There are many versions of Pakoda, a popular fried snack food from India. In this recipe I have used Cashew Nuts to make the delicious Pakoda, which can be served as an evening snack with coffee or tea.

Step 1: Ingredients Required

3/4thy cup of Chickpea flour
1/2 cup of Rice flour
1/2 cup of Cashew Nuts
An inch long piece of Ginger
5 pieces of Garlic cloves
One teaspoon of Red chilli powder
One teaspoon of Cumin seed powder
Handful of Coriander leaves, Curry leaves and Mint leaves
2 Green chillies
Half a teaspoon of Asafoetida powder
Powdered salt (here I have used Black salt)

Step 2: Make Ginger Garlic Paste

Shuck Garlic and remove Ginger skin
Using a mixer grinder, make a fine paste of Ginger and Garlic

Step 3: Prepare Other Ingredients

Finely chop Coriander leaves, Curry leaves and Mint leaves
Finely chop the Green Chillies
Break the Cashew Nuts in half

Step 4: Prepare the Pakoda Mix

Add all ingredients together in a wide mouthed vessel and add one tablespoon of cooking oil to it
Add small amount of water and mix all ingredients together
The mix should be very thick but should be easily pliable with fingers to any shape

Step 5: Heat Oil

Heat enough oil in a frying pan for deep frying over medium flame
When the oil is being heated, shape the pakoda mix into small lemon sized pieces. These pieces may not be round as a ball but should be rough in texture. This will make the Pakoda more crispy
Keep the Pakoda shapes in a bowl near by

Step 6:

Once oil is heated, add Pakoda shapes into the oil
Using a ladle turn over the pieces in oil for proper frying on all sides

Step 7: Remove From Oil and Serve

Once the Pakoda pieces are deep fried to a golden brown, remove from pan and drain out excess oil using a strainer
Transfer the Pakoda to an oil absorbing paper and then to a serving tray

Enjoy the crispy Cashew Nut Pakoda as an evening snack with coffee or tea