Pakora Pairings: 5 Spiced Mocktails And Cocktails For Your Monsoon Get-Togethers
Spicy, crispy, crunchy and full of flavour, pakoras are one of the most popular monsoon-time snacks served at chai time and at cocktail gatherings alike. Steaming hot plates of pakoras served with garlic and mint chutney are among the showstoppers at rainy day gatherings because of their savoury bite and crunchy texture.
Complementing the pakoras are numerous alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages which tend to balance out several dense and spicy flavours of the fritters. From sweet and sour drinks to bubbly and deeply flavoured blends, a number of options abound which can be served at social events featuring pakoras as a bar snack staple.
Read on below to know more about some of the spiced cocktails and mocktails that can be paired with crunchy, deep-fried pakoras at the monsoon gatherings you host at home:
Masala Mule
Recommended Pairing: Onion Pakoras
Prepare a spicy version of the classic mule cocktail by adding a pinch of chaat masala and chilli powder each to about 30 ml of any premium vodka of choice. Sprinkle black salt on top of the drink finished off with 45 ml ginger beer which compliments the spicy crunch of the onion pakoras that can be paired with this cocktail. The tangy-spicy taste of the cocktail can also be lightly undercut by the pungent, mildly spicy flavours of ajwain added to the gram flour coating used to fry the pakoras.
Spiced Rum Toddy
Recommended Pairing: Mix Veg Fritters
A cocktail prepared using 30 ml of any premium rum of choice, the spiced rum toddy is a warm drink finished off with the addition of about 45 ml hot water and a dash of honey. A cinnamon stick, star anise and cloves are what lend a spiced touch to this cocktail well-suited to the monsoon weather. Mix veg fritters pair exceedingly well with this drink because their spicy and umami flavours compliment the caramelised and spicy profile of the cocktail.
Chai Whisky Sour
Recommended Pairing: Chilli Pakoras
Bringing together the fruity, spicy and subtly smoky flavours of 30 ml of any premium whisky of choice with about 15 ml lime juice and 10 ml simple syrup is the whisky sour cocktail – a classic acidic, tart and sweet blend. Introduce the earthy notes of an aromatic, freshly brewed black tea into this cocktail to prepare a deeply flavoured variation befitting rainy day weather. Pair this sour, earthy drink laced with a subtle sweetness with the spicy, crunchy notes of chilli pakoras so it can hold its own amidst the robust flavours of the crispy snack.
Also Read: Corn Pakoda Recipe With Cocktail And Mocktail Pairings For Monsoon Snacks
Tamarind And Chilli Cooler
Recommended Pairing: Paneer Pakoras
A non-alcoholic beverage which brings together the tanginess of tamarind chutney and the spicy flavours of chilli powder, this cooler becomes that much more interesting when it is finished off with about 60 ml club soda. The bubbly effervescence of the mocktail lends it a textural flourish that, when combined with its bright flavours, becomes an excellent pairing with creamy and crunchy paneer pakoras served alongside mint chutney. Mildly spiced, the pakoras cut through some of the tangy and fizzy qualities of the cooler to prompt a well-balanced flavour combination.
Cardamom-Rose Lassi
Recommended Pairing: Aloo Bonda
Complete with creamy, fruity, floral flavours and a mild spice, the cardamom rose lassi is a mocktail with a lot of depth and quite a luxe quality. It goes well with the lightly spiced aloo bonda whose masala-infused flavours balance out the creamy textures of the lassi. Garnish the lassi with crushed green cardamom and a pinch of saffron to introduce another luxurious flourish into the mocktail well-suited to a dinner party hosted during monsoons.
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