Kachori

Kachori is a deep-fried, spicy, stuffed pastry originating from the Marwar  region of Rajasthan, India. It is made of maida filled with a stuffing of baked mixture of moong dal or onions (usually, depends on the variation), besan, coriander, red chili powder, salt, and other Indian spices and deep-fried in vegetable oil until crispy golden brown. It is served hot with sweet and spicy tamarind chutney or occasionally with mint and green chilli chutney.

Originating in India, kachoris have become popular throughout South Asia, each region adding its own local variations.

History
The kachori is believed to have originated from the Marwar region of Rajasthan, India. The use of mild spices like coriander and fennel in the kachori's preparation is thought to be a reflection of the region's climatic conditions, making it well-suited for the dry and hot environment. Over time, the kachori gained popularity as a convenient travel snack, a quick and wholesome start to the day for hungry businessmen and workers alike.

An early known recipe similar to kachori comes from Susruta Samhita, which mentions deep-fried pastry made from flour, ghee, and jaggery and stuffed with spiced mung dal or minced meat. Another recipe for a dish known as "Kacchari", a puffy deep-fried pastry stuffed with lentils, finds mention in a Jain text dating back to the 7th century. Similar recipes are also mentioned in the medieval cookbook Supa Shastra.

Banarasidas, the author of the biographical Ardhakathanaka, has mentioned buying Kachoris in Indore in 1613. For seven months, he bought a ser of Kachoris daily, and owed twenty rupees.

Variations
List of Variations based on stuffing:
 * Pyaaz Kachori: Pyaaz Kachori or Kanda Kachori originated in the city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan. As its name suggests, it is stuffed with spiced pyaaz (onions).


 * Raj Kachori(s): Originating in the city of Bikaner, Rajasthan, Raj kachoris are now popular throughout North India. "Raj," in Hindi, means "royal" or "grand," referring to the rich stuffing of the kachori. It is typically topped with plenty of yogurt, spices, cilantro chutney, sweet tamarind chutney, sev and pomegranate, making it a combination of flavours.


 * Kota Kachori(s): Originating in the city of Kota in Rajasthan, they are known for their spicy flavour, with a distinct smell of asafoetida. The filling of a Kota Kachori consists of yellow mung dal (split yellow lentils) cooked with a blend of spices and herbs, including cumin, ginger, green chili, turmeric, and coriander.
 * Mawa Kachori: This variant originated in the city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan. It is stuffed with dry fruits and khoa and later dipped in sugar syrup.

Another type is fried and stuffed with pulses (urad and mung, especially) and is generally found in the Kutch region of Gujarat.
 * In Gujarat, it is usually a round ball made of flour and dough filled with a stuffing of yellow mung dal, black pepper, red chili powder, and ginger paste.

In West Bengal, kachori is softer and smaller. It is made mostly of white flour (maida) and asafoetida, which are often added to improve its taste. It is mostly eaten as a tea-time snack in the morning or evening and often accompanied by potato and peas curry and Bengali sweets. Also, a kachori stuffed with peas (koraishuti kochuri) is a winter delicacy in Bengal. Another variant in Bengal that exists mostly in sweet shops is the hard form (like in Delhi) with a masala inside called 'Khasta Kochuri'. Generally, no curry is accompanied by the khasta kochuri version.

Some of the variants in North India include a version similar to the Rajasthani one, accompanied by a curry made of potatoes and varied spices or chana (chole) similar to one served in chole bhature.