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Kumro phool bora
Pumpkin flower fritters
কুমড়া ফুলের বড়া (kumra phuler bora): crisp pumpkin-flower fritters in spiced rice-flour batter
Pumpkin vines sprawl over village rooftops in the rainy season, and when they bloom the big orange-yellow flowers are picked in the morning, before they close, and fried for lunch. Each flower is dipped whole in a thin batter of rice flour and a little gram flour seasoned with nigella, turmeric and chilli, and fried in mustard oil until the edges are lacy and crisp while the petals inside stay soft and faintly sweet. They are eaten as a starter with hot rice and dal or as an afternoon snack with tea. Thick batter hides the flower and turns the fritter heavy, which is the most common fault; it should only lightly coat the petals. Chef's tip: pinch out the stamen inside the flower and the green sepals at the base before washing; both taste bitter.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 12 pumpkin flowersstamens and sepals removed, rinsed and patted dry
- 2 ⅛ oz rice flour
- 1 oz gram flour (besan)
- 1 /2 tsp nigella seeds (kalo jeera)
- 1 /4 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 /2 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 /2 tsp salt
- ½ cup cold waterroughly
- ¾ cup mustard or vegetable oilfor shallow frying
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Whisk 2 ⅛ oz rice flour, 1 oz gram flour (besan), 1 /2 tsp nigella seeds (kalo jeera), 1 /4 tsp ground turmeric, 1 /2 tsp red chilli powder and 1 /2 tsp salt with enough ½ cup cold water to make a batter like thin pouring cream.
3 minStep 2: Heat ¾ cup mustard or vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat until a drop of batter sizzles and rises at once.
2 minStep 3: Dip each of the 12 pumpkin flowers into the batter, let the excess drip off and fry 3–4 at a time for 1–2 minutes a side, pressing them flat, until golden and crisp.
8 minStep 4: Drain on kitchen paper and serve straight away with rice and dal, or with tea.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kumro phool bora take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ground turmeric?
- Leave it out (it mostly adds colour).
- What can I use instead of red chilli powder?
- Cayenne, half the amount (hotter).
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