Kadi Pakodi

The word 'Kadi' yogurt/buttermilk based curry, throws me in the comfort zone immediately. It's a very comforting curry and I am sure it serves its purpose in summer days :) You throw in some delicious pakodis in the gravy and voila, it turns into a tasty finger licking dish. This kadi goes very well with rice, phulkas or chapatis. My neighbor in Mumbai where I was staying with my aunt, made some really spicy pakodis that went in this kadi and I used to wait for that lucky day to dawn when she would share her dish with us. God bless her soul :)
So here is the recipe:

Kadi Pakodi

 Ingredients:
For Kadi

• 2 cups yogurt
• 2 tbsp gram flour (besan)
• 1 tbsp oil
• 2-3 cloves
• 1 inch cinnamon
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4th tsp cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp coriander seeds
• 1/4 tsp fennel seeds
• pinch fenugreek(methi) seeds
• 1 or 2 red dry chilli
• 1 tsp grated ginger ( or just crush pieces of ginger )
• 1/4th tsp chilli powder
• salt as per taste (abt 1 tsp)
• 1 cup of water ( more if you like thin consistency )

For Pakodi

• 1/2 cup gram flour (besan)
• 1/2 tsp chilli pwd
• 1/4 tsp turmeric pwd
• pinch asafoetida (hing)
• pinch baking soda (optional)
• handful methi leaves chopped or cilantro chopped
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds lightly crushed
• salt as per taste (abt 1/2 tsp)
• 1 cup oil for frying

Preparation:

• For the Kadi, in a bowl add 2 cups of yogurt and 2 tbsp besan mix and whisk nicely, keep aside.
• In a pan or kadai add oil, put cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf, then add tsp jeera, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, dry chilly, once it splutters add grated ginger saute, add chilly pwd, now sim the gas or off it for 30 sec ( so that the yogurt doesn't curdle)
• Pour the yogurt mixture slowly and keep stirring. Add salt to taste and another cup of water, bring it to a boil while stirring occasionally. 
• Then simmer on low heat for another 7-8 mins.
• For pakodis, take besan, add chilly pwd, turmeric, baking soda, methi leaves ( or cilantro), jeera lightly crushed, salt to taste, add water to make a thick batter. 
• In a kadai, heat oil and make tiny pakodis. 
• Once the kadi is done, just before serving add pakodis in it and serve hot.

njoY!! happY cookinG!!

Nutrition Facts: Yogurt and gram flour combination brings in lots of recipes mostly in the western region of India. Gram flour (besan) has a higher level of protein than wheat based flours. Most importantly it is gluten free. Rich in minerals and vitamins. Yogurt is considered as a low-calorie food with a good amount of calcium, potassium and protein. It's a natural pro-biotic.