Pakoras -warning addictive!

These are absurdly easy to make and unfeasibly delicious so be warned, this is your last chance to turn back...

OK, you are basically going to make a batter but using gram (chickpea) flour. Grab a bowl and add about a cup of flour for four people as a starter or enough for two people having a pig out.

Season with salt, pepper, chilli powder to taste and a goodly amount of fresh chopped coriander. Now for the secret ingredient: bicarbonate of soda. A half teaspoon of this stuff will make your pakoras heavenly light and fluffy.

Mix the dry ingredients and add warm water slowly, mixing all the time until you have a slightly sloppy mixture similar to that you would use for pancakes.

Now add at most half a finely chopped onion or a similar amount of any other yummy you want to try such as mushrooms and give it a final mix.

Heat oil in a pan. It needs to be about a centimetre deep and a low sided pan like a frying pan will help you get the mixture in and out.

When the oil is nice and hot, slowly and carefully spoon about a desert spoon of mix in to the oil for each pakora. They'll fry quickly in a minute or so, turn over with a slotted spoon, remove and place on kitchen towel. Eat as soon as they are cool enough or just before if you can't wait. Serve with a dash of ketchup or chilli sauce.

Tip of the hat to Farah for this wonderful recipe.