Fish Pakora with Curry Sauce Dip
Crisp gram flour fish pakoras with a hot curry dipping sauce, a gluten free take on chippy fish and curry sauce.
Made with Curry base sauce (onion and tomato). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.01 a head
- Oven180°C (160°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Whisk the gram flour, cumin, turmeric, chilli powder and salt with the cold water to a thick batter, like double cream. Rest for 10 minutes.
10 min - 2
Warm your ready made curry base sauce (see the base recipe) in a small pan over a low heat until steaming hot. Keep warm.
- 3
Heat the oil in a deep, heavy pan to 180°C (160°C fan) or until a drop of batter sizzles and rises straight away. Never fill the pan more than a third full.
- 4
Pat the fish dry, dip the pieces in the batter, then fry in batches for 3 to 4 minutes, turning once, until golden and cooked through. Drain on kitchen paper.
4 min - 5
Scatter over the coriander and serve hot with lemon wedges and the curry sauce for dipping.
Tips
- Dry the fish well before dipping or the batter will slide off.
- Fry in small batches. A crowded pan drops the oil temperature and gives greasy pakoras.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Leftover pakoras keep 1 day in the fridge, cooled within 1 hour, and reheat in a hot oven until crisp and steaming hot all the way through. Do not freeze.
Questions
Can I air fry them?
Yes. Spray with oil and air fry at 190 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, turning once. They will be less crisp than deep fried.
Is the batter gluten free?
Yes. Gram flour is made from chickpeas, so it is naturally gluten free. Check the packet says it is made in a gluten free facility if you have coeliac disease.
More made with curry base sauce (onion and tomato)
Goan Crab Masala
GFDFEFBangda Masala (Spiced Mackerel Curry)
GFDFEFJhinga Karahi (Prawn Karahi)
GFDFEFMasala Mussels with Coconut and Curry Leaf
GFDFEFSee every dish made with curry base sauce (onion and tomato)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.