Culture & Lifestyle • Food

Pakora

Pakora is a South Asian savoury fritter made by coating ingredients such as vegetables, meat, seafood, or cheese in a spiced batter and deep-frying them.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Pakora is a South Asian savoury fritter made by coating ingredients such as vegetables, meat, seafood, or cheese in a spiced batter and deep-frying them. It is commonly served as a snack or appetiser and is often associated with Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Nepali cuisines. The dish is widely available in Canadian South Asian restaurants, snack shops, and home cooking, especially in cities with large Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Nepali communities.

Description

Pakora refers to a family of savoury fritters made by coating ingredients in batter and deep-frying them. The batter is commonly based on gram flour or chickpea flour and is flavoured with spices.

Ingredients and variations

Common pakora fillings include vegetables such as onion, potato, cauliflower, and eggplant, but meat, seafood, and cheese are also used. Regional names and styles vary across South Asia.

Serving and consumption

Pakoras are usually eaten hot as a snack, appetiser, or light side dish. They are frequently accompanied by chutney, raita, or other dipping sauces.

Etymology

The word pakora is borrowed from Hindi pakoṛā. Merriam-Webster traces it to Sanskrit pakvavaṭa-, related to terms meaning cooked or ripe.

Key facts

Pakora is a deep-fried fritter from the Indian subcontinent.
It is typically made by dipping ingredients in a spiced batter before frying.
Vegetables such as potatoes, onions, cauliflower, and eggplant are common fillings.
Pakoras are often served with chutney or raita.
The dish is sold by street vendors and served in restaurants across South Asia.

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Canadian context

Pakora is widely available in Canadian South Asian restaurants, snack shops, and home cooking, especially in cities with large Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Nepali communities.

Frequently asked questions

What is pakora?

Pakora is a South Asian savoury fritter made by deep-frying spiced batter-coated ingredients, usually vegetables.

What is pakora made from?

It is commonly made with gram flour or chickpea flour batter, plus ingredients such as onion, potato, cauliflower, or meat.

Is pakora vegetarian?

It can be vegetarian, but some versions include meat, seafood, or cheese.

How is pakora usually served?

Pakoras are usually served hot as a snack or appetiser, often with chutney or raita.

Where does pakora come from?

Pakora originates from the Indian subcontinent and is common across South Asian cuisines.

References

Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pakora
Supports: Definition, etymology, and origin of the term pakora.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/pakora
Supports: Description of pakora as a savoury deep-fried cake/fritter from Indian cuisine.
Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/pakora
Supports: Definition of pakora as a South Asian food made from battered and fried vegetables, meat, or fish.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakora
Supports: Common ingredients, serving style, and distribution across South Asia.
Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/pakora
Supports: General definition and note that it is an Indian dish served with sauce.