Pakoda - Love of Life

Pakoda has a special place in our life. Inviting someone over a tea, pakode is always the first choice. Also known as 'bhajiya'' or 'bhajji''. Pakoda shop is not hard to find in any nook and corner of the city. One starter in the menu has to be a pakoda. At some unexpected loss, "Kismat mein ho hathode, toh kahan se milenge pakode" is a commonly heard slang. Also used as a beauty quotient, you may have heard "uski naak pakode jaisi hai". Pakoda has been married to tea or chai since when, no idea, but yes, they are Ram and Sita of snack world. Coffee is a sister in law of tea and at times accompanies his brother in law.

What is a pakoda? Distorted shaped lump of besan flour mixed with adequate quantity of water, and deep-fried in cooking oil is our guest of honor. Expected, loved and savored by all at all occasions. It can be easily located even in the ritual ceremonies after death, such as uthala, chautha or tehravi. Mundan ceremony in your locality, must have had served the cottage cheese (Paneer) pakodas. From birth to death an integral part of our celebrations.

It also has place reserved in each section of the menu, from starters to desserts. I am sure; you are thinking I have just misspelled desserts. No, I am not kidding have also heard of ice-cream pakodas. If you are born human, and have witnessed monsoon and have not eaten pakoda yet, you are missing something in life. Getting to eat pakoda accompanied with his wife chai or tea, when it is drizzling outside is like getting moksha even being alive. No better social service than serving someone drenched with chai pakoda.

Pakoda, it is a generic term. When mentioned, first question that pops up in mind is kiska? Pyaaz (onion) ka, aloo (potato) ka, kaddoo (pumpkin) ka...think of a vegetable and we have a pakoda made out of it in Indian cooking. We so much adore this delectable beauty, that we have invented the special variants for the fasting time. Yes, I am talking about pakodas made from kuttu and singhara ka atta. I am sure 90% of people fasting during navratra, would have died of starvation without it. This has been brought to life by years of worship that our mummy, dadi or nani have done in kitchen and the result of their prayers.

Till date have savored pakodas made from onion, potato, tomato, brinjal, spinach, jackfruit, pumpkin, cottage cheese, processed cheese, bread, bread and cottage cheese, bread and potato, fenugreek, coriander, moong dal, gourd, bitter gourd. Think of a vegetable and the pakoda is there.

The pakoda is an inseparable part of our cuisine. You will not make it for starter, ok it has a place reserved in main course in form of kadi pakoda. Remove it from there and will seek shelter in side dish as boondi raita. Boondi raita is miniature whole pakodas swimming in pond of curd. Varieties such as kofta, falafel, Manchurian etc, all seem like cousins and second cousins of our very own pakoda.

When I look at KFC, it always appeals to me like NRI cousin.To make a comparison let us consider you as a paneer pakoda and NRI cousin as KFC chicken. Your oily combed hair and his vogue spiky hairstyle represent the contrary texture of pakoda and KFC. Your preferences of veg to his of non veg are played by paneer and chicken. You like it with strong desi masala and announcing …AA HAA!!!  at each bite responding to hit on throat from the chilly. He responds to mildly blended flavours of natural herbs by hymning mmmm…hmmm…

The pakoda being such a hit is their simplicity. No one complains about the figure of pakoda. The roti has to be in perfect circle. Anyone can cook it. Chop vegetables; make a dip of chickpea flour and water, and spices to taste. Dip the chopped vegetables and throw them in pool of hot oil and the golden brown snack is at your service.

There are lot of eateries, or tuck shops at every mile selling them, most common ones being onion, potato and spinach. However, some of them are doing a wonderful service by selling more than 15 variants of pakodas under one roof. I feel blessed to get a chance to eat at few such places. Next in the series, will be more about pakoda, traces from the history and the eateries where we can submit to such sumptuous snack. I wish all to enjoy this beautiful distorted snack with your loved ones and family.