Air fryer recipe · Snacks
Moong Dal Pakora
Coarsely ground yellow lentils fried into nutty, protein-packed golden bites.
- 20 minTotal time
- 190°CAir fryer
- 2Serves
- VegetarianDiet
Nutrition per serving
- 285kcal
- 19.9 gprotein
- 51.4 gcarbs
- 1.3 gfat
- 9.0 gfibre
Per serving, about 2 servings. Figures are estimates from standard ingredient databases, not medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice.
Ingredients
- Yellow moong dal1 cup
- Green chillies2
- Ginger, grated1 tsp
- Cumin seeds1 tsp
- Coriander, chopped3 tbsp
Method
Soak the dal
Soak the moong dal in plenty of water for at least 3 hours, until the grains swell up soft. Drain it really well before grinding, because a wet paste will not hold its shape and the pakoras will spread flat instead of staying plump.
Grind coarsely
Pulse the drained dal with the green chillies and ginger into a thick, slightly grainy paste, adding as little water as you can. Leaving it a bit coarse rather than smooth is what gives these pakoras their signature crumbly bite.
Season the batter
Fold in the cumin seeds, chopped coriander and salt, then whisk the batter hard for a minute to lighten it. Beating air into the mix makes the finished fritters fluffier and softer inside instead of dense and heavy.
Shape small mounds
Drop rounded spoonfuls onto an oiled, parchment-lined basket, leaving space between each one. Flatten them slightly with the back of the spoon so the centres cook in step with the edges rather than staying raw in the middle.
Air-fry till golden
Spray the tops with oil and air-fry at 190°C for 14 min, flipping once halfway. Cook them until they are crisp and golden outside and set right through the middle, with no soft, wet paste left in the centre.
