Express recipes: How to make Bread Pakoda

Mom used to find ways to make everything healthier. We always had whole wheat brown bread instead of white. While on the streets, bread pakodas are made with a potato only stuffing, she used to make a mixed vegetable stuffing with peas and carrots and sweet potatoes when they were in season. The stuffing for bread pakoda is just a mixture of boiled vegetables and not cooked, but you can also use leftover potato bhaji or stuffing as that for Stuffed capsicum.

Instead of serving on the side, I like to spread green chutney and ketchup on the inside of the bread pakoda. It makes them easier to pack as well as for travel and picnics!

Bread Pakoda

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time 30 mins | Serves 2

Ingredients

4 – Slices of brown bread
1 cup – Boiled potato
½ cup – Boiled mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, and/or sweet potato)
5-6 sprigs of fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped
1tsp – Amchoor powder
1tsp – Cumin powder
Salt, to taste
Red chilli powder, to taste
2tbsp – Green chutney
2tbsp – Tomato ketchup

For the batter
6tbsp – Gram flour
1tbsp – Oil
1tsp – Salt
1 cup water
Oil for frying

Method

* In a mixing bowl, mash together potatoes and other boiled vegetables along with the spice. I simply use the back of a fork to mash and mix. We want them stuffing to be a bit chunky and not very smooth.

* In another bowl, add gram flour, salt, and oil. Slowly add in the water to make a thick batter.

* Cut the bread slices into half triangles. You may remove the edges if you want, but I let them be. I actually like the crispy edges.

* Heat oil for deep frying.

* Take two half triangle, spread green chutney on the inside of one and ketchup on the other. Fill about 2 tbsp of stuffing between two bread triangles, close to make a sandwich. Prepare all the sandwiches before you start frying.

* Now dunk this sandwich into the gram flour batter and straight into hot oil. Deep fry until golden brown on both sides.

* Remove on an absorbent kitchen paper and repeat with the remaining sandwich.