Mirchi Pakoda

Mirchi Bhajji in Marathi

Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3 persons

Ingredients:
8 to 10 long green chilies. (less spicy)
3/4 cup chickpea flour
1 tbsp rice flour
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
pinch of baking soda
salt to taste
oil for deep frying

Method:
1) Wash green chilies. Make a lengthwise slit and remove the seeds (Tip). Do not remove the stem.
2) Take a small mixing bowl. Mix chickpea flour, rice flour, turmeric, and salt. Add a little less than 3/4 cup of water. Mix without lumps. Add pinch of soda and make a thick batter.
3) Heat oil over high heat. Turn heat to medium when it reaches to a smoke point. Dip the green chilies and make sure that they are well coated with the batter. Carefully drop them in hot oil. Deep fry until golden.
Serve hot.

Tips:
1) Removing seeds is completely depend on how spicy those chilies are. If chilies are too hot, then remove all the seeds. Also, you may keep a little amount of seeds if you like hot chili pakoda.
2) Do not use very thick chilies. Although, they are less spicy, they remain uncooked and crunchy after deep frying. Hence, use long, medium thick and medium spicy chilies.
3) Green chilies can be stuffed with different stuffing. I had stuffed them spicy mashed potato (usual potato subzi flavored with chili paste, ginger and garlic). Then dipped in batter and deep fried in hot oil.