Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Saas Bahu And Pakora

I have been watching a lot of movies after moving to Mumbai (not anything to do with being closer to Bollywood town) and that too in the theater/ multiplexes. I love watching movies, and most of our let's-watch-a-movie-tonight outings here were abrupt,unplanned decisions which worked better than organized, planned outings in Hyderabad. The last movie I watched in the theater and one of the first that I watched the same day of release (we went for the late night show the day this movie was released) was 'Saas Bahu Aur Sensex.'

I am not a movie critic, and I will only say that I liked the movie, especially Farooq Shaikh. I went for this movie only because of him:-), and I am glad I did. When I read Bharathy's lovely post for her sis, and remembered Nag's contest, I so wanted to post before the deadline. I am so forgetful, I never will be an early bird!



In the entire movie, the stockbroker and his ladies are not shown having chai together, but yes, they do meet close to tea-time to discuss stock market investments. The gossip ladies who follow Mrs. Bineetha Sen discover her 'interest' in the stock market while 'waiting and watching' over a cup of chai. I also liked bits of the 'Saas-Bahu' tiffs shown in the movie, especially the kitty party scene where the Saas belittles the Bahu on her Samosas (another chai snack). Somehow, I feel a nice hot chai snack is what goes for this contest, and therefore, decided on Pakoras.

And this post is dedicated to my friend J, who moved to a different city just when we were getting to be very good friends and our children were getting to fight with each other more often. We still are good friends, but distance doesn't help us have hot pakoras along with chai and discuss how to invest better for our children.


Finally, to make the pakora seen in the picture, you will need:

Besan/ gram flour/ garbanzo flour - 2 cups
Baking soda - a pinch
Onions - 4 large - sliced round and halved
Ginger - 2 tsp - peeled and pounded
Curry leaves - 2 strands
Cilantro - 1/2 cup - finely chopped (Optional - I didn't have at the time:-(, but I recommend it)
Green chillies - 2 - finely chopped (Optional - R doesn't like to bite into green chillies in any dish)
Red Chilly powder - 2 tsp
Jeera/ Cumin seeds powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Water - per consistency
Oil - enough for deep frying

Method:

  • Take about 2 tsp of oil and mix well with the baking soda in a mixing bowl, before adding the besan and remaining ingredients
  • Make a thick batter with all the ingredients
  • Heat oil in a deep frying pan and drop spoonfuls (I used a tablespoon) of batter into the oil
  • Adjust heat to ensure that the pakoras do not get burnt, and keep frying until both side are done to a nice brown colour
  • Drain the excess oil on kitchen napkins or tissues

Note: First, you can do a test fry, and see if it is absorbing too much oil, or the insides are cooked right, and adjust batter consistency with more besan, or more water accordingly

Serve hot with chutney and chai

Edited to add:

I just realized I missed another great event that I could send the pakoras to. Hima of SnackORama is hosting Sunday Snacks event with the theme Fry It for this month. I just love this event and followed the previous Bake It theme with awe, not to say that I missed it because I don't bake (yet! :-().

37 comments:

Indian Khana said...

Wow pakora looking yummy....am drooling over the pakoras Shreya...if only I can taste tht..!! Lovely post too...you writing is getting better day by day

Suganya said...

Pakora looks so good. YUM!. Love to have some of them YUM!

Unknown said...

looks yumm..long time I made this..am tempted to do it soon looking aat the picture..

kat said...

Wow, I'll take a big plate of those please

Vidhya said...

wonderful snack for rainy season.

sra said...

Even tho' the market is crashing everyday, I don't feel like investing anything right now! I will probably see this on DVD later, want to see Farooque Sheikh.

Anil P said...

Farooq Shaikh is evergreen, such delicate acting he essayed in his earlier films.

Need to see this film.

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

looks great Shreya..

Adam said...

While I don't speak the language, I was cracking up at that movie picture. That one guy has a classic expression, he looks like someone stole his cheerios.

On a food note, I bet pakora makes a nice movie snack :)

PG CakeCraft said...

my favorite kind of snack. a plate of ur pakoras & a steaming cup of chai is perfect for this rainy weather.

ST said...

Wonderful and awesome snack with garam garam chai...

Usha said...

These are perfect with a hot cup of tea on cold chilly evenings :-)

Unknown said...

That is a nice choice for the event relating the pakoras and the movie..

raaji said...

love those onion fritters esp when my mom makes them.....even though they are oil fried......

MUS said...

Pakora pics!!! mouthwatering!!!

Gita Jaishankar said...

The pakora looks wonderful. A delicious snack for this cold climate. May be I should also prepare pakora for this evening :)

amna said...

thanks shreya :) loved the title!

Purnima said...

Shreya, two co-incidences..made pakoras yest, watched SBS two days back on DVD..loved Kiron Kher's acting..calm ! Farooq Sheikh too was good! Everytime asking to hand over the number of other broker, when irritated! I loved the movie!
Ur pakoras r jumping out of the screen..what a recipe here! Tks for sharing..HAPPY DASSERA!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Those Pakoras look very tempting! A wonderful speciality!

Cheers,

Rosa

ST said...

Happy Dusshera to You and your family Shreya!!!

Raks said...

pakoras are my all time favourite and I like to eat soooomuch.,thanx for posting...and giving me this weekend snack idea;)

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Looks wonderful!!

Y said...

Pakoras..YUM! I haven't had these in ages. If only I could get over my hangup about deep frying at home..!

Anonymous said...

thanks for ur comment :-)

your pakoras are making me drool...i am about to have tea now...wish these pakoras were there too...!

anudivya said...

Nice entry! Love the pakoras. It is a.m. here and I am craving some fried stuff already!

Thistlemoon said...

I love pakoras! These look wonderful! Tanks for sharing them!

Bhawana said...

whr is my tea, want to have with pkoras.. very tempting :)

Unknown said...

Isn't fried food always the best! Your pakoras look yum

Laavanya said...

Yummy, crispy pakoras... wish I could have a plate wit some hot tea now :)

Uma said...

OK. Now I imagine that I am eating those delicious pakoras with a hot cup of tea. OOh, delcious Shreya!

Clumbsy Cookie said...

Bollywood movies are so cool I think! I don't know most of the ingredients you've used in the pakora, but it looks delicious anyway!

Pavani said...

hi happy dasara,pakora looks yummy

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Pakoras are great anytime. Yet to meet someone who doesn't like them.:)
Went to see the movie mainly because of Farooque Sheikh too and he was excellent.

lubnakarim06 said...

Iam drooling over. Pakoras looks crisp and awesome. Yummmmmy. Nice entry to the event.

test it comm said...

Pakora sounds good. It looks nice and golden brown and crispy.

Lore said...

I love fried treats and this one sounds like a winner to me!

Purva Desai said...

Even I watched this movie and simply loved Farooque Sheikh....I must say I ve started watching loads of movie in UK and much earlier than ppl in India as we ve advance showing of all these movies....
Pakoras looks really inviting...
''Benji tamare tya aavye ke, chai maate'' - Farooque Sheikh style