Karhi Pakora Recipe

Karhi Pakora is a delicious and popular Pakistani and North Indian dish made with yogurt and gram flour (besan) pakoras. Here's a traditional and tasty recipe to make the best Karhi Pakora at home:

Ingredients for Pakoras:

1 cup gram flour (besan)

1 small onion, finely chopped

1-2 green chilies, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon red chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/2 teaspoon garam masala

A pinch of baking soda (optional)

Salt to taste

Water to make a thick batter

Oil for deep frying

Ingredients for Karhi:

2 cups plain yogurt (whisked until smooth)

4 cups water

2 tablespoons gram flour (besan)

1 medium-sized onion, thinly sliced

2-3 green chilies, slit

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)

Curry leaves (a few)

2 tablespoons cooking oil

Salt to taste

Chopped fresh coriander leaves for garnish

Instructions:

Pakora Preparation:

In a mixing bowl, combine gram flour, finely chopped onion, green chilies, red chili powder, cumin seeds, garam masala, baking soda (if using), and salt.

Gradually add water to the dry ingredients and mix to form a thick and smooth batter. The batter should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat for frying.

Drop spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil and fry until the pakoras turn golden brown and crispy. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan.

Once done, remove the pakoras from the oil and place them on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Karhi Preparation:

In a mixing bowl, whisk the yogurt until smooth. Add 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of gram flour to the yogurt and whisk again to combine everything well. Ensure there are no lumps in the mixture.

Cooking the Karhi:

In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat.

Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds,  and curry leaves. Let them sizzle for a few seconds until aromatic.

Add the sliced onions and green chilies, and sauté until the onions turn translucent.

Mix the Yogurt Mixture:

Reduce the heat to low and slowly pour the yogurt mixture into the pot, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.

Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt to the karhi. Mix well.

Simmer and Cook:

Let the karhi simmer on low heat for about 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will help the flavors meld and the karhi to thicken.

Add Pakoras:

Gently add the fried pakoras into the karhi and let them simmer together for an additional 5-10 minutes, allowing the pakoras to absorb the flavors of the karhi.

Garnish and Serve:

Turn off the heat and garnish the karhi pakora with chopped coriander leaves.

Serve hot with steamed rice or naan bread.

Enjoy your delicious homemade Karhi Pakora!