Bread Pakora

Today when I woke up, I didnt feel like having any of my usual break fast items like Corn Flakes, oats, smoothies or my favorite bread and peanut butter. Stared at my bread for a long time thinking what I should prepare and then thought of making Bombay Toast. But I felt the sudden need to try out something new and decided to make Bread Pakoras. 

Of course every one would have tasted it at one point or the other. I have tasted this dish mostly when we travel in trains. Even though it is really yummy, something that discourages me from having it on a regular basis is the oil content in it. Every time I feel that it is a struggle to squeeze out as much oil as possible. By that time, the pakora would have crumbled due to all the squeezing and you lose your interest and barely enjoy the dish. I decided to toast the bread in Tawa instead of deep frying and usually prefer having my pakoras this way. I feel that this method uses less oil and is a much healthier option. Also it makes for a very filling break fast and it can be made in a jiffy if you have the mint coriander chutney prepared before hand. Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I do. 

Bread Pakodas:

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Total Time: 20 - 30 min

Ingredients: ( serving for only 1) 

2 slices of Bread ( I used whole grain bread. You can use any variety)
Mint Coriander Chutney 

For making the Batter:

1 cup Besan (Gram Flour)
1/2 Tbsp Turmeric
1/2 Tbsp Chilly Powder
A pinch of Asfoetida
Salt 
Water

For making the stuffing or podimas:

1 potato
1 inch ginger
3 - 4 curry Leaves
1 Tbsp Mustard seeds
1/2 of a green chilly ( Use as per the spiciness of the green chillies that you have)
1/2 Tbsp Turmeric
Few Coriander Leaves to garnish ( Optional ) 
Salt

Prepping:

Step 1: Preparing the Podimas or the Masala stuffing

• Boil the potatoes and once done, peel the skin and mash the potatoes well.
• Cut ginger and green chillies.
• Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a pan and add mustard seeds when the oil becomes hot. 
• Once the mustard seeds crackle, add curry leaves ad stir for a few sec. 
• Add ginger and green chillies and stir for a minute. 
• Add the mashed potatoes and mix.
• Add turmeric and salt and mix well. 
• Switch off and garnish with coriander leaves. 

Note:  I didnt have coriander leaves  to garnish them :(

Step 2:  Preparing the Batter

• Mix Besan, turmeric, chilly powder, asfoetida and salt in a wide pan and make a batter by adding water. 

Method of Preparing:

Step 1: 

Take 2 bread slices and apply green chutney ( mint coriander chutney) on them.

Step 2:

Now place the podimas or stuffing on either one of the slices. ( You can also place the stuffing on both the slices as I did) 

Step 3:

Place the bread slices one above the other. Cut them into different shapes as you like. I have cut diagonally and made 4 pieces. 

Step 4:

Heat a Tawa and grease it with oil by using paper tissue. 

Step 5:

Once the Tawa becomes hot, dip the bread slice in the batter. Once the first side of the bread is coated well, turn the bread and dip the other side. Make sure that the both sides of the bread are coated well with batter. 

Step 6:

Now place the bread coated with batter on to the Tawa and let it cook. 

Step 7:

Once one side is cooked well and turns brown, turn over to the other side. 

Step 8:

Once both sides are cooked, take it off. Repeat the steps 4 to 8 for other bread slices.

Serve hot.  Enjoy he yummy pakodas as a break fast item or as a snack :)