ONION AND SPINACH PAKORA WITH CILANTRO CHUTNEY

Onion and Spinach Pakora with Cilantro Chutney image

Provided by Maneet Chauhan

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

4 cups vegetable oil
2 cups lightly packed baby spinach, chopped
1 white onion, sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup besan (chickpea flour)
2 tablespoons rice flour
1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
1 tablespoon dried fenugreek
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon chaat masala, plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
Kosher salt
2 cups tightly packed fresh cilantro leaves
2 cups tightly packed fresh mint leaves
1 cup mango pulp
2 Thai chiles
1/2 cup fresh lime juice, plus more to taste
Kosher salt

Steps:

For the pakora: Pour the oil into a large, deep pot and place over medium heat until it registers 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
Meanwhile, combine the spinach, onion, cilantro, besan, rice flour, ginger garlic paste, fenugreek, turmeric, chaat masala, garam masala, chili powder and salt to taste in a large bowl. Stir the mixture well. Stir in enough water to make a thick batter.
When the oil is hot, working in batches, drop balls of the batter mixture into the oil. Fry until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with chaat masala and serve hot.
For the cilantro-mint chutney: In a food processor or blender, combine the cilantro, mint, mango, chiles, lime juice and salt to taste and process or blend until smooth. Serve alongside the pakora.