Pushpesh Pant
We recall very well that we never joined the gang of children who sang in chorus “Rain Rain Go Away, Come Again Another Day!” We knew that when it poured, mom would put the karahi on stove and soon start dishing out delicious deep-fried pakoris. No one addressed these crisp dainties as ungainly pakoras. Those were the years of innocence when one could tuck in plates full of the fried stuff without any sense of guilt or worrying about trans-fats and artery-choking cholesterol. In the hills, where our student days were spent, pakoris were the most affordable snack at roadside teashops. These fritters were prepared with thinly sliced potatoes, cauliflower, onion rings and green chillies. Finely chopped palak and methi were specialties. Paneer was a very late entrant, introduced by Punjabi migrants — descendants of refugees. But, we digress.
For us, nothing matches the allure of homemade pakoris. We have never been able to fathom why most households have given up this joyous celebration of monsoon at home. Surely, it’s not the result of growing health awareness. The addicts continue to consume ‘refried’ mixed pakora by kilos at dhabas and restaurants.
Time to clear a few cobwebs. Deep-fried seductions like pakori/samosa don’t have to ooze oil. With a little effort and some skill, you can remove excess oil and drain it on a kitchen towel. Anyone who has savoured the translucent Japanese tempura will testify that you can enjoy hot ’n’ crisp rainy-day fare that is not scary. Tempura also makes us think that it isn’t imperative to dress the vegetables, boiled eggs, fish and chicken in a thick coat of spicy besan batter. This monsoon, try playing around with rice flour or cornflour for the batter. Prepare the batter with ice-cold water and substitute the usual suspects — aloo, pyaaz, gobhi and paneer with vegetables like bhindi, tori, gajar, babycorn, mushrooms, some green leaves like baby spinach and some flowers (why not?), like that of pumpkin.
Let your imagination grow wings and take off to greet the gathering rain-bearing clouds that promise to rejuvenate the parched earth.
Desi Tempura
Ingredients
Method
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