On VegPeople a few weeks ago my friend Valerie was asking about baking pakoras. Her kids will eat broccoli without complaint if it's battered and fried. She's like me: not crazy about the mess and the fat of fried food. I thought, based on my success baking Gobi Manchurian, that baked broccoli pakoras would work well, and I pointed her to that recipe for reference. Then, of course, I started craving them myself and had to give them a try.
I was really happy with these. They're not quite as crisp as the fried ones, but they're so much easier and healthier. I served them with sweet and sour sauce and coriander chutney, both from jars.
I'm sending these over to My Legume Love Affair (for the chickpea flour). MLLA was created by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook and is being hosted by Dee of Ammalu's Kitchen this month. Check out the roundup on Dee's blog at the end of the month. I'll be hosting MLLA in January 2012. I hope you stick around til then!
Baked Broccoli Pakoras
2 broccoli crowns, cut into florets (mine were on the small side)
1 cup chickpea flour
3/4 teaspoon garam masala
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon mild chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (because I was too lazy to mince fresh garlic)
1 tablespoon canola or sesame oil
3/4 cup water
Preheat oven to 450 F (or 425 on convection roast setting, if available). Combine all ingredients except broccoli in a small bowl until you have a smooth batter. In a large bowl, drizzle about 1/3 of the batter over the broccoli and stir to coat the vegetables. Drizzle another 1/3 of the batter and toss. Repeat with remaining batter.
Spread the broccoli on an oiled baking pan in a single later. Bake for 20 minutes, turning over once halfway through cooking.
I was really happy with these. They're not quite as crisp as the fried ones, but they're so much easier and healthier. I served them with sweet and sour sauce and coriander chutney, both from jars.
I'm sending these over to My Legume Love Affair (for the chickpea flour). MLLA was created by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook and is being hosted by Dee of Ammalu's Kitchen this month. Check out the roundup on Dee's blog at the end of the month. I'll be hosting MLLA in January 2012. I hope you stick around til then!
Baked Broccoli Pakoras
2 broccoli crowns, cut into florets (mine were on the small side)
1 cup chickpea flour
3/4 teaspoon garam masala
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon mild chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (because I was too lazy to mince fresh garlic)
1 tablespoon canola or sesame oil
3/4 cup water
Preheat oven to 450 F (or 425 on convection roast setting, if available). Combine all ingredients except broccoli in a small bowl until you have a smooth batter. In a large bowl, drizzle about 1/3 of the batter over the broccoli and stir to coat the vegetables. Drizzle another 1/3 of the batter and toss. Repeat with remaining batter.
Spread the broccoli on an oiled baking pan in a single later. Bake for 20 minutes, turning over once halfway through cooking.
What a great idea. I thank my lucky stars that my Indigo prefers plain veggies & fruits.
ReplyDeleteThat is so much healthier than our usual pakoras :)
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely - my little one prefers plain but I would love these (and she is missing out)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea, Claire! Although I do love fried foods and don't refrain from sometimes indulging in them, baked is definitely a better overall health choice. I'm sure this recipe could convert even those who are meh about broccoli.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is dinner tonight! thanks! I totally am with you on fried food - I never feel like frying unless I really have to.
ReplyDeleteOooohhhh...this looks insanley good to me! what a cool idea!
ReplyDeleteThese sound delicious!! I can't wait to give them a try!!
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing! I can't wait to try this!
ReplyDeleteI've made this already twice, the second time with cauliflower.
ReplyDeleteI loved it with ketchup and a soya yogurt dip with lime juice and spices.
I used peanut oil in the batter and also to oil the baking pan.
Thank you for this tasty and easy recipe!
Yvonne, I'm so glad you like them! I'll have to try them with cauliflower soon. Your dips sound great.
ReplyDelete