Gourmet fritters recipes for a cosy rainy day in

There is something about the rains that makes us crave for hot chocolate, steamy soups, and crispy fritters. While the tradition of Indian fritters has been around for centuries, it’s time they get a much-needed upgrade. Imagine biting into a gooey gouda cheese fritter that oozes flavour in every bite, or savouring a crunchy red pepper and oregano cube that bursts with aromatic delight. How does the idea of sun-dried tomato crispies that bring a tangy twist to your palate sound? These gourmet twists on classic fritters are perfect for elevating your monsoon snacking experience. So, grab your apron and get ready to indulge in these decadent, rainy-day treats. Read on to pick your favourite and make your cosy day in delicious.

Gouda and olive bread fritters

Ingredients: 4 slices of gouda cheese, 3 tbsp black olives, 1 tbsp olive oil, 4 cloves of garlic, 8 slices of bread, 8 tsp butter, sea salt and pepper as per taste, 2 cups batter.

Method: In a food processor, add olives with olive oil, garlic, sea salt, and pepper. Blitz it into a coarse paste and keep aside. Butter the bread slices and apply olive paste on it. Place a single cheese slice between two pieces of bread and cut each sandwich diagonally into half. Dip each piece of bread in the batter and fry it in hot oil until golden-brown and crispy. Serve hot.

Oregano and broccoli/red bell pepper cubes

Ingredients: 10 broccoli florets, 1 cup red bell pepper (cubed), 2 tbsp fresh oregano, fritter batter

Method: Finely chop oregano leaves and keep aside. Heat water in a pot and add the broccoli florets to it. Parboil it for two to three minutes and strain. Add oregano bits to the pakora batter and stir well. Dip each piece of broccoli or red bell pepper into the batter and deep fry it until golden brown. Serve hot.

Cottage cheese and sundried tomato fritters

Ingredients: 1⁄2 kg cottage cheese, 4 tbsp sun dried tomatoes, 2 green chillies, 1⁄2 cup coriander leaves, 1⁄2 cup mint leaves, 5 cloves of garlic, salt as per taste, fritter batter

Method: Finely chop sundried tomato and keep aside. In a food processor, blitz together green chillies, garlic, coriander leaves, mint leaves, and salt. Cut cottage cheese into 2-3 inch rectangles. Apply coriander and mint chutney on each slice of cottage cheese and place a few pieces of sundried tomato on it. Cover it with another piece of cottage cheese and dip this paneer sandwich in the batter. Deep fry it until golden-brown and serve hot.

You can’t get your crispies right, without getting the batter right, here’s a foolproof batter recipe.

Ingredients: 1 cup chickpea flour, 1 tsp chilli powder, 1⁄2 tsp turmeric powder, salt as per taste, 1 pinch baking powder, salt as per taste

Method: In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients and give it a good stir. Add water to this and keep mixing until you obtain a thick paste. Keep aside for 15-20 minutes before use.

Feature image credit: Lotus Cafe, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu

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