In most Punjabi homes, chickpea flour fritters, called Pakora, are dunked in kadhi as well. There are several variations of this dish, but this style of serving Kadhi (curry) with Pakora (fritters) is commonly known as ‘Punjabi Kadhi’, or Kadhi Pakora. This kadhi recipe is close to my heart, as it’s been passed on through many generations in my family.
No-Fry Kadhi Pakora Recipe (Fritters)
Even though the recipe for Kadhi is fairly generic, everyone has their own spin on it. My grandmother always cooked the kadhi and pakoras in mustard oil. My mom substitutes mustard oil with ghee, and also adds chopped onions to her pakoras, and sliced onions in the kadhi. I customized it further and started adding chopped spinach to my pakoras in addition to the shallots/onions. I also started pan-frying the pakoras versus deep-frying them. This is my quick and healthy twist on this family favorite. Here’s the detailed recipe for No-Fry Pakoras (Fritters).
Stovetop Punjabi Kadhi Rice Recipe
In the video above, I have made this vegetarian recipe in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot using the Pot-in-Pot method, but this easy recipe can be made on the stove-top too. Here’s how:
Follow step 1 as outlined below and make Kadhi in a sauce pot on medium heat. Simmer for 10 minutes on medium low flame. Following step 2, make rice in another sauce-pan on the stove-top, or, in the microwave. The ratio of rice-to-water is different than when cooking in a pressure cooker. Add 2 cups water to 1 cup of rice for both, stove-top, or microwave method.Follow step 4 and make the pan-fried pakoras and keep aside. You can deep fry these pakoras too. Bring everything together by simmering the pakoras in the kadhi for 2-3 minutes, so that they get soft and absorb some kadhi. Garnish with roasted cumin and cilantro, and serve warm over rice.
Pot-in-Pot (PIP) Cooking for the Rice & Kadhi Together
In this recipe, I made rice and kadhi in the same instant pot, using pot-in-pot technique. As shown in the video, I cook the kadhi in the main pot and rice in a smaller pot placed on a trivet, all in the same inner pot. It’s not only a huge timer saver, but a super convenient way to make this a one-pot meal. Watch the video to see how easy it is to make Punjabi Kadhi Chawal (Yogurt Curry with Rice) using the PIP method.
Other Popular Punjabi Dishes from my Kitchen
Sarson ka Saag (Spiced Mustard Greens)Rajma (Kidney Beans Curry)Chana Masala (Chickpeas curry)Punjabi Chole (tangy Chickpeas curry)Butter ChickenPaneer Makhani (Paneer Butter Masala)Palak PaneerSaag Chicken
📖 Recipe
