Aloo Cutlets with Green Dip

The heat is almost getting onto my nerves.., Yeow!!! Its an oven out here in Hyderabad. I hate this season where every small thing makes you frustrated and leaves you irritated., We can't go out with friends, can't shop, can't just hang around.., owww nothing!! 44 degrees centigrade is not a normal thing.. :( And I've used up 3 sun blocks over the past 15 days.., Nothing sounds good.., Hmmm moving ahead.., the recipe that I share today is a favorite recipe of mine.., I used to make these Aloo Cutlets with a lot of enthusiasm and a huge appetite as a kid.., Nowadays., I just stick to feeding them to others.., Myth has it that potato is fattening..., :D.., But kids love them., Raj loves them.., So I like making them.. I generally use the potato mixture for the Aloo paranthas to make aloo cutlets.., This time too.., I used leftovers and.., they tasted heavenly.. So here goes the recipe..,

Aloo Cutlets with Green Dip:

Serves: 4

Preparation Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4-5 medium sized potatoes,
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 Onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp each of Cumin, Coriander and Chat Masala
• The Greens Of 3 Spring Onions, finely chopped
• 4-5 Green Chillies, Finely Chopped
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 bunch of Fresh Coriander leaves, finely Chopped
• 2 Eggs (Optional, Eggs are only used as a sealant. My mom insists on the use of eggs while making any sort of cutlet., but I strongly detest)
• Oil For Shallow Frying

Method:

Boil the potatoes with the skin on. When the potatoes are tender,peel the skins off, and transfer contents into a bowl. Mash with a potato masher or fork immediately, while hot. When cool enough to handle, add red chili powder and salt and, using your hands, mix in well. Add the chopped onions, green chillies, coriander leaves and spring onions.Mix with your hands until all ingredients are well blended. Add the coriander powder, the cumin powder, the chat masala and the lemon juice. Adjust salt and chilly powder to taste. Let the mixture stand for a few minutes. Form potato mixture into round patties about 2 1/2 inches across and 1/2 inch thick. Heat 1/2 cup of the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is very hot, place the cutlet in the frying pan.( You can actually dip the cutlet in egg and then place it in the oil. This way you wouldn't worry about the shape of the cutlet being lost) Repeat with more cutlets, frying about four at a time, not overcrowding the pan. When browned (about 1 minute), turn the cutlets over and brown the other side. Remove from the heat, place on brown paper or paper towels to drain, and keep warm. After half the cutlets are cooked, discard the used oil, wipe out the pan, and use the remaining 1/2 cup of oil.

Green Dip/ Mint Chutney

Ingredients:

• 1/4 bunch of fresh coriander leaves
• 1 Bunch Of Fresh Mint Leaves
• 3-4 Green Chillies ( depending upon your taste)
• 2 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1 cup Plain Yogurt
• Salt to taste

Method:

Grind the Coriander leaves, the mint leaves and the green chillies along with the lemon juice to a fine paste in the mixer. Add yogurt to this mixture and stir well to blend. Add salt to taste. Transfer the contents to a serving dish.

Serve chilled with hot Aloo Cutlets... :) :) :)

Simple Biryani and Cucumber Raita

Let me keep this post short.., and sweet..., :) I am a Hyderabadi and take a lot of pride in being one.., And.., talking about Hyderabad., the very first thing that comes to mind is its lovely Nizami cuisine.., There are so many more lovely things associated with the city.., like its architecture, the jewelery, the tourism, the nightlife.. but.., Hyderabad Biryani definitely stands out as the winner.. :) So here is the recipe of the Biryani and its accompaniment.., the Cucumber Raita..

Biryani:

Serves: 4

Preparation Time: 30-40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of soaked Basmati (long grained) rice
• 2 Onions, finely chopped
• 5-6 Green Chillies, Split length wise
• Fresh Coriander Leaves, Chopped
• Fresh Mint leaves, chopped (optional)
• 3-4 1/2 inch Cinnamon sticks
• 5 Cardamom pods
• 5 Cloves
• 2-3 bay Leaves/ Tej Patta
• 1 tbsp Ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp Caraway seeds/Shahjeera ( optional)
• 1/2 a tsp Garam masala pwd ( Powder made of assorted Spices like cinnamon, cardamom, etc
• Juice of half a Lemon
• Salt to taste
• 4-5 tbsp oil/Ghee

Method:

I generally prepare all the rice items in the electric cooker. So firstly, switch on the cooker and add the Ghee. Let it heat before you add in the Caraway seeds/Shah jeera. Let them splutter a bit. add in the Cinnamon, Cardamom, Bay Leaves and the Cloves. Now, add in the chopped onions and the split green chillies and fry them till the onions are nice and pink. Now, add in the ginger garlic paste. Fry till the raw smell of the ginger-garlic evaporates. Add in the Rice. And give the entire mixture a quick stir. Now add in the garam masala pwd, the coriander and mint leaves. Add the salt to taste and squeeze in the juice of the lime. Give it another quick stir. Add in 6 cups of water stirring gently. Cover and cook till done. Simple, easy to make Biryani is ready within half an hour.. :)

And now., for the accompaniment.. I made a potato gravy as an accompaniment along with the Cucumber Raita.., Only, I couldn't take a snap of the Gravy.., So here is the recipe of Cucumber Raita..

Cucumber Raita:

Serves: 4

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 250 g thick set natural yogurt or curds available in market
• 1 cucumber,finely chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• A few coriander leaves finely chopped
• 3-4 green Chillies, finely chopped
• Salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp roasted Cumin pwd

Method:

Beat the yogurt until smooth. Stir in the salt and the cumin powder. Add in the onions, cucumber and the chillies. Finally, add in the coriander leaves. Transfer the contents to a serving bowl. Refrigerate. Serve chilled along with the hot Biryani..

P.S: I hate Yogurt.. The smell is so nauseating. I haven't tasted it even once in my entire lifetime.., But Raj loves.., I repeat loves yogurt.., and I just have to grin and bear..

Biryani