Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2      teaspoons     ghee
   1      pinch         baking soda
   1      cup           bengal gram flour -- (besan
                        chickpea flour)
     1/2  cup           rice flour
   2      tablespoons   ghee
   3                    onions -- finely chopped
   1                    potato -- (optional), finely
                        -- chopped
                        a piece of ginger - 1 inch -- , peeled and
                        -- minced
   4                    green chilies -- finely chopped
   1      teaspoon      chili powder
   1      bunch         cilantro -- (coriander), finely
                        -- chopped
                        salt -- to taste
                        water -- as required
                        oil -- for deep-frying

Preparation:

Place 2 tsp. ghee and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Rub together until frothy. Add the remaining ingredients and combine well, using sufficient water to make a thick batter. Heat oil in a heavy frying pan. Drop spoonfuls of batter into the oil. Fry the pakoras until golden in color. When cooked, drain the excess oil on a sheet of brown paper or paper towels. Serve hot with chutney. From: "Dakshin - Vegetarian Cuisine From South India" by Chandra Padmanabhan