pakoda - south indian snack

This yummy snack and hot tea is an all time favorite in my home town...And is very easy to make...

To grind :

Channa dhal - 1/2 cup (as per the cup measurement that we get in stores)
Red chillies   - 2
Garlic cloves - 2
Asafoetida    - 1 pinch
Salt              - as per taste
oil                - 2 cups (for deep frying)

 To mix with batter :

Rice powder - 2 tbspn
Crushed fennel seeds - 1 tspn
Onion - 1 finely chopped
Ginger- finely chopped 1 tspn
Coriander leaves finely chopped - 1 tbspn
Mint leaves finely chopped - 1/2 tbspn

Soak channa dhal for 5 hours (if you don't have time, 3 hrs is okay too)
Drain the soaked dhal
Put it in a mixie jar.
Add all the To grind ingredients.
Grind it in pulse for 4 seconds...
Don't add water

Heat oil in a pan

Remove dough.
Add rice powder, crushed fennel seeds,onion,ginger,coriander leaves and mint leaves...
Take some dough in your hand and drop little by little in the oil..
Not a smooth round one...just with ragged edges and no proper shape...
If you prefer you can add bits of cashew to this and add this to the hot oil
Fry till golden brown
Make small pakodas so as it to get crispy ones...
If you remove it before it completely turns golden brown, the pakodas will be soft inside...
And that is not bad either...

Go for it...
Happy cooking...