chilli powder (or cayenne pepper or paprika)
  • 2 to 3 pinches turmeric powder ((ground turmeric))
  • 1 pinch baking soda
  • 1 pinch asafoetida ((hing))
  • salt (as required)
  • oil (as required for shallow frying or deep frying)

Method

Making pakoda batter

  1. In a mixing bowl, take the chopped fenugreek leaves, finely chopped onions, green chillies and ginger.
  2. Also add 2 to 3 pinches of red chilli powder, 2 to 3 pinches of turmeric, 1 pinch of asafoetida, 1 pinch of baking soda and salt as required.
  3. Add the gram flour and water. The amount of water requires depends upon the quality of the gram flour.
  4. Begin to mix very well to make a pakora batter without any lumps. The batter is of medium consistency. Keep the batter covered for 5 to 6 minutes.

Frying methi pakoda

  1. Heat oil for shallow frying or deep frying in a kadai or pan. When the oil becomes moderately hot, add spoonfuls of the pakoda batter to the hot oil. Keep the heat to medium to medium high.
  2. Once the pakoras are cooked lightly, turn over and cook the other side.
  3. Fry the pakoras till they become golden and crisp.
  4. Remove the fried pakoras with a slotted spoon. Drain as much oil as possible while removing them.
  5. Drain them on kitchen paper towels to remove excess oil.
  6. Serve these methi pakodas hot with tomato sauce, cilantro chutney or tamarind chutney. They also go well as a starter snack or can also be had with roti or bread.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.