Stuffed Bread Fritters

Ideal tea-time street style bread pakoras

There is nothing more enjoyable than a winter or rainy evening with a steaming cup of chai and delectable fried bread pakoras. Literally though, these bread pakoras are the best. This is one of the rare recipes that comes together with basic ingredients and somehow gives one a real street-food experience to the stomach.  

I am sure once you make it, you will probable make these every time you have guests over in short notice or when you decide to just host a tea-party because these pakoras look so fancy with minimal effort. I am sharing a hassle-free basic version of the bread pakoras and I promise you won't even have to go shopping for ingredients because they taste delicious just with kitchen staples. Check the notes for alternative ideas.

Try these bread pakoras not just because they look fancy but because they are finger-licking-yummy!

THE RECIPE

Category: Street-Food

Style: Indian

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

 - 4 slices white bread /butter toast bread

Filling

 - 2 potatoes, boiled

 - 1 green chili, chopped

 - 1/2 cup peanuts, roasted

 - 1 teaspoon red chili powder

 - 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder

 - 1 tablespoon coriander seeds

 - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh lemon

 - salt to taste

Batter

 - 1 cup chickpea flour

 - 2 tablespoons rice powder (or bread crumbs)

 - 1 teaspoon carom seeds

 - 1 teaspoon red chili powder

 - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

 - salt to taste

 - 1/2 cup water

 - oil, to fry

Instructions:

1. Mash the boiled potatoes in a bowl. Add all other ingredients under 'filling' and mix well. Set aside covered.

2. Combine all ingredients listed under 'batter' in a wide mouthed pan or bowl. Whisk to make a lump-free batter. Adjust the water to achieve a semi-liquid consistency - good enough to coat the bread on all sides without dripping much.

3. Take a bread slice and apply filling on top. Cover it with another bread slice. Press well like a sandwich such that they stick together well and do not open up while frying.

4. Heat oil in a deep-bottom heavy pan.

5. Take the potato-filled sandwiches, one at a time and dip well in the chickpea flour batter. Ensure to coat all sides and edges uniformly with the batter.

6. Fry this batter-covered bread sandwich in oil. Fry until golden brown.

7. Cut into half diagonally and serve hot bread pakoras with green-chutney or tomato ketchup. Do not forget the steaming cup of chai!

Notes:

 - Do not worry if you don't have all the seasoning for the potato filling. Just make a simple potato filling with available spices.

 - Don't even have potato in stock? Just dip plain bread in the chickpea batter and fry for a quicker version.