Alright, let me tell you about trying to make some fried Indian food the other day. Got this craving, you know? Like suddenly, nothing else would do. So, I decided to give it a shot myself instead of ordering takeout like a normal person.
Getting Started – The Mess Begins
First thing, had to gather all the bits and pieces. Found some gram flour, thankfully. It was hiding way back in the cupboard. Then grabbed onions, potatoes, maybe some chilies – just whatever looked right, really. Didn’t have a proper recipe, just going by memory and gut feeling. Probably mistake number one.
Chopping everything up took ages. Onions made my eyes water like crazy, the usual drama. Got potato bits all over the counter. I wasn’t exactly being neat about it. Just wanted to get it done. Threw all the chopped stuff into a big bowl.
Mixing and Frying – Point of No Return
Next up, mixing. Dumped in the gram flour, added some spices – turmeric, chili powder, cumin, coriander, salt. Poured in some water. Started mixing it all together with my hands. It turned into this thick, kinda gloopy batter. Looked a bit weird, honestly. But I was committed now.
Got the oil heating up in a deep pan. Used way too much oil, probably. You know how it is, better too much than too little when frying? Or maybe that’s just me making excuses. Waited for it to get hot. Tested it with a tiny drop of batter – sizzled right up. Good to go.
Started dropping spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil. Carefully, trying not to splash. But yeah, splashing happened. Oil popping, hissing. Had to stand back a bit. The smell filling the kitchen was pretty good though, spicy and fried. Made me feel like maybe this wasn’t a total disaster.
- First batch came out a bit dark. Left them in too long.
- Second batch was better, more golden brown.
- Had to keep adjusting the heat. Fiddly business.
Kept frying in batches until all the batter was gone. Took a while. Standing over a hot stove isn’t my favourite thing, gotta say.
The Result and The Cleanup – Ugh
So, ended up with a big plate of these fried things. Pakoras, bhajis, whatever you want to call them. Some looked better than others. Some were definitely crispier. Tasted one. Not bad! Actually quite good, surprisingly. Spicy, crunchy, oily – everything fried Indian food should be.
Ate a bunch while they were still hot. Felt pretty pleased with myself for a minute there. Homemade, you know?
But then… the kitchen. Oh man. Oil splatters on the stovetop, on the backsplash, even on the floor. Flour dust everywhere. Bowls, spoons, chopping board piled up in the sink. The smell of old frying oil hanging in the air. The cleanup definitely took longer than the eating part. That’s always the way, isn’t it? Sometimes I think about that before starting things like this. Still worth it? Yeah, maybe. But my kitchen looked like a bomb hit it.
