Spicy Vegetarian Potato Croquettes (Cutlets)


Potatoes are the most universally accepted spuds in any style or type of cooking. Come to think of it, they pair so well with most other vegetables, herbs, meat and the spices, that they would be a great addition to a large number of meals, without forgetting how they can be an entire meal themselves, even when simply baked and drizzled with salt, pepper, sour cream and chives! Potatoes hold an even higher reverence in Indian cooking, especially vegetarian recipes, and most of the kids grow up eating nothing else but potato curry (including my husband!) So when I was asked to choose a single recipe which could serve to be "An Ode to Potato", I had to choose my all-time favorite, the Vegetarian Potato Cutlets. With potatoes as the base and the serrano chillies providing the kick, these spicy croquettes combine a variety of other vegetables and can be savored with chutneys or sauces, or be used for burgers and frankies!

The croquette is basically a serving of minced meat or vegetables, encased in breadcrumbs and potatoes, flattened into disks, and then deep-fried. The croquette was originally a French invention that gained a world-wide popularity as a fast-food with the advent of burgers. In India, it is known as "cutlets" or "aloo-tikkis"

Ingredients
3 large potatoes - boiled and mashed
1 carrot - boiled
1/2 cup peas - boiled
1/2 cup beetroot - boiled and diced
1/2 cup onions chopped
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves - chopped
2 serrano chillies - chopped
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp garam masala
2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
salt to taste
1/2 cup breadcrumbs or all-purpose flour - for coating

Method
Boil the potatoes, peas and carrots; Then make sure you remove all the water and just take the vegetables and mash everything with a masher or with your hand. Boil the beet root separately otherwise it colors all the remaining vegetables and turns them pink! Chop into fine pieces and add to the mixture and try mashing everything well together.

Heat a wok, add 1 tbsp oil and saute the chopped onions till soft and lightly caramelized. Now add all the spices, green chillies and the chopped coriander to this and remove from heat. Transfer this to the potato mixture and add 1/2 cup bread crumbs. Mix everything together to form a firm mixture.

Take a chunk of the filling, grease your palms, and shape the vegetable mixture into discs or cylindrical cutlets. Do not make them too thick else it won't get cooked thoroughly while frying or baking.

Now roll each cutlet into the remaining bread crumbs or maida(all-purpose flour) so that it is evenly coated. This step is crucial so that the cutlet binds properly and does not break while frying.

Take a frying pan, add 2 cups cooking oil to it, then deep fry the croquettes 2 or 3 at a time. flip them over only when the bottom side is done; turning them around a lot increases the chances that they'll break! Fry well on both sides till dark golden brown in color. Remove and allow to drip excess oil on a tissue paper.

When they cool, serve with some ketchup or green chutney, or bundle them up inside a bun to form vegetable burgers! Anyay you eat it, the cutlets are delicious! These are on their way to Dhivya's Potato Feast and Sia's Ode to Potato events!

Similar Recipes:
Spinach and Paneer Cutlets
Ragda-Patties


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45 comments :

Anonymous said...

wow Mansi! cutlets never looked better!:)

-Anjali

amna said...

lovely pic! and its time for lunch, so really hungry!

Anonymous said...

my first time here! you have a great site, and very wonderful recipes...my kids love these cutlets; I will try them this week and also some of your desserts

Sanjana

Mansi said...

Thanks Anjali!

Nags - I'm really trying hard to improve my pics, so thanks for the vote of confidence! sending a plate your way right now gal:)

Sanjana - welcome to Fun and Food and thanks for your kind comment! my husband also loves these cutlets...do try them out and let me know how it goes!:)

Lavanya Raj said...

cutlet looks crispier..and pic looks great too.

Meeta K. Wolff said...

I do enjoy potato cutlets as a snack. I make mine with flax seeds and they add a great crunch to it. I love the colorful picture!

Finla said...

Yumm cutlets looks delicious.

FH said...

YUMMY! I made one with Soy flour and Green beans at Aroma. Aren't they just delicious to eat? I love it although it's bit of work to make them. Perfect golden color Mansi, good job!:)

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Love potatoes in any form and your cutlets look cute in the picture.

Kalai said...

Mansi, it's 9 AM and you've got me craving a cutlet. Girl, that's just wrong! *laugh* Seriously, they look just delectable!! :)

Namratha said...

Nice blend of spices Mansi, very nice version of the cutlets ..love 'em!

Rina said...

Always loved Potatoe cutlets... Will try your version too. Bookmarked.

