Aloo Bonda (Indian Mashed Potato Fritters)

Name: Aloo Bonda (Indian Mashed Potato Fritters)
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: makes 32 Fritters
Ingredients: 1 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" pieces; 3 tbsp. canola oil, plus more for frying; 1 tsp. cumin seeds; 1 tsp. ground turmeric; ½ tsp. black mustard seeds; 4 fresh or frozen curry leaves, minced; 1 (1½") piece ginger, peeled and minced; 1 small green Thai chile or ½ serrano, minced; ½ small yellow onion, minced; 2 tbsp. minced cilantro; 1 tsp. red chile powder, such as cayenne; Kosher salt, to taste; 1 cup besan (chickpea flour); ¼ cups rice flour; 2 tbsp. cornstarch; ¼ tsp. baking soda; Tamarind and coconut-cilantro chutneys , for serving (optional)

Serves
makes 32 Fritters

INGALLS PHOTOGRAPHY

This Mumbai street-food snack was inspired by a recipe from cookbook author and teacher Raghavan Iyer. Mashed potatoes are seasoned with cumin, mustard seeds, curry leaves, ginger, and chile; balls of the aromatic mash are then coated in a turmeric-accented chickpea-flour batter and deep-fried until crisp and golden. This recipe first appeared in the tablet edition of our August/September 2014 special India issue with Indrani Sen's story The School of Small Bites.

Ingredients

1 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
3 tbsp. canola oil, plus more for frying
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1 tsp. ground turmeric
½ tsp. black mustard seeds
4 fresh or frozen curry leaves, minced
1 (1½") piece ginger, peeled and minced
1 small green Thai chile or ½ serrano, minced
½ small yellow onion, minced
2 tbsp. minced cilantro
1 tsp. red chile powder, such as cayenne
Kosher salt, to taste
1 cup besan (chickpea flour)
¼ cups rice flour
2 tbsp. cornstarch
¼ tsp. baking soda
Tamarind and coconut-cilantro chutneys, for serving (optional)

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Instructions

Step 1

Boil potatoes in a 6-qt. saucepan of water until tender, 12–14 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl; using a potato masher, coarsely mash potatoes. Add 3 tbsp. oil to pan; heat over medium-high. Cook cumin seeds, ½ tsp. turmeric, and the mustard seeds until fragrant and seeds begin to pop, 1–2 minutes. Add curry leaves, ginger, chile and onion; cook until golden, 4–6 minutes. Let cool slightly and add to bowl with potatoes. Add cilantro, ½ tsp. chile powder, and salt; using hands, mix until smooth. Divide mixture into thirty-two ½-oz. balls.

Step 2

Heat 2" oil in a 6-qt. saucepan until a deep-fry thermometer reads 350°. Whisk remaining turmeric and chile powder, the chickpea and rice flours, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and ½ cup water in a bowl until a smooth batter forms. Working in batches, dip potato balls in batter; fry, turning as needed, until golden and crisp, 1–2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer aloo bonda to paper towels to drain; season with salt. Serve with coconut-cilantro and tamarind chutneys if you like.