Spicy Potato Fritters Bujia Recipes

BHUJIA (POTATO FRITTERS)

Steps:

• Prepare batter: Combine dry ingredients in a bowl, add the water and mix until texture is smooth and creamy. Set aside.
• Prepare Potato Rounds: Roast mustard seeds in dry pan until they become grayish, aromatic and begin to pop. (This will happen quickly.) Lower heat, add whole cumin seeds and roast until brown, being careful not to burn, about 2 minutes. Add clarified butter and crushed neem leaves, and brown lightly. Add onions, and brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic, and turmeric, remove from heat and add cilantro, serranos, salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook potatoes in salted water until soft. Drain and cool. Grate potatoes and mix gently with onions and spices. Adjust seasoning.
• To form bhujias, press tightly into half dollar rounds.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan to deep-fry temperature (350 degree F). Dip formed potato rounds into batter and drop into hot oil. Fry until golden brown on all sides, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with Mint and Cilantro Chutney, Yogurt Sauce, or plain yogurt for dipping. Bhujias can be made early in the day and reheated.

ALOO TIKKI, SPICY POTATO FRITTERS

Steps:

• Place whole potatoes in a large pot of cold salted water, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook until tender. Drain, cool thoroughly, and peel.
• Lightly mash the potatoes (a ricer is perfect for this). Lightly mash the peas and mix them into the potatoes. Add the bread crumbs, salt, turmeric, cayenne, black pepper, and ginger.
• In a small skillet, toast the coriander and cumin seeds over medium heat until just fragrant, about 1 minute. Grind the spices in a mortar and pestle or electric spice grinder and add to the potatoes, mixing thoroughly.
• Fill a large skillet with oil to a depth of about 1/8 inch and heat over medium-high heat. Moisten your hands and form patties by taking golf ball-sized pieces of the mixture and pressing them into 2 1/2 inch cakes about 3/4 inch thick. Press firmly, or they will fall apart while cooking. Fry until golden brown about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to absorbent paper and finish with coarse salt.

SPICY CAULIFLOWER FRITTERS

Steps:

• Trim cauliflower into small florets to give desired total weight. Add to a pot of salted boiling water and simmer for 15 minutes or until very soft.
• As it is cooking, whisk the remaining ingredients, except olive oil and parsley leaves, in a bowl to make a homogenous batter.
• When cooked, drain cauliflower and set aside. Add warm cauliflower to batter and mix briskly to break it down a little.
• Pour olive oil in a pan so that it is about 15mm deep, and heat.
• When oil is very hot, drop in 3 tablespoons of mixture for each fritter.
• Fry in small batches (making sure they are not touching) for about 3 minutes each side.
• Drain on absorbent paper.
• Eat hot, warm or cold.

BONDA OR BATATA VADA (SPICED POTATO BALL FRITTERS)

Steps:

• Peel the cooked and cooled potatoes and crush them. You are aiming for a very coarse version of mashed potatoes.
• Put the 2 tablespoons of oil in a medium, preferably nonstick frying pan and set over medium heat. When hot, add the asafetida. A second later, add the mustard seeds. As soon as they pop, a matter of seconds, add the onions, ginger, green chilies, cumin, and fresh cilantro. Stir for a minute. Add the crushed potatoes, lime juice, and salt. Turn the heat to low and mix all the ingredients well. Taste for balance of flavors and make adjustments, if needed. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then make 16 balls, each about 1- inches in diameter. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Combine all the ingredients for the batter in a bowl. Slowly add water, about 2 tablespoons less than 1 cup, mixing and breaking up any lumps as you go. You should have a thick but flowing batter.
• Put a 2 inch depth of oil in a deep frying pan, wok, or karhai and set over medium-low heat. Give it time to get hot.
• Dip a potato ball in the batter, making sure it is well covered. Carefully lower it into the hot oil. Do this rapidly with half the balls. Fry, turning frequently for 5-6 minutes or until the outside batter looks crisp. It should not turn dark. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel. Make a second batch the same way.
• Serve while still crisp and hot.