Firstly a very happy and Prosperous New Year to all my readers and blogger friends all across the world. Hope this new year 2015 brings immense happiness and prosperity to your lives.
Let me start the blog with a humble snack called as “Kumro Phool Bhaja” or Pumpkin Flower Fritters. Essentially it is a snack that can double up as a side dish in a main meal as well. During my childhood days in Haridwar ( Uttarakhand), we used to wait till the blossoming of the flowers used to blossom and then me and my sister used to pluck them and bring them straight to our kitchen to let Ma fry them for us. Yes we were fortunate to have a huge Bagaan (backyard kitchen).
I remember an incident few years back. During a trip to Ooty, while returning from the beautiful hill station, we passed from a household outside on the road there were pumpkin plants with flowers blossomed. We immediately stopped our cars and like a commando operation me and my sister plucked a lot of flowers. And before the neighbours who never knew that this flower was edible, yelled at us, we had zoomed back in our car. Was it a fun sight to watch. Sheepishly admit that I am a 'phool' (blossom) chor :-P
Ingredients:
5-6 Pumpkin Blossom (Kumro Phool)
1/2 cup Rice flour
1 small pinch of Kalo jeera (Kalonj /Nigella seeds)
1/4 tsp Baking soda
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder (optional)
Small pinch of Black pepper powder
Water to make the batter
Salt to taste
Refind oil for deep frying
Method:
First of all you need to remove the stigma and the stem from each blossom (I sometimes leave the stem part as while eating it makes easier to hold it BUT NEVER EAT THAT PORTION). Take a big serving bowl and dip these blossoms in chilled water. Take extra care not to tear them as the blossoms are very delicate.
Mix flour with nigella seeds, baking soda,black pepper powder, turmeric (optional) and salt. Add water to make a thick batter.
Heat oil in a wok. Dip the blossoms one by one into the prepared batter and deep fry for couple of minutes on low flame until light golden.
Remove with a slotted spoon and place the fried blossoms on tissue paper to soak extra oil. Serve immediately with steamed rice-dal combination.
Tips:
- You can use Besan (Bengal gram flour) in place of rice flour, in that case do add2-3 tsps of Flour along with it.
- You can try the same recipe with Bok phool.
Thin like wafer, hint of sweet yet so crunchy....
Pass that plate to me Deepa.. Delicious.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year Deepa. Really love that platter...fried pumpkin flowers look very cute :)
ReplyDeleteNew to me,looks so yummy
ReplyDeleteyum is the word. lovely clicks Deepa
ReplyDeleteMouthwatering stuffs !! Happy New Year to you too !! :-)
ReplyDeleteDelicious snack.. I once had zucchini blossom fritters & loved it. This flower looks very similar to the zucchini flower & snack looks very yum.
ReplyDeleteLooks so crisp... awesome clicks as usual...
ReplyDeletethe platter is awesome ! i never tasted this. loved the clicks
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you too. These fritters look nice and crispy. Hearing about these for the first time.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Deepa, would love to try this if I can get my hands on these flowers, absolutely delicious..
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Deepa. Thanks for sharing this. These fritters are a foodies delight and more so for those who have not tasted it and could try it out in their kitchen.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you as well. That's makes a yummy snack.I like the corn cheese one too, easy and good for kids too.
ReplyDeleteOk tis is my meal tomm.. i picked up 2 flowers n they r going to be bhajjis tomm.. m loving ut platter
ReplyDeletePrettiest Pumpkin Blossom Fritters I have ever seen!
ReplyDelete