Dal Ke Pakaude (Pakode)

This snack does not need you to shop for ingredients. It uses everyday ingredients and makes for a great treat.

What you need:

• Chana dal - 1 cup (You can use masoor dal if chana dal is not available.)
  
• Onion - Chopped, half-a-cup
  
• Nigella seeds (Kalonji/Mangraila) - Half-a-teaspoon
  
• Carom seeds (Ajwain) - Half-a-teaspoon
  
• Green chillies - 1 chopped
  
• Red chillies - 2
  
• Turmeric - Half-a-teaspoon
  
• Baking soda - A pinch
  
• Salt - to taste
  
• Oil for frying (preferably mustard oil)

What you do:

1. Soak dal for an hour.
   
2. Grind the dal in a blender to a course and thick paste.
   
3. Mix all the ingredients except the red chillies with the dal paste.
   
4. Use a pair of scissors to snip pieces of the red chillies into the mixture.
   
5. Heat the oil in a deep kadhai (wok).
   
6. Use a spoon to drop chunks of the mixture into the oil. Fry the pakodas on all sides.
   
7. Once cooked, place the pakodas on a kitchen tissue.

Serve the pakodas hot with chutney.