Kadhi Kale Pakora {Kale Fritters in Spiced Yogurt Gravy}

by Kiran on March 18, 2014 · 22 comments

in Curries, Indian, Vegetarian

Yesterday was Holi, a festival that celebrates COLORS. How fun is that? I remembered my first Holi back in India a few years ago. It was a surreal experience since we don’t celebrate it in Malaysia.

I don’t know why we don’t celebrate it in Malaysia, or any other parts of the world. Holi should be an international fete. It’s simply amazing.

Kadhi Kale Pakora {Kale Fritters in Spiced Yogurt Gravy} | KiranTarun.com

Its a bonus in inter-faith marriages — you are thrown into different facades of lifestyle and culture which you’ve never experienced before. And getting a first hand on Holi festivities for me, well, it was definitely a marital “bonus” 😀

I’ve yet to master the nuances of this celebration, since it would take a while for me NOT TO FORGET celebrating it.

I know, I’m a terrible wife! I totally forgot about it until last Sunday evening. Yikes 😀

Kadhi Kale Pakora {Kale Fritters in Spiced Yogurt Gravy} | KiranTarun.com

We eventually celebrated Holi our way, with my in-law’s famous kadhi pakora. Because, adding spices is already a celebration of colors, right? 😀

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Ingredients:

For pakoras (fritters)

  • 1 cup of kale leaves, finely chopped
  • 3/4 cup of chickpea flour (besan)
  • 1/2 cup onion, chopped
  • 1/8 cup of dried fenugreek leaves (methi)
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 tsp mango powder (amchur)
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 2 tbsp thick yogurt
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • oil for frying

For kadhi (spiced yogurt gravy)

  • 1 cup of sour yogurt
  • 4 tbsp chickpea flour (besan)
  • 2.5 cups of water
  • 2 tbsp mustard oil
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds, crushed
  • 1/2 tsp coriander seeds, crushed
  • 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns
  • 2 dried red chilies, halved
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 2 tsp fenugreek leaves (methi)
  • 3 tbsp onion, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp minced ginger
  • 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala

Optional: fresh coriander leaves, cucumber and red onion slices.

Directions:

  1. Heat a deep saucepan on medium-high. Add enough oil for deep frying.
  2. In a huge bowl, add all ingredients for pakodas (except oil) and mix to incorporate. The batter should be thick for frying. Allow batter to rest for a few minutes while awaiting for oil to heat.
  3. Once oil is hot, begin frying fritters by adding a few teaspoons in small batches. Fry until lightly browned and remove from oil to drain on paper towels. Continue frying up the rest of batter.
  4. Meantime, whip sour yogurt and chickpea flour into another huge bowl, until smooth. Add water and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
  5. Heat a large non-stick deep saucepan on medium-high. Add 2 tbsp mustard oil and wait until its hot before adding whole spices (cumin, coriander seeds, black peppercorns and red chilies). Cook until seeds pop, at least for a minute.
  6. Turn down the heat to medium, add curry leaves, turmeric powder and fenugreek leaves. Cook for another minute before adding chopped onions and ginger.
  7. Cook onions until translucent or fragrant before sprinkling in red chili powder and salt.
  8. Add prepared whisked sour yogurt liquids and stir to combine. Cook until gravy thickens, stirring occasionally. Once gravy begins to simmer, add fried kale fritters, put on a lid and continue to simmer gently for another 15 minutes.
  9. Sprinkle on some garam masala, turn off the heat and serve immediately garnished with fresh coriander leaves. Best eaten hot with freshly steamed basmati rice, cucumber and red onion slices.

 

Kadhi Kale Pakora {Kale Fritters in Spiced Yogurt Gravy} | KiranTarun.com

Wow! I’m on a roll this past few days in regards to how much beans I’ve spilled ranging from being a prop hoarder to totally forgetting important festivities.

Who said being ME is easy? Or inter-faith marriages, for that matter? 😉

Kadhi Kale Pakora {Kale Fritters in Spiced Yogurt Gravy} | KiranTarun.com

Spill your beans too so that I could learn something from it. How do you remember all the important dates or festivities in your life?!?

I’m a scattered-brained, that’s for sure.

 

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Comments on this entry are closed.

1 Rosa March 18, 2014 at 10:57 AM

A fabulous and droolworthy dish! Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe with us. I’m bookmarking it…

Great shots!

Cheers,

Rosa

2 Kiran March 22, 2014 at 11:27 PM

Rosa — hope you get to try making this recipe soon 🙂

3 Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ March 18, 2014 at 1:12 PM

Not many festivities in my life 🙂 Last Sunday my grandma turned 90… obviously my mum call me to remind me of it.

OK, I think I only remember things thanks to my mum.

