CultureJuly 9, 2026
pakora
/pəˈkɔːrə/
Definition
A South Asian street food snack consisting of vegetables dipped in seasoned chickpea flour batter and deep-fried until crispy.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Hindi 'pakauṛā' or 'pakoṛā'. It ultimately stems from the Sanskrit 'pakva', meaning 'cooked' or 'ripe', reflecting its nature as a thoroughly fried food item.
In the news
In the article, pakoras are described as a nostalgic, autobiographical dish for chef Heena Patel that evokes personal memories of her family in Gujarat. They serve as an example of authentic, specific cultural food that connects immigrants to their heritage.
America Isn't A Melting Pot — And Our Best Food Proves It
Read the full article ↗HuffPost