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Banana Pakora, pakoda, bajji, fritters, Indian snacks, besan, paneer, aloo, cauliflower, vegetarian, vegan, keto
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5 from 8 votes

Banana Pakora (Pakoda, Bajji) | How To Make Fritters?

Banana Pakora is an easy-to-make, spiced and crisp Indian fritter that is addictive and so delicious that you just can’t stop eating one. This recipe is vegan. gluten-free, dairy-free, and keto friendly.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Finger Food, Snack
Cuisine: Bangladeshi, bengal, Delhi, Indian, Karnataka, Kerala, kolkata, Maharashtra, nepal, north indian, Pakistani, punjabi, South Indian, Tamil Nadu
Servings: 8
Calories: 178kcal
Author: Kushi

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Besan or Chickpea flour or Gram flour
  • ¼ teaspoon Hing powder (Asafoetida)
  • 1 teaspoon Red chile powder (adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder (optional)
  • Salt , to taste
  • 2 Raw bananas  (In the picture above I have used raw bananas. You can even use sweet plantains or any other veggies from the list given below in tips)
  • ½ to 1 cup Water (check details below)
  • Oil , for frying (I have used coconut oil, use your preferred oil)

Instructions

STEP I (Prepare The Batter For Pakora)

  • Peel the bananas cut them into 3 parts horizontally and then take each piece and slice them into 3 or 4 pieces vertically.
    2 Raw bananas 
  • In a bowl, add chickpea flour, hing , red chile powder, cumin seeds, garlic powder, salt to taste and mix.
    1 cup Besan, ¼ teaspoon Hing powder, 1 teaspoon Red chile powder, 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon Garlic powder, Salt
  • Now add water, starting with ½ cup, and keep whisking to form a lump-free batter. The batter should not be too thick or too thin. When you dip the banana slices you want the batter to hold up. That is, banana slices should be coated with batter completely. If you add too much water, you can always adjust by adding more flour. I generally go by andazza (or eye measurement) as we make this very often. Giving the exact amount of water is difficult because it will vary depending on the chickpea flour and the brand you use every single time. So start water with ½ the amount of flour you have added (½ cup water for 1 cup of besan, or 1:2) and you may add up to 1 cup water or equal to the amount of flour in the recipe (1 water: 1 flour). 
    ½ to 1 cup Water

STEP II (Frying Pakora)

  • In a pan on medium flame heat oil for frying.
    Oil
  • Once the oil is hot, dip each banana slices in the batter and drop them in hot oil (5 to 6 banana pieces at a time depending on the size of the pan).
  • Fry till they are crispy and golden brown.
  • Transfer it to a paper towel to absorb any oil.
  • Banana Fritters or Pakoras are ready. Serve immediately as they taste best when served fresh piping hot.

Notes

  • Consistency of batter and frying temperature is what gives you the best pakora.
  • Do not fry them if the oil is only warm (i.e. not hot enough or yet to reach its optimum temperature). This will absorb oil and make fritters soggy.
  • If the oil is too hot (i.e., smoking hot), the fritters will become brown on the outside faster, and the inside remains uncooked.
  • The best practice for frying is to switch the flame between medium and medium-high.
  • I do not prefer adding any baking soda. Fritters taste great without the addition of baking soda.
  • Adjust and use the spices as needed.
  • Do not overcrowd the pan while frying.
  • If you want extra crispy fritters, then I have two extra tips. Either add 2 tablespoon of rice flour while making the batter or add 2 tablespoon of hot oil while preparing the batter.
  • Not a raw banana fan? Then use any of these for pakoras: potato, squash, zucchini, corn, okra, sweet potato, cauliflower, broccoli, mixed vegetable, onion, paneer (tofu), cabbage, palak, aubergine (eggplant), bell pepper (capsicum), breadfruit, bread, shrimp (prawns), etc.

Nutrition

Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 90mg | Potassium: 359mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 589IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg