• Recipes
• Second course
• Dumplings
• Kadhi pakora - indian chickpea soup with sweet potato fritter dumplings

. Kadhi Pakora is an Indian Chickpea Soup, with well seasoned chickpea and onion fritters used as dumplings. This is my mother-in-law's recipe, and it is classic North Indian winter comfort food, sort of like a vegetarian variation of chicken stew and dumplings. <br />As with all heirlooms Indian dishes the heart and soul rests in the spicing, so I would never meddle with that however, when making the fritters I add in sweet potatoes and kale to give it the necessary seasonal accent and completeness as a one pot meal. There is also something simple and soulful about kadhi, transporting me to a place where life is comforting and peaceful and time is not as rushed as our routines sometime demand. <br />When I had first seen Kadhi being made, I did not understand the logic of adding so much water and then slowly cooking it to thicken the sauce, but, today I realize that that slow and gentle simmer gives the dish its silky smooth consistency and taste. Gently simmering the chickpea flour based sauce thickens it and removes any aftertaste that might exist. Also, the North India Kadhi is distinctly tart as it is usually made with day old natural yogurt. When I have time I leave the yogurt out for at least 36 hours, if not, I work with a little sour cream to give the recipe its obligatory tart taste. There are many variations of this dish in different parts of India, and it is amazing how much difference can result in just varying the seasoning. My version also notches up the turmeric giving the dish a lovely bright yellow color. I finish my dish with cilantro something that I later learned was something that my mother-in-law did differently because of my husband’s love for cilantro. She pointed this out to me as a matter of fact, once she generally approved of my kadhi making skills. We generally love cilantro in our household so the cilantro stays and I could not help noting that it is these simple little nuances is what makes a recipe personal and distinct. <br />

Oct. 1, 2021, 11:49 a.m.

Share

0

23

0