Lotus Stem Pakoda

Deep fried snacks from Lotus stem

Ingredients

12 pieces Lotus stem

1/4 teaspoon Soda bi-carb

1 1/2 cups Gram flour (besan)

1 pinch Soda bi-carb

1/8 teaspoon Orange coloring

1/2 teaspoon Carom seeds

1 teaspoon Cumin seeds

2 teaspoons Chili powder

1 cup Curds

Water for making batter

Oil for frying

Salt according to taste

Serve with

Serve hot with ketchup or chutney.

Method

1.Wash and clean the lotus stems and cut into thin, round slices. Apply soda bicarbonate and salt on all the pieces and set aside.
2.Combine the gram flour, a pinch of soda bicarbonate, food coloring, Carmon seeds, cumin seeds, chili powder, curds and salt with enough water to make a thick batter.
3.Heat the oil in a frying pan. Dip each piece of lotus stem in the prepared batter and deep fry on a low flame till crisp and brown.