The batata vada (batata meaning potato in Marathi) is the most popular snack in Mumbai after the Vada pav (which has an addition of the pav/bread to the batata vada). Even in these days of inflation, you can buy a batata vada for as less as Rs 5 in Mumbai. And what more it’s pretty filling and needless to say delicious too. The vada stalls are very common near the railway station in Mumbai and it’s not an uncommon sight to see weary office goers buying and munching on vadas wrapped in tissue paper on their way back home. I learnt this recipe from my Maharashtrian friend and tried it out this Sunday. It was as tasty as the ones bought!! Let me get to the recipe
Ingredients
- 6-8 medium sized boiled potatoes
- 1 small piece ginger
- 4-5 pods of garlic
- 4-5 green chilies
- 1/2 cup cilantro/coriander leaves (chopped)
- 2 tsp turmeric powder
- 8-10 curry leaves
- 2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/4 tsp asafetida
- 2 cups gram flour (besan)
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp chili powder(optional)
- salt to taste
- oil for frying
Method
- Grind ginger, garlic and green chilies together into a paste.
- Peel and mash potatoes coarsely.
- Add ginger, garlic and green chili paste, coriander leaves, and salt to the potatoes.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
- When they splutter, add turmeric powder and curry leaves.
- Pour this tempering over the mashed potatoes and mix gently.
- Make small balls of mashed potato mixture. (You can flatten the balls if you like)
- In another bowl, add the besan and add some salt, turmeric powder and chili powder to it.
- Add water gradually and keep mixing to make a smooth batter of medium consistency
- Heat some oil in a pan.
- Now dip each potato ball in the batter, letting the excess batter drip off and slowly add to the hot oil.
- Do not overcrowd the pan, and fry all the vadas on medium flame till they become golden brown.
- Remove on a paper towel and drain the excess oil
- Serve hot with salted green chilies (if you can handle it !!)
Preparation time: 30 minutes