Punjabi kadhi pakoda

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil or mustard oil
• ½ tsp fenugreek seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 dried red chillies
• ¼ tsp asafoetida powder
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp garlic and ginger paste
• 2 green chillies, split lengthways
• ~1 litre vegetable oil, for deep-frying
• 1 tbsp roughly chopped coriander, to serve

For the kadhi curd

• 1 cup sour curd or yoghurt
• ¼ cup besan (chickpea flour)
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
• ¼ tsp ajwain
• ½ tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp salt

For the tadka

• 2 tbsp ghee
• ¼ tsp cumin seeds
• 2 dried red chillies
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• ½ tsp Kashmiri chilli powder

For the onion pakoras

• 2 green chillies, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp garlic and ginger paste
• 1 tsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
• 2 tbsp finely shredded coriander
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup besan (chickpea flour)
• ¼ tsp baking powder

Instructions

1. Combine the kadhi curd ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Add 3 cups of water and whisk to combine.
2. Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the fenugreek, cumin, chilli and asafoetida. Sputter the seeds and add the onion, garlic ginger paste and green chillies. Fry for about 10 minutes, then add the kadhi curd. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 3 minutes until the mixture coats the back of a spoon.
3. For the onion pakoras, combine the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Massage to release some juices from the onion and add a few tablespoons of water if needed, to make a very thick batter. Heat the vegetable oil to 170°C and use wet hands to add small balls of the onion batter to the oil. Fry for about 5 minutes until browned and crisp, then drain on a wire rack.
4. Mix the pakoras into the warm kadhi and simmer for just a minute. To make the tadka, heat the ghee in a small frying pan and add the cumin, chillies, curry leaves and chilli powder. Pour the tadka over the kadhi pakora and stir once. Remove from the heat and serve.

Want more from The Cook Up? Stream all the seasons here and for free at SBS On Demand.