Mansi said...

Thanks everyone! As Asha said, they are not easy to make, and definitely a lot of work, but I was really happy with the results:)

Anonymous said...

these look like the best cutlets I've seen in ages! the ones you get in restuarants are so soggy and oily!! yours look crisp and perfect:)

~Heather

Sagari said...

beautiful pics mansi love the cutlets

Unknown said...

hi Mansi!!beetroots in cutlets ...gr8 combination .nice way to hide the veggies in croquettes and serve the children:)thanx

remya said...

potato are everyones fav...thats looks sooo crispy....i'm really hungry!!

Richa said...

love those spicy cutlets & beetroot imparts a lovely pink hue :)

DEEPA said...

awesome cutlets ...very cripsy and looks very perfect!!!

Anonymous said...

oh man, you should rename these as "Killer Cutlets!" they look AMAZING!

~Shyam

Mansi said...

Saswati - yeah, these can be a good source of veggies for kids!

Heather, Sagari, Deepa - thanks for the compliments folks!

Richa ben - I agree, beet adds a beautiful hue:)

Remya - go ahead and take a piece:)

Shyam - I love the name! Killer Cutlets: it rhymes nciely too!:D hehe:)

Anonymous said...

Had some very tasty cutlets when I was in India. Yours look delicious!

Lisa Turner said...

I'm so making these. I love the addition of beetroot. Just perfect! Who needs a cookbook when there are so many delicious blogs like yours out there.

Manju said...

soo true...potatoes are on of the most versatile ingredients!! n these croquettes look sooo golden n perfect!!

Rupa said...

Mouthwatering cutlets..Will make them for sure this weekend..My family loves potatoes :)...Thanks

Red Chillies said...

Yumm! I love cutlets/aloo-tikkis any time of the day/night and can virtually live on it!

Kajal@aapplemint said...

mansi ben ... i want some too ... my veggie queen , how i miss this food , and yet never end up making it.

Mansi said...

Linda, Superchef, RC - thanks for your generous comments!:)

Lisa, Kajal - I'm flattered!:D

Rupa - do let me know how it goes gal!

Suganya said...

My mom makes a very thin batter with cornflour. She dunks it in the cornflour batter, then breadcrumbs for crispier cutlets.

A Cook @ Heart said...

YUM!! YUM!! and YUM!!!
I love cutlets! just putting a cutlet betn 2 slices of bread and ketchup is also so yummy!!

Cham said...

Your cutlets are very crispy :)
U make me hungry, Mansi :)

Anonymous said...

Wow your cutlets look so delicious and crispy !!! Good entry.

sandhya said...

love these... pic looks very tempting...

bee said...

these look just like my mom's. thanks for the recipe.

DK said...

croquettes..cutlets..whats in a name when the end result looks as mind boggling as that! I have a special liking to cutlets and I make with so many combos and they taste delicious however. I havent yet added beets to my cutlets ever - and dunno why! - Will sure do, esp after this one. They luk amazing Mansi and thanks for sending it my way :)

Nora B. said...

Hi Mansi,

Your potato aloo-tikkis looks so good! I don't lke frying, but when my friends make something like this, I will surely savour it. yumm!

Rosie said...

Oh wow Mansi these potato cutlets just look so crispy and delicious - yum

Rosie x

Nina Timm said...

I am always on the look out for new potato recipes, this one is a definite new comer on my list. Thx

Anonymous said...

WoW....looks yummy...cutlets are always my favourites and this one seems really good...the photo and the recipe is simply mouth-watering...shall try this one this week-end...lovely!

Deeba PAB said...

Hey Mansi...smart looking croquettes my dear! I've never seen them look more pro! The recipe is wonderful too...

Susan @ SGCC said...

Lovely cutlets, Mansi! Nice and golden. Mine always fall apart when I fry them. My mother makes great ones too. She hides a chunk of mozzarella in the middle of the cutlet. When they cook, the cheese gets all gooey! :)

Mansi said...

These beauties have definitely drawn attention form some cooking stalwarts, I must say! I'm so proud:) I urge all of you to try these as they are totally worth the effort!!

jd said...

I LOVE potato croquettes, & your recipe sounds delicious!

Thanks for giving me a great dinner idea :)

Deepa Kuber said...

they look delicious, i like cutlets with tomato hot and sweet sauce too :)
im adding ur blog in my fav blog list ;)

Cris said...

We call it croquettes here! And this veggie version... wow... love it!