Paneer/Halloumi Pakoras
Serve as a Starter or a Snack
Makes 24
Preparation time: 15 minutes. Frying time: about 20 minutes
Suitable for: Vegetarians and those on a gluten free diet
Enjoy piping hot as a starter to a meal or a snack or starter on their own or with a chutney.
Ingredients:
150g gram flour
150ml cold water
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 - 3 green chillies, chopped finely
1½ level teaspoons of salt
¼ teaspoon of turmeric
¼ teaspoon of garam masala
1 finely sliced spring onion (optional)
½ teaspoon amchoor (dried mango powder) or 2 teaspoons lemon/lime
250g paneer or Halloumi cheese
Vegetable oil for deep fat frying
Batter:
Sieve the gram flour into a bowl
Add the water and whisk to form a smooth thick batter
Add the garlic, chillies, turmeric, salt, garam masala amchoor/lemon juice and mix thoroughly.
Cover and set aside for about an hour
Preparation of the Paneer:
Cut the paneer/halloumi into cubes c. 2cm - 2.5cm by 1 cm deep and keep aside
Putting it all together:
Place the oil in a karai or wok/deep fat fryer no more than one third full. Heat on medium to high heat. Test the oil to see if it hot enough to fry by placing a drop of the batter into the oil. If the ball of batter rises within a second or two, the oil is hot enough.
Re-whisk the batter.
Place a cube of paneer/halloumi into the batter, coat on all sides and gently slide the coated paneer/halloumi into the oil.
Repeat step 3 above until the number of coated paneer cubes that your karai can hold at any one time ensuring there is sufficient room to turn the paneer pakoras over easily.
When the pakoras begin to rise to the surface, gently turn them over. Continue turning them over every so often until they are evenly golden and crisp on both sides.
Gently remove from the oil, draining any excess oil back into karai and place on a warm plate lined with absorbent kitchen paper.
Repeat process from No. 3 above for the remaining cubes of paneer.
Serve hot on their own or with a chutney