Punjabi Kadhi Pakora Recipe

Punjabi Kadhi Pakora is a spicy yogurt based curry that hails from North India. In this recipe, curd is cooked along with spiced gram flour dumplings. Serve it with Tawa Paratha and Baingan ka Bharta.

Archana Doshi
6238 ratings.

Punjabi Kadhi Pakora Recipe is spiced up yogurt based curry cooked along with spiced gram flour dumplings. It is a classic dish from North India and Punjab where the yogurt is simmered along with chillies, ginger and coriander and delicious pan fried dumplings (pakora).

At home, we serve the Kadhi Pakora most often along with hot Steamed Rice or Tawa Paratha accompanied along with Baingan Bharta as a vegetable. You can also serve Aamras with this meal.

The traditional recipe calls for frying the pakora's, but in this recipe, I have made them healthier by pan frying them using a Kuzhi Paniyaram Pan

If you like this recipe, you can also try other Dal Recipes such as

  1. Gujarati Dal Recipe
  2. Keerai Sambar Recipe
  3. Dal Makhani Recipe

Cuisine: Punjabi
Course: Dinner
Diet: Vegetarian
Equipments Used: Hard Anodised Kadai (Wok)
Prep in

10 M

Cooks in

45 M

Total in

55 M

Makes:

3 Servings

Ingredients

    Ingredients for the Pakoras
  • 1/2 cup Gram flour (besan)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Red Chilli powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Enos Fruit Salt
  • Oil , for pan frying
  • Ingredients For the Punjabi Kadhi
  • 3/4 cup Gram flour (besan)
  • 1 cup Hung Curd (Greek Yogurt)
  • 2-1/2 cups Water
  • 1 Onion , thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Red Chilli powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Coriander Powder (Dhania)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garam masala powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Asafoetida (hing)
  • Ingredients for seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
  • 1 inch Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini)
  • 3 Dry Red Chillies
  • 1 sprig Curry leaves
  • 1 tablespoon Ghee
  • Coriander (Dhania) Leaves , few, chopped
  • Salt , to taste

How to make Punjabi Kadhi Pakora Recipe

  1. To begin making the Punjabi Kadhi Pakora recipe, firstly we will make the pakoras. 

  2. Combine all the ingredients for the pakora including gram flour, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, fruit salt in a large bowl. Add very little water to make a thick batter.

  3. Heat the kuzhi paniyaram pan on medium heat; add a teaspoon of oil into each of the cavities and drop a spoon of the pakora batter into the cavity. Cover the pan and steam cook the pakora's until you notice the top has steamed. 

  4. Once the top has steamed, flip them over to cook on the other side. Continue to cook on medium heat until the pakoras has cooked through from the inside and have a golden brown color. Proceed the same way with the remaining pakora batter and keep them aside.

Method for the Punjabi Kadhi
  1. Whisk the yogurt, gram flour, water, asafoetida, chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and salt until well blended.

  2. Add the water and whisk more until well blended. Place the kadhi in a saucepan, on medium high heat and allow it to come to a brisk boil.

  3. Keep whisking it continuously while it is on heat, as this will help the yogurt and the spices along with gram flour come together into a creamy texture. Allow the kadhi to boil briskly for about 3 to 4 minutes, then turn the heat to low and simmer for another 5 minutes. 

  4. The simmering process helps the kadhi get the flavors of the spices and the gram flour. It will thicken slightly and attain a smooth creamy consistency and it will have a shine to it.

  5. Towards the end of the simmering process, add in the pakora's. We will proceed to make the seasoning for the Khadi.

  6. Heat ghee in a large sauce pan; add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, cinnamon stick and the whole red chillies. Allow them to crackle.

  7. Add the onions and ginger and saute until onions turn golden and tender. Finally, stir in the curry leaves and pour the seasoning mixture into the simmering Kadhi.

  8. Note: The Kadhi will thicken as the Pakora simmers in the yogurt curry, so once again adjust the thickness by adding little or more water as required and adjust to the consistency you like. Check the salt and spice levels and adjust to suit your taste.

  9. Transfer the Punjabi Kadhi Pakora to the serving bowl. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

  10. At home, we serve the Punjabi Kadhi Pakora most often along with hot Steamed Rice or Tawa Paratha accompanied along with Baingan Bharta as a vegetable. You can also serve Aamras with this meal.