Appears in
Oxford Companion to Food

By Alan Davidson

Published 2014

  • About

pakora (pakaura) are batter-fried vegetables or fish, usually eaten as an appetizer or snack in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. They are a popular street food. The batter is usually made of besan flour and water. They are flavoured with spices such as turmeric, coriander, and cayenne. Pakora are particularly popular with vegetarians.

A variety of vegetables can be used such as onion rings, cauliflower, cabbage, sliced aubergines, potatoes, carrots, cucumber, celery, and spinach. Pakora can also be made with cooked rice or semolina and also panir (cheese) and meat. They are usually served with a spicy chutney for dipping.