Crispy Kachori Recipe

Crisp and Savoury: Indulge in the Pleasure of Moong Dal Kachori

Are you looking to try your hands on a delicious evening snack? Try a Moong Dal Kachori.

Moong Dal Kachori is an Indian snack consisting of a fried pastry filled with a spiced Moong Dal (yellow split gram) mix. This is a scrumptious and delicious snack loved all over India. They are a perfect savoury snack for your tea time.

With minimal preparation and time, Moong Dal Kachori will surely sparkle your tastebuds. This guide answers your question on "how to make Kachori?” Follow this guide for a simple recipe and best sides suggestion for a Moong Dal Kachori. So, here's a simple recipe for making Moong Dal Kachori at home.

How to Make Moong Dal Kachori?

Making a Moong Dal Kachori is a breeze, but it begins with a well-organized plan. Ensure all your ingredients are ready on the table before you start cooking. 
Let's first explore the Moong Dal Kachori ingredients!

Moong Dal Kachori - Ingredients

For the stuffing:
½ cup moong dal
Soaking water
1 tsp ghee (clarified butter)
1 tsp crushed fennel
1 tsp cumin
½ cup besan
A pinch of hing (asafoetida)
¼ tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp amchur (dried mango powder)
¼ ginger powder
1 tsp chilli powder
½ tsp salt

For the Kachori:
2 ½ cups maida
½ tsp salt
3 tbsp hot ghee (clarified butter)
Water (for kneading)

Moong Dal Kachori Recipe

Here's a simple guide to making Moong Dal Kachori, serving approximately two people. The number of kachoris depends on your chosen size, and this recipe typically yields around 5 to 7 normal-sized kachoris. 

Moong Dal Stuffing:

→ Take a large bowl and soak ½ cup moong dal in water for 2 hours.
→ Drain the water.
→ With the help of a mixer, grind it into a paste. 
→ Heat 1 tsp of ghee in a Kadai.
→ Add 1 tsp fennel, 1 tsp cumin, and a pinch of hing to the hot ghee. 
→ Saute on low flame until the spices become aromatic.
→ Add 1 tsp coriander powder, 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp amchur, ¼ ginger powder, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp chilli powder, and ¼ tsp turmeric powder.
→ Saute the ingredients well until the spices release their aroma.
→ Add ¼ cup besan and roast until it becomes aromatic.
→ Mix in the coarsely ground moong dal and cook for 5 minutes until well combined.
→ Allow the moong dal stuffing to cool completely.

Khasta Kachori:

→ In a large bowl, take 2½ cups maida, ½ tsp salt, and mix well.
→ Pour in 3 tbsp hot ghee, crumble, and mix to moisten the flour.
→ Add water gradually, kneading to form a smooth and soft dough.
→ Rest the dough for 30 minutes after greasing it with oil. 
→ After 30 minutes, knead the dough slightly.
→ Take a small dough ball, tuck it well, and roll it gently.
→ Place a small ball of the prepared moong dal stuffing, pleat, and seal tightly, removing excess dough.
→ Roll gently for uniform thickness.
→ Take a large kadai and pour the required amount of oil into it. 
→ Deep-fry in hot oil on low flame until kachori floats (approximately 3 minutes).
→ Carefully flip and fry until golden brown and crisp.
→ Drain excess oil on kitchen paper.
→ Enjoy Moong Dal Kachori with Imli (tamarind) chutney.

Tips to Make Moong Dal Kachori

Anyone with the right Kachori recipe can't necessarily make a delicious one at once. There are a few tips to follow. These include: 

Choice of Flour: 
It's traditionally made with fresh, fine maida flour for that crispy and flaky texture. While you can use wheat or atta flour, it may alter the taste and crispiness.

Hot Ghee for Crispiness: 
Add hot ghee to the plain flour before kneading to achieve a crisp and flaky texture. Hot oil can be an alternative, but ghee is preferred for better results.

Soaking Moong Dal: 
Soak the moong dal thoroughly, atleast for two hours; don't skip this process by just washing it. The dal needs to absorb the spices and flavours before being stuffed inside.

Low Flame Cooking: 
Keep your stove on low flame when frying the kachoris. It helps in making them crispy and evenly cooked. Maintain a low flame throughout the frying process for optimal results.

What are the best sides for Kachori?

Kachori goes well with the following sides.
• Tamarind Chutney
• Mint Chutney
• Coriander Chutney
• Aaloo Sabzi (Potato Curry)
• Aaloo Dum (Baby Potatoes in Gravy)
• Plain Yoghurt
• Tomato Sauce

Conclusion

The Kachori's outer layer boasts a flaky, crisp texture, while the inner stuffing combines a soft, mushy mix of wholesome ingredients and spices. The moong dal stuffing absorbs the rich flavours, imparting a delightful earthy taste. 
When craving a snack beyond the usual samosas and pakoras, Kachori stands out as an irresistible option. Despite being deep-fried, choosing a moong dal stuffing adds a healthy twist. So, prepare your ingredients, roll your sleeves, and prepare your Kachoris batch. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Calorie count of a Moong Dal Kachori?

One Moong Dal Kachori gives approximately 195 calories, 75 calories from carbohydrates, 16 from proteins, and 104 from fats. It contributes around 10 percent to a standard adult diet's total daily calorie requirement of 2,000 calories.

2. Why is my Kachori not crispy?

To achieve the perfect balance of a soft inner texture and a crispy, flaky exterior, maintain the right proportion of fat to flour when preparing the dough. Insufficient ghee or oil can result in a dry kachori crust, while an excess can lead to the dough absorbing an undesirable amount of oil during frying.

3. How long can I store Moong Dal Kachoris?

Moong dal kachoris can be stored at room temperature for 2 days. You can also freeze the kachoris for up to 2 months. To reheat frozen kachoris, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and then fry them in hot oil until heated.