Easy Chicken Pakora

Easy Chicken Pakora Recipe – This recipe features crispy, flavorful chicken paired with homemade Indian Green Chutney and Raita Yogurt Sauce. It’s satisfying, flavorful, and fun to make with easy-to-find ingredients!

Why We Love This Chicken Pakora Recipe

Pakora is a snack food found all over India, as well as in other parts of Asia. When most westerners see Chicken Pakora for the first time, they immediately think of fried chicken nuggets. Chicken Pakora is very popular indeed, and does resemble chicken nuggets, because it consists of chicken pieces dunked in breading and then deep-fried.

However, a good Chicken Pakora Recipe offers a dynamic flavor laced with spices, is gluten-free made with chickpea flour, and is most often served with Green Chutney and/or Raita Yogurt Sauce for dipping. It should also be stated that Pakora does not always include chicken. In fact, most Pakora found on the streets of India is made with vegetables, so it is more like fried vegetable fritters (or veggie tempura) than nuggets.

Although there are many intricate Pakora recipes online that include hard-to-find ingredients, at least hard to find here in the United States, today I’m sharing my simplified home-cook version.

Let me be clear… There are still quite a few ingredients in this recipe, and it does involve deep frying and making two sauces. I do not want to mislead you. However, this process is still much easier than traditional Indian Pakora Recipes, without sacrificing flavor or texture. Also, most of the ingredients (like the spices) are pantry staples that you probably have on hand if you cook on a regular basis.

I think you will find our Easy Indian Chicken Pakora with Green Chutney and Raita is fun and satisfying to make, and even better to eat! The chicken pieces are ultra-crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with exotic flavor. The two sauces offer both the option to brighten the Pakora with spicy-herb Green Chutney and cool it down with Raita yogurt sauce.

Ingredients You Need

For the Chicken Pakora –

• Chicken breast – boneless breasts or chicken thighs
• Salt – enhances the vibrant flavors
• Kashmiri chile – Added for color and spice, if you cannot find it, you can use a mixture of paprika and cayenne pepper
• Garam masala – garam masala is a common Indian spice blend that should be in the spice aisle at your local market, you can also make your own garam masala at home
• Spices – cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger, turmeric
• Egg whites – makes the chicken nuggets more crispy
• Lemon juice – brightens and balances the spices
• Cilantro – adds fresh flavor
• Chickpea flour – chickpea flour (or garbanzo bean flour) would most likely be found in the baking section with other wheat flour alternatives
• Oil – I like peanut oil for this recipe

For the Raita Sauce –

• Plain Greek-style yogurt – the base for the sauce
• Onion – balances the coolness of the yogurt
• Lemon juice – cuts through the richness and creaminess of the yogurt
• Granulated sugar
• Cilantro – adds fresh flavor
• Spices – cumin and salt

For the Green Chutney –

• Cilantro – the base for the chutney
• Onion – adds a savory and slightly sweet flavor
• Mint leaves – use fresh
• Lemon juice – brightens and balances
• Plain Greek-style yogurt – makes the chutney more smooth and luxurious
• Serrano pepper – adds a spicy kick
• Spices – garlic, ginger, salt

As mentioned, you will probably have most of the spices in your pantry. Most of the other ingredients can be found easily at the grocery store.

The only items that could potentially be considered hard-to-find are:

• Ground Kashmiri Chile
• Garam Masala
• Chickpea Flour

All three of these ingredients can be found online. (Links in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.) However, if you have a grocery chain in your town with a good international section, you should be able to find them.

How to Make This Easy Chicken Pakora

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken pieces with salt, spices, egg whites, lemon juice, and cilantro. Mix thoroughly to coat the chicken evenly, then let it marinate for at least 10 minutes. For a milder flavor, use just 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of Kashmiri chile.

2. Meanwhile, place a large saucepot over medium heat and attach a cooking thermometer to the side. Pour in 1 1/2 to 2 inches of high-heat cooking oil and heat until the temperature reaches 350-360°F.

3. Place all Raita ingredients into a blender, beginning with one tablespoon of sugar and adding more to taste. Blend until smooth. Transfer the Raita to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. Next, add all the Green Chutney ingredients to the blender, including the whole bunch of cilantro with stems. If you prefer less spice, use only half of the serrano pepper and remove the seeds. Add 1/4 cup water and blend until smooth. Transfer the green chutney to a bowl and set aside.

5. When the oil is nearing 350-360°F, stir the chickpea flour into the chicken and marinade using a spoon. Mix thoroughly. Then, gradually add 1/4 to 1/3 cup water to achieve a thick, pasty batter that clings well to the chicken. Be cautious not to add too much water.
6. Place a plate lined with paper towels nearby for draining. Working in 3-4 small batches, carefully lower each coated chicken piece into the hot oil one at a time. Use a spider skimmer to flip each piece immediately to prevent sticking. Once a quarter of the chicken is in the pot, fry for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer the cooked chicken pakora to the prepared plate using the skimmer. Repeat with the remaining batches.
7. Serve warm with both dipping sauces on the side.

See The Recipe Card Below For How To Make An Easy Chicken Pakora Recipe + VIDEO. Enjoy!

The Dipping Sauces: Green Chutney and Raita Recipe

You do not have to make these dipping sauces to enjoy the Chicken Pakora Recipe. 

However, they are very easy to whip up in the blender and add a LOT to the overall experience and flavor.

If you plan to make just one sauce, I would personally go with the Green Chutney. The vibrant flavor of pureed cilantro, mint, ginger, and lemon really lifts the heavy spice essence of the Pakora breading.

Just be sure to watch the spice levels… My family loves both the Chicken Pakora and the Green Chutney with lots of spicy-heat. Yet you can reduce the heat in one or both of these recipes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for More Indian-Inspired Recipes? Be Sure to Try:

• Perfect Indian Butter Chicken Recipe
• Easy Madras Chicken Curry Recipe
• Authentic Chai (Tea) Recipe
• Crockpot Chickpea Curry Recipe
• Creamy Saag Paneer Recipe
• Yakhni Pulao Recipe (Meat and Rice Dish)
• Easy Naan Recipe
• See ALL our Indian Recipes!

See The Recipe Card Below For How To Make An Easy Chicken Pakora Recipe + VIDEO. Enjoy!

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