How to Cook Kothimbir Wada (Cilantro Fritters)

Serves: 3

Preparation time: 10 mins

Cooking time: 20 mins

Ingredients needed to make Kothimbir Wada:

• 1 cup chickpea flour
• ½ cup water
• 2 cups fresh cilantro, leaves picked and coarsely chopped
• ¼ tsp ground turmeric
• ¼ tsp asafetida
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 2 tbsp peanuts, roasted and crushed
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
• Kosher salt to taste

Cooking instructions for Kothimbir Wada:

• Empty a cup of chickpea flour in a bowl and stir in the chopped cilantro, spices, crushed peanuts and a pinch of salt until well combined.
• Pour in water in a thin stream while beating it into the mixture with a hand whisk until they blend together to form a thick and smooth batter.
• Drizzle a tsp of oil in a microwave-safe bowl and spread it all over the base.
• Pour the batter into the bowl and place a lid on top.
• Cook in a microwave oven for about 4 minutes at high or until it turns firm.
• Run a sharp knife along the edges of the steamed cake to loosen it up and flip it over onto a chopping board.
• Slice it into small squares, each an inch wide and set aside.
• Pour rest of the oil in a medium skillet and heat it over moderate flame until it shimmers.
• Lower the chickpea squares into the hot oil and shallow fry each side for half a minute or until it turns crispy golden evenly.
• Drain it out using a slotted spoon, into a plate lined with paper towel to get rid of any excess oil.
• Serve hot alongside spicy Indian chutney.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons