Air-Fried Bread Pakora: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Bread pakora is a popular North Indian breakfast and tea-time snack. It is made with bread slices, potatoes, spices, gram flour, and herbs. The bread is filled with a spiced potato mixture, coated in a chickpea flour batter, and then fried. This snack is usually deep-fried, but it can also be made in an air fryer for a healthier option. The air-fried version still achieves a crispy texture with less oil.

How to make the potato filling

To make the potato filling for bread pakora in an air fryer, you'll need the following ingredients:

• 3 medium-sized potatoes
• 1/4 cup green peas (optional)
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 sprig curry leaves (optional)
• 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
• 2 green chillies, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste or chopped ginger
• 3 tablespoons coriander leaves, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice or to taste
• 3 slices of bread
• Green chutney or sauce (optional)

Start by steaming or boiling the potatoes until they are just cooked. Avoid overcooking, as they will turn soggy. You can steam them in a pressure cooker, steamer, or boil them in a pan with a little water. Once they are done, peel and mash the potatoes. Set them aside.

Next, heat oil in a pan and add the ginger, green chillies, and curry leaves (optional). Sauté until fragrant. Turn off the heat and add the red chilli powder, garam masala, turmeric, and asafoetida. Mix well.

Now, add the mashed potatoes, green peas (if using), and coriander leaves. Squeeze in some lemon juice if desired. Sprinkle in salt and mix everything well. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Take three slices of bread and spread the potato filling on each slice. You can also spread green chutney or sauce on the bread before adding the potato mixture for extra flavour. Cover each slice with another slice of bread, pressing gently to seal the filling inside. Cut the sandwiches into triangles or your desired shape.

Your potato filling for bread pakora is now ready! You can continue with the rest of the recipe, which involves dipping the sandwiches in a batter and air frying them until crispy.

How to assemble the pakora

To assemble the pakora, start by taking a slice of bread. Spread a layer of the prepared stuffing onto the bread, then place a slice of paneer on top. Cover with another slice of bread and press gently to seal. Cut the sandwiches into your desired shape. For instance, you can cut them diagonally into triangles or into two triangles.

If you want to add some extra spice, you can spread chutney on the bread slices before adding the potato mix. You can use tomato ketchup, tamarind chutney, or spicy pickle masala.

If you are in a rush, you can skip the potato stuffing. Simply dip the bread slices in the batter and fry.

How to make the batter

To make the batter for bread pakora in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients:

• Gram flour/chickpea flour/besan (red lentil flour for air fryer version)
• Water
• Spices (such as cumin, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, carom seeds, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, etc.)
• Salt
• Optional: semolina for a crispier texture

• In a bowl, mix the gram flour/chickpea flour/besan with the desired spices and salt. You can coarsely pound or grind the spices beforehand to create a finer mixture.
• Gradually add water to the flour mixture and whisk until you achieve a thin, smooth batter. The batter should be thin for the air fryer version to prevent a raw taste. However, it should not be too runny, as this will cause the bread to absorb too much of the batter. Aim for a similar consistency to chilli bajji batter.
• If you want to add semolina for extra crispiness, mix in an equal quantity of semolina to the batter.
• Your batter is now ready for dipping the bread pakora!

How to air fry the pakora

To air fry the pakora, start by preparing the batter. In a bowl, mix besan (gram flour), ajwain (carom seeds), red chilli powder, salt, turmeric powder, and water to make a thin batter. The batter should be thin to avoid any rawness, but not too runny, as this will cause the bread pakora to absorb too much oil.

Next, prepare your stuffed bread slices. Take a slice of bread and spread a layer of potato stuffing on top. Optionally, you can spread some chutney or sauce on the bread before adding the potato mixture. Cover the stuffing with a slice of paneer or another slice of bread. Press gently to seal, and then cut the sandwiches into your desired shape. Triangles are a popular option.

Now it's time to coat the bread pakora in the batter. Dip the sandwich pieces into the batter, ensuring they are evenly coated. Allow any excess batter to drip off by placing the coated sandwiches on a wire rack.

Preheat your air fryer to 180 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes. Place the battered sandwiches on a perforated baking sheet and put them in the air fryer. Brush the sandwiches with oil and air fry for 8-9 minutes.

After this initial frying, remove the baking sheet and flip the pakora. Brush the other side with oil and continue cooking for another 5-6 minutes, or until cooked through. You can check if the pakora is done by cutting into the centre and checking for any rawness. If necessary, cut all the pakora in half, brush with oil, and cook for a few more minutes.

Serve your bread pakora hot with your favourite chutney or sauce. Enjoy!

What to serve with bread pakora

Bread pakora is a delicious snack, but what should you serve it with? Here are some ideas to elevate your bread pakora and make it a more filling meal:

• Chutney: Bread pakora is often served with chutney, a type of sauce or condiment that can be made from various ingredients such as coriander, mint, tamarind, or tomatoes. Chutney can be spicy, sweet, or tangy and is the perfect dip for your bread pakora. You can also experiment with different types of chutney to find your favourite pairing.
• Sauce: If you're looking for something simpler, a basic tomato sauce or ketchup can be a great pairing with bread pakora. It adds a touch of sweetness and tanginess to the dish.
• Tea: Bread pakora is commonly enjoyed as a tea-time snack, so why not serve it with a hot cup of tea? Chai, ginger tea, or masala tea would all pair nicely with the flavours of the bread pakora.
• Raita: A cooling raita can help balance out the spiciness of the bread pakora. It's made with yoghurt and can include ingredients like cucumber, onions, and spices.
• Salad: A light and fresh salad can complement the fried bread pakora. Try a simple cucumber and onion salad with a tangy vinaigrette, or a more substantial potato salad.
• Pickles: If you're looking for something tangy and spicy, serve your bread pakora with some Indian pickles, such as mango pickle or lime pickle.

Frequently asked questions