Beautiful fritters. That gravy… How can I stop looking at it?
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ recently posted..Scandi Rice Pudding with Blueberry Sauce

4 Archana @ ThePerfectZest March 18, 2014 at 1:22 PM

I hear you on inter-faith marriages – but luckily for me – there are enough parallels between hindu and sikh festivals to kinda sorta remember them
I love your kale pakoras – I’ve been thinking about trying something like that. That plate of food looks so comforting!
Archana @ ThePerfectZest recently posted..(Not) Pad Thai

5 Sophie33 March 18, 2014 at 1:30 PM

What a very appetizing dinner, Kiran, it looks truly amazing even,..What wonderful flavours you have used here. Yummmm.
Sophie33 recently posted..Vegan, Gluten-Free curried sweet potato, pointed cabbage mash with falafel!

6 Laura (Tutti Dolci) March 18, 2014 at 4:15 PM

What tasty fritters, I’d love these for dinner!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..carrot cake bars

7 Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health March 18, 2014 at 4:57 PM

i did celebrate holi while I was Nepal but its been so long!! Lovely fritters.
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health recently posted..Vegetable Pancakes with Homemade Sriracha + Whole 30 Week 2

8 Maria John March 19, 2014 at 3:23 AM

Drooling here:) looks yum..
Maria John recently posted..Methi Aloo | How to make Methi Aloo

9 Katerina March 19, 2014 at 7:27 AM

Happy Holi my friend! I love your fritters and their yogurt sauce!
Katerina recently posted..Dolmàdes Gialatzì

10 Angie@Angie's Recipes March 19, 2014 at 11:27 AM

Who said healthy dishes are boring and unappealing? This looks mouthwatering, Kiran.
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Vegetarian Black Bean Soup

11 John@Kitchen Riffs March 19, 2014 at 2:02 PM

I haven’t heard of Holi, but love color, so this is a festival for me! And what a great dish — so flavorful and, well, colorful. 😉 Good stuff — thanks.
John@Kitchen Riffs recently posted..New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp

12 Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com March 19, 2014 at 2:37 PM

I have to write dates down or put them in my phone so my phone reminds me! So Sad I know – but I am maxed out on Ginko biloba! 🙂

Now to these kale fritters – Kiran I love all types of pakoras! And these are no exception! And that yogurt gravy! NOW – my stomach is growling!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com recently posted..Split Pea Stew!

13 Lizzy (Good Things) March 19, 2014 at 3:06 PM

Kiran, how very delicious! Would you believe I have only just recently tasted kale!? Planted some too, and it’s coming along nicely. Love your recipe!
Lizzy (Good Things) recently posted..Postcards and morsels – beach holiday Noosa, Queensland

14 Andi March 19, 2014 at 4:38 PM

A combination of “husband” and “dayplanner”. In our marriage, it’s my husband who remembers all of the dates- including our anniversary and my mother’s birthday!
Andi recently posted..Primal Sarson Ka Saag

15 Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking March 19, 2014 at 5:00 PM

These fritters look so delicious, Kiran! I love that yogurt gravy, too. What a creative and scrumptious pair!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking recently posted..Crispy Baked Fish Sticks with Tartar Sauce

16 Alice March 19, 2014 at 10:46 PM

There’s something eternally delicious about your food Kiran! I am slowly but surely loving Kale. This delicious use of it as fritters is a genius idea! 🙂
Alice recently posted..Chicken with 40 Garlic cloves

17 Choc Chip Uru March 20, 2014 at 5:44 AM

Happy Holi my friend! What a delicious pakoda, I love the gravy with it too, a big bunch of delicious flavour 😀

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..Brother’s Throwback

18 Sylvie | Gourmande in the Kitchen March 21, 2014 at 4:51 AM

I don’t, I’m just awful at remembering dates and events. I just ask my husband who is the calender keeper in our marriage.
Sylvie | Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..Cucumber Noodles with Asparagus and Ginger Scallion Sesame Sauce (Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegan, Paleo)

19 Tanvi@SinfullySpicy March 28, 2014 at 11:36 AM

This is an extremely clever way to eat kale. I need kadhi in my life, husband does not like it much so its been a long while!
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy recently posted..Spiced Lamb Burgers With Garlic-Mint Yogurt

20 laurasmess April 1, 2014 at 1:55 AM

I’ve seen pictures of Holi on the internet, it’s definitely a vibrant celebration! These beautiful fritters definitely embody the spice and colour of such an event… even if you don’t formally celebrate it within your household 🙂 Thanks for sharing this gorgeous recipe. I have bookmarked it as I am always looking for new kale recipes! x
laurasmess recently posted..Garlic Kale with Mushrooms, Chorizo and a Sunny Egg

21 Carolyn Chan April 21, 2014 at 2:50 AM

Ooooh, that looks AMAZING !! And I have some kale in the fridge, right now! I might have to try this – thanks !
Carolyn Chan recently posted..Quiche Lorraine

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