Mediterranean Diet Veggie Pakora
Bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your table with these crispy and flavorful Mediterranean Diet Veggie Pakoras! Packed with wholesome ingredients like zucchini, carrot, spinach, and fresh cilantro, these fritters are made with nutrient-rich chickpea flour and spiced to perfection with cumin, coriander, turmeric, and paprika. Shallow-fried in heart-healthy extra-virgin olive oil, these golden-brown bites make a guilt-free indulgence that complements the principles of the Mediterranean diet. Lightly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, they’re perfect as an appetizer, snack, or side dish. Serve them with a refreshing yogurt-tahini dip or a zesty squeeze of lemon for a healthy, delicious meal that’s ready in under 35 minutes!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Chickpea flour (besan)
- 0.5 cup Water
- 1 medium Zucchini, grated
- 1 medium Carrot, grated
- 0.5 medium Red onion, finely sliced
- 1 cup Fresh spinach, chopped
- 0.25 cup Cilantro, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 4 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil (for shallow frying)
- 0.5 teaspoon Baking powder
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpea flour, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and baking powder.
Slowly add water to the dry ingredients, whisking continuously to create a smooth, lump-free batter. The consistency should be thick but pourable.
Add the grated zucchini, grated carrot, sliced red onion, chopped spinach, and chopped cilantro to the batter. Mix well to ensure all the vegetables are evenly coated in the batter.
Heat the olive oil in a large, shallow frying pan over medium heat.
Once the oil is hot, drop spoonfuls of the batter into the pan, flattening them slightly to form small fritters. Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure even cooking.
Cook each pakora for 2-3 minutes on one side, or until golden brown and crispy, then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes on the other side.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the pakoras and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
Repeat the process with the remaining batter, adding more olive oil to the pan if needed.
Serve the Mediterranean Diet Veggie Pakoras warm with a side of yogurt-tahini dip or a squeeze of lemon juice.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1093 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 65.1 g | 83% | |
| Saturated Fat | 8.9 g | 44% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2810 mg | 122% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 104.9 g | 38% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 24.2 g | 86% | |
| Total Sugars | 25.6 g | ||
| Protein | 36.0 g | 72% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 268 mg | 21% | |
| Iron | 13.2 mg | 73% | |
| Potassium | 2531 mg | 54% | |
*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.
