Low-Fat Aaloo Bonda | Batata Vada | Stuffed Potato Dumpling

Before I proceed, here's some background about what we're making today. Typically, Batata Vada | Aaloo Bonda (read like Rhonda ;-))  involves DEEP-FRYING a potato-filling (& other veggies) dipped in gram flour batter. Here's something you may (or may not) have seen before -

This is called a Kuzhi Paniyaram Achchu (don't even try pronouncing it! Only south Indians will get it right :-D) As you can see, it has holes (or kuzhi) in which we pour any batter and make small ball shaped snacks. SO this is what we're using today, to make these low-fat dumplings. If you don't have this, you can always deep fry & then burn off on the treadmill! :-P

Batata Vada RECIPE

(adapted from Zesty Palette)

Ingredients (makes around 20 Bondas)

for the filling

Potatoes - 4 large

Salt - 1 teaspoon

Green Chilis - 3 , sliced finely

Oil - 1/2 teaspoon

Cumin Seeds - 1/2 teaspoon

Mustard Seeds - 1/2 teaspoon

Turmeric Powder - 1/2 teaspoon

for the batter

Gram Flour / Besan - 2 cups

Rice flour - 3/4 cups

Red Chili Powder - 1-2 teaspoon

Salt - to taste - 1 -2 teaspoons

Water - 1-1.5 cups

Method

STEP 1: Make the batter -

take gram flour in a bowl

  

add rice flour

add red chili powder & salt

slowly, add water to make a smooth batter. Beat well to avoid lumps

STEP 2: Make the filling -

Mash the potatoes

In a small pan, heat 1/2 tsp oil

add mustard seeds & cumin seeds

add green chili, salt & turmeric powder

fry for a minute & add to the mashed potatoes

Mix well. (Grate & add garlic if you want. It smells awesome!)

STEP 3: Make the Bondas

take about 1-2 tablespoons of the potato-mix & make neat, tiny balls.

since the holes are tiny, we make small balls of the mashed potatoes. If you are deep frying you can make as big a ball as you want! ☻

STEP 4: Deep Fry - heat enough oil in a deep pan & fry on both sides until deep golden.

or Shallow Fry

Heat about 1/4 teaspoon of oil in each groove/hole

Dip each ball in the batter and coat evenly.

Immediately place the dipped balls into the holes | groove. Fry on 1 side on medium heat for a minute or 2. 

(depends upon how crisp you want. Longer the crisper. But not too long - or you'll get burnt bondas :-D)

Gently flip over to the other side using a fork & spoon.

Again cook for a minute or two.

I made a mess while flipping over. So, be careful

Remove on a plate & serve with some Tomato Ketchup, Mint Chutney, Sweet-Sour Chutney or just have it simply with tea!

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I am incredibly satisfied with the Bondas! Next time, instead of a potato filling, I'm gonna try spinach-tofu mix. You can fill it with just about anything! So awesome and guilt-free they were that we couldn't resist it! But then again, over-eating leads to you-know-what. So prepare lesser batter & lesser potato-mix so that you can stop at the magical number 4! :-D