Batata Vada – Aloo Bonda (Fried Potato Dumpling)

Batata Vada also known as aloo bonda, deep fried savory appetizer made with spicy potato mix. When they are serve hot they are crispy outside and soft inside. This is a very popular street food in Mumbai.

Ingrediens:

ngredients:

• 3 medium potatoes boiled peeled and roughly chopped (this will make 2 cups of chopped potatoes)
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 teaspoon black mustard seeds (rai)
• 7-10 curry leaves chopped, optional
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
• 1 green chili finely chopped adjust to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (hara dhania)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt adjust to taste

For Batter

• 1/2 cup besan, gram flour (available in Indian grocery stores)
• 1 tablespoon rice flour
• 1/8 teaspoon asafetida (hing)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
• About 1/4 cup of water
• Oil to fry

Method:

Batter

1. In a bowl mix besan, rice flour, salt, asafetida, pepper, and baking powder. Add water slowly to make a thick and smooth batter. Set aside.

Vada

1. Heat oil in a frying pan on medium heat moderately.
2. Add mustard seeds as the seeds crack add curry leaves, (curry leaves splatters) potatoes, ginger, green chili, turmeric, and salt.
3. Stir fry for about 3 minutes over medium heat. Add cilantro mix it well. Turn of the heat.
4. Let the potato mix cool off, divide them into about 12 pieces and make them into smooth round ball, they will be little smaller than golf ball.
5. Heat about 1”of oil in a frying pan on medium high heat. To check if the oil is ready, put one drop of batter in oil. The batter should come up but not change color right away.
6. Dip the potato balls into the batter one at a time, making sure the potato balls are completely covered with batter. Then, slowly drop them into the frying pan.
7. Turn them occasionally. Fry the batata vadas until all sides are golden-brown.
8. Batata vadas will take about four minutes to cook.
9. Serve them hot with cilantro chutney
   

 Variations

Serve them with sandwich buns using cilantro chutney as spread. Now this is known as Vada pav, another famous street food in Mumbai.