Aloo Tikki – India

Aloo Tikki is a popular Indian street food snack made from mashed potatoes and spices. It’s a delicious and crispy potato patty that’s often served with chutney or yogurt. Here’s a basic recipe for making Aloo Tikki at home:

Ingredients:

For the Aloo Tikki:

• 4 large potatoes, boiled, peeled, and mashed
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 2-3 green chilies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onions
• 1/2 cup boiled peas (optional)
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste (optional)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp red chili powder (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying

For the Coating:

• 2-3 tablespoons cornstarch or all-purpose flour
• Water

For serving:

• Green chutney (made with mint and coriander)
• Tamarind chutney (sweet and tangy)
• Plain yogurt
• Chopped onions
• Chaat masala (optional)

Instructions:

1. Start by boiling the potatoes until they are fully cooked. Allow them to cool, peel, and then mash them thoroughly.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, bread crumbs, green chilies, onions, boiled peas (if using), ginger-garlic paste, cumin seeds, red chili powder, garam masala, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix everything together to form a uniform mixture.
3. Divide the mixture into equal portions and shape them into round or oval patties of your desired size and thickness. You can make them thin for crispier results or thicker for a softer texture.
4. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch or all-purpose flour with water to make a thin paste. This will be used for coating the patties.
5. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Dip each potato patty into the cornstarch paste to coat it evenly and then carefully place it in the hot oil.
6. Fry the Aloo Tikki until they are golden brown and crispy on both sides, flipping them as needed. This should take about 3-4 minutes per side.
7. Remove the Aloo Tikki from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil.
8. Serve the Aloo Tikki hot with green chutney, tamarind chutney, yogurt, chopped onions, and a sprinkle of chaat masala if desired.

Enjoy your homemade Aloo Tikki, a delicious and popular Indian snack!