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