Crispy Onion Pakoda's are Indian-style onion fritters that are easy to make, crispy, and are so delicious.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: 10 minutes
  • Total time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 2
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 large red onion ((or 2 small onions, about 250 grams), sliced lengthwise)
  • 1/4 cup besan (gram flour) (add more if required)
  • 1 tablespoon rice flour (for crispness)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
  • 1-2 green chilies (finely chopped)
  • 1 stalk curry leaves (finely chopped)
  • 1/4 cup coriander leaves (finely chopped)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ajwain (carrom seeds)
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 tablespoon hot oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (as per taste)
  • oil (for air frying or deep fry)

Garnish

  • chaat masala powder (for sprinkling)

Method

Preparation

  1. Take a large red onion (about 250 grams) and thinly slice them. They shouldn't be too thick or too thin.
  2. Transfer the sliced onions into a large bowl. Add all ingredients except rice flour, besan, and oil to a mixing bowl. Gently massage the onions using your hand.
  3. Cover the bowl with a plate and let it sit for 10 minutes, helps in releasing moisture from the onions.
  4. After 10 minutes, add besan, and rice flour. Mix well such that the mixture is stiff and not soggy. Do not add any extra water, the moisture from onions should be enough to form the dough. You may add additional 1-2 tablespoons of besan if required.
  5. Next, add ½ tablespoon of hot oil. This helps to keep pakodas soft from the inside. So don't skip it.

For Air Frying

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350 ° F (176°C). Spray or brush some oil so that the pakodas don’t stick to the plate.
  2. Now drop the pakoda mixture on the air fryer plate. I was able to get 9 big pakodas from this dough. You can make any size of your choice.
  3. Air fry at 350 ° F (176°C) for 10-12 minutes or until edges start browning and turn crispy. Shake the basket halfway through and spray some oil on the pakodas.
  4. Sprinkle some chaat masala on top and serve it immediately straight from the air fryer.

For Deep Frying

  1. If you don't have an air fryer you may also deep fry these pakoda's. Heat oil in a deep frying pan on medium flame. Once hot, drop the pakoda mixture into the oil. Stir them occasionally. Fry them till golden brown color.

Oven Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the pakora evenly in a single layer. Bake at 400 F for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Brush or spray oil, halfway through.

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.