Palak Pakora Curry (Spinach Fritters in Saag Sauce)
Crisp baked gram flour and spinach fritters dropped into a rich spinach sauce just before serving.
Made with Saag (spiced spinach) base. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 mins
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.02 a head
- Oven200°C (180°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
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) and put a baking tray with 2 tablespoons of oil in to heat.
- 2
Mix the gram flour, cumin seeds, turmeric and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl. Stir in the cold water to make a thick batter. Fold in the onion and spinach leaves.
- 3
Carefully drop 12 spoonfuls of the batter on the hot tray. Bake for 20 minutes, turning once, until crisp and golden.
20 min - 4
Cook the basmati rice to the packet instructions.
- 5
Heat the remaining oil in a wide pan and add your ready made saag spinach base (see the base recipe) with 100 ml water. Simmer for 6 minutes until hot.
6 min - 6
Add the lemon juice, then stir the pakoras in just before serving so they stay a bit crisp. Serve with the rice.
Tips
- Make the batter thick enough to hold a spoon shape. If it runs, add another spoonful of gram flour.
- A hot tray gives crisp bases on the pakoras.
- Serve the sauce first and sit the pakoras on top if you want to keep them crunchy.
Storing and freezing
Best fresh. Keep the pakoras and sauce apart in the fridge for 2 days. Crisp the pakoras in a hot oven for 10 minutes and heat the sauce until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I deep fry them?
Yes. Fry spoonfuls at 180C for 3 to 4 minutes until golden. Baking uses less oil and is easier at home.
What is gram flour?
Gram flour, or besan, is flour ground from chickpeas. It is naturally gluten free and sold in most supermarkets.
Are they vegan?
Yes. They use gram flour, vegetables and spices, with no egg.
More made with saag (spiced spinach) base
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.
