Preparation time
less than 30 mins
Cooking time
less than 10 mins
Serves
Makes 12-14
Dietary
Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 onion, sliced as thinly as possible
- 1 medium potato, peeled and grated
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
- 1 large banana grated (a plantain is best for this)
- 2 hot green chillies, finely chopped
- ½ tsp ground, dried red chilli
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
- ½ tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp cumin seeds, crushed
- 2tsp coriander seeds, crushed
- ½ tsp ajowan (carom seeds), crushed (also known as lovage )
- 6-7 tbsp besan (gram flour)
- ½ tsp salt or to taste
- oil for deep frying
- 2 tbsp water
Tip:
For the best results gently roast the cumin, ajowan and coriander seeds in a pan until they change colour but do not burn, and then cool and crush them. The spices will now have a better flavour and aroma.
Method
-
Put the onion, potato, carrot and banana in a large bowl and add the green chillies, ground chilli, fresh coriander, lemon juice, cumin and ajowan. Sift the gram flour with the salt into a bowl.
-
Heat plenty of oil in a deep pan but do not let it get too hot.
-
Gradually add the sifted flour to the onion mixture, rubbing it in with your fingers until firm and sticky. Add the water and mix well.
-
With your fingers, put small dollops (no bigger than 2.5cm/1in) of the mixture into the oil to fry, just a few at a time or they will be soggy.
-
Fry them slowly until crisp and golden on the outside and cooked through in the centre – about 3-4 minutes. If the oil is too hot they will be raw and gooey inside.
-
Drain in a sieve placed over a bowl and then serve immediately with Green Coconut Chutney