Heart-Healthy Veggie Pakora
Elevate snack time with these oven-baked Heart-Healthy Veggie Pakoras, a guilt-free twist on the classic Indian street food. Packed with vibrant vegetables like baby spinach, grated carrot, and red onion, these flavorful delights are bound together by nutritious chickpea flour and seasoned with a blend of turmeric, cumin, and garam masala for authentic aromatic flair. Perfectly crisp without deep-frying, thanks to the optional olive oil spray, this recipe is low-fat, vegan-friendly, and rich in fiber. Ready in under an hour, these golden bites are a delicious way to enjoy healthy eating without compromising on taste. Pair them with mint chutney or yogurt for a wholesome appetizer or snack that everyone will love!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Chickpea flour (besan)
- 1 cup (packed) Baby spinach
- 1 medium Carrot, grated
- 1 small Red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons Cilantro, chopped
- 1 small Green chili, finely chopped (optional)
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon Garam masala
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Baking powder
- 0.5 cup Water
- 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
- 1 small spritz Olive oil spray (optional for baking)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpea flour, turmeric, cumin, garam masala, salt, and baking powder. Mix well to evenly distribute the spices.
Add the spinach, grated carrot, sliced red onion, chopped cilantro, and green chili (if using) to the bowl with the dry mix.
Slowly add the water and lemon juice while stirring to form a thick batter. Ensure that all the vegetables are coated and the mixture holds together. Add an extra tablespoon of water if necessary, but avoid making the batter too runny.
Spoon small portions of the batter onto the prepared baking sheet, forming rough patties or clusters. Leave some space between each pakora.
Optional: Lightly spray the tops of the pakoras with olive oil for enhanced crispiness.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even crisping.
Once golden brown and firm, remove the pakoras from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes.
Serve warm with a side of mint chutney or plain yogurt as a dip for a heart-healthy treat!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
595 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 9.9 g | 13% | |
| Saturated Fat | 1.1 g | 6% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1502 mg | 65% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 95.6 g | 35% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 20.5 g | 73% | |
| Total Sugars | 20.8 g | ||
| Protein | 32.5 g | 65% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 225 mg | 17% | |
| Iron | 13.0 mg | 72% | |
| Potassium | 1546 mg | 33% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
