Roopak Pakoda Masala Review – Yay Or Nay?

Pakodas, the OG rainy day snack of India. It’s not just about the vegetable inside the besan casing, but also about the spices that go into the batter. Needless to say, the masala can be a total game changer.   

When we came across Roopak’s Pakora Masala, it was immediately added to cart. In our Roopak Pakoda Masala review, we explore if this is a flavorful blend of spices. Would this be a good addition in our pantry if we want to amp up our homemade pakodas? 

Here’s a quick glance at the product details you need to know about Roopak Pakoda Masala: 

What do we expect? We were looking for a pakoda masala that has the right blend of spices. Chilli, salt, tang – all in one! 

Here is our set of review factors for Roopak Pakoda Masala: 

1. Flavor

The whole purpose of buying a ready-to-use masala is the flavor. Everything from the salt level to the spice level is examined here. Is the overall flavor balanced? Do the spices bring out an earthy flavor? Is there a particular spice that is a bit overpowering?

2. Convenience 

If the blend of masala is correct, you wouldn’t need to add anything else. If not, you’ll have to bring out your masala daani. 

3. Other Observations 

Packaging 

Is the masala packed securely? Pouch pack, carton, or sprinkle jar? What does the packaging of this pakoda masala look like? 

Price 

Is the product priced economically, or is it overpriced? 

Shelf Life 

What is the shelf life of this masala? Does it require refrigeration once opened?

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Here we talk about the product details, main ingredients, pros and cons of Roopak Pakoda Masala: 

Product Inspection

Roopak’s Pakoda Masala comes in a transparent sprinkle bottle. The 100 gm quantity costs Rs. 160. It has a shelf life of 12 months.

Appearance & Aroma 

The contents of this masala were clearly visible through the jar. Upon close inspection, we could see specs of the whole coriander. It also has kasuri methi leaves, red chili flakes, and whole cumin. 

The aroma is very masaledaar.

Main Ingredients

Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients for Roopak Pakoda Masala – Iodized salt, Mango powder, Dry pomegranate, Red chili powder, Coriander, Green chili flakes, and Cumin. 

It also has onion powder, turmeric, garlic powder, coram, coriander leaves, baking soda, black pepper, ginger, mace, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom seeds.

Method Of Preparation 

The directions for using this masala as mentioned by the brand: 

Directions for use – 

• Mix 3 tsp of roopak masala in 1 cup of besan. 
• Add 1 tbsp oil and little water. 
• Beat well to make a paste. 
• Keep aside for 20 minutes. 
• Deep fry to make pakoda. 
• Vegetables can be added if desired.

Additionally, to make hara kebabs – add crushed spinach to gram flour.

How We Tested This Masala? 

To examine the flavor of this Pakoda Masala we prepared two batches of pakoda. We followed the exact same instructions as mentioned by the brand. Here is a detailed overview of the review:

First Batch

We did not add vegetables in the first batch of the pakora mix so as to gauge the actual flavor. As per the instruction, we added 3 tbsp of pakora masala to a cup of besan.  

Post frying, these pakodas were slightly tight. Coming to the taste, the salt level was balanced. 

The spiciness was tolerable and on the lower side. The whole coriander seeds added a nice crunch here. 

All in all, we did not find this pakoda masala to be extraordinary. 

Second Batch

For the second batch, we added sliced onions to the pakoda mix. We also added 2 tbsp extra pakoda masala. 

Similar to the first batch, we did not add salt here too.

What was the result? These pakodas turned out to be excessively salty despite adding no salt. The reason for this was the addition of extra masala for this batch. 

Also, there was no major change in the taste, as observed here. It felt similar to a homestyle pakora seasoned with extra salt. 

The only aspect we liked is the addition of coriander seeds. These add a nice bite and bring out an earthy flavor. 

Taste 

What works? The crunch of the coriander seeds and the earthy flavor worked for us. 

It is low on spiciness, which means it can be adjusted. Hence, if you like your pakoras to be spicy, you might want to add a few green chilies.

What does not? We feel that this pakoda masala is not an extra ordinary revelation. A similar flavor profile can be easily achieved with everyday spices. 

Although this has kasuri methi and cumin, they are not identifiable taste-wise.

Lastly, the presence of the mango powder does not bring in that tangy/chatpata flavor as expected. So, you might require sprinkling some chat masala on top. 

Your quest for the Best Sambar Masala Brands in India ends here.

Here are some interesting FAQs on Roopak Pakoda Masala.

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All in all, Team Mishry does not highly recommend trying Roopak’s Pakoda Masala. The earthy flavor of coriander seeds and the balanced salt levels are the aspects we liked. However, the missing flavor of cumin, kasuri methi and mango powder were a letdown.  

This pakoda masala will not bring any major twist to your homemade pakodas. This flavor profile can easily be achieved using your everyday masalas without spending any extra bucks on a separate masala. 

Have you tried a ready to use pakoda masala? Tell us about your experience down below.

Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.