08 November, 2006

Mangalore Aloo Bonda

Well...The winter has started to crawl slowly... The days are shortening... Sun is hiding behind the black-gloomy clouds. This is not a best part of the time for me. I'm not sure if its just me who feels this way. But no denying the fact that winter has its own charm...
Yesterday was one of those days...Dark, dingy and gloomy... By the time me and my hubby reached home it felt like 9 O'Clock at night, when actually it was just few minutes past 5. Both of were craving for something hot and spicy. I didn't have all that energy to start cooking after tiring day in office and long walk back home. But my fridge didn't put me down. I had potato bhaji which we had prepared for Masala Dosa for our breakfast and first thing came to my mind was Aloo Bonda. As the stuffing for Bonda is same as Bhaji for Dosa, all I had to do was prepare just batter and fry them.

Mangalore Aloo Bonda

Well... Aloo Bonda are deep fried balls made of potatoes, dipped in spicy gram flour batter. Aloo Bonda is similar to a samosa in that it's a fried spiced potato fritter-y thing. That's where the similarities end. The Aloo Bonda is a stunner when dipped into the coconut chutney. They are very popular in my home town Mangalore. When it comes to popularity, this street food is as popular as any other chats and chatpatas. In every nook and corner you will find Aloo Bonda Gaadi with Gaadiwala busy making these amazing hot bondas and dozens of people slurping hot cup of 'Kaapi' and enjoying Bondas.


Aloo Bonda

Ingredients:
2 medium Potatoes, cooked, peeled and mashed
1/2 tsp of Cumin Seeds
1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
1 tsp Urad Dal
3-4 Green Chillies, chopped finely
1/2 tsp Ginger, finely chopped
1 small Onion, finely chopped (optional)
1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
2 tbsp chopped Coriander Leaves
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Lemon Juice
Oil for Deep frying

For Batter:
1 cup Gram Flour/Besan
1 tbsp Rice Flour
1/4 tsp Baking Soda(optional)
2 tsp Red Chilli Powder

Chai ke saath...Aloo Bonda

Method:
Heat about two tbls of oil.
Add mustard seeds and when the seeds start to crackle, add the cumin seeds, green chili, salt, ginger and garlic and fry for few seconds.
To this add chopped onion and turmeric powder.
When the onions tuen transparent add mashed potatoes, coriander leaves and lemon juice. Mix well and turn off the heat.
Let the mixture cool and then shape them into lemon sized balls.
Make a thick batter with Besan/Gram flour, rice flour, salt, red chili powder, baking soda and water.
Dip the potato balls into the batter and carefully drop in the oil.
Turn it every four minutes and remove from oil when it turns golden brown.
Serve with tamarind or green chutney or tomato sauce.

Aloo Bonda Filling

Variations:
Add few pieces of Cashew nuts with mashed potatoes. They make a big difference.
You can also add cooked green peas to it.

24 comments:

  1. Wow. Looks so mouthwatering. Wish I could eat it rightaway.

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  2. Hey Sia...I know exactly what you mean about the winter creeping upon us...the early darkness, coooold nights though unsettling at times is something to enjoy! Think of it as warm cups of tea by the fire,and snuggling up in warm sweaters...and of course, eating those delectables such as your Aloo Bondas!
    What can beat that??

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  3. hi lakshmi,
    just gimme ur address and i will right away parcel them;)
    apart from jokes give it a try girl.. its really easy to make.
    cheers
    supriya

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  4. trupti,
    tell me frankly r u reading my mind? :) u know what my next post to my blog is soup and this is the exact words i have written n saved for it in my draft, which i'll be posting today:) even what u have written in ur blog about out kitchen space is so much like me... im really glad to meet someone with same wavelength as me:)
    cheers
    supriya

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  5. I noticed your comment at My Dhaba and was checking out your page. Wow! you have some wonderful dishes out here. Bondas - yummy! Happy blogging.

    vkn
    My Dhaba

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  6. hi VKN,
    welcome to my blog and thanks for dropping by.. im gonna need lot of time checking your blog coz u have got so many things going on there:)
    which im gonna do it in my leisure time...
    happy blogging to u too
    cheers
    supriya

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  7. Hey Supriya,
    So nice pics and very nice recipe, i m surely gonna give it a try. :) I wish if I can grab some of it just right now :P .
    Stay tuned.
    -Pooja

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  8. hey pooja,
    give it a try girl... its simple, quike and very tasty snack... when ever u make masala dosa make sure to put 2 extra potatoes so taht u can have aloo bonda with cup of coffee in the evening:)
    cheers
    supriya

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  9. Mouth watering pictures, Supriya! Nice tip too, to make extra of the bhaji so it's readily available for the bonda.

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  10. hi vani,
    thanks for your compliments:) from all ur comments im happy to learn that my photography skill has improved:)
    cheers
    supriya

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  11. Alu bondas are excellent.I do the same, make more bhaji and fry bondas next day:D:D Thanks...

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  12. hi asha,
    thanks for ur comment... keep dropping by...
    cheers
    supriya

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  13. Hi Sia, really?? thats nice to hear too, not too many people think like I do, I am glad you're one of them, we'll get along just fine! meanwhile, enjoy the season, like I am currently doing; listening to the santoor and drinking Vanilla cream coffee and reading my favorite blogs! (hehe)

    Cheers,trupti

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  14. ha ha trupti... looks like even u r hooked to bloging like me:)
    and hey...what is this vanilla cream coffee? plz do share the recipe with us...
    cheers
    supriya

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  15. Hey Sia:

    I don't make Vanilla coffee at home, I just buy the flavored coffee or usually the Vanilla cream coffee creamer...they should have it in the UK. Hope you find it and enjoy it as much as i do, otherwise, I'll mail you a container!
    Let me know!

    Cheers,Trupti

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  16. thanks trupti for letting me know about it:) i'll start my vanilla cream coffee creamer hunt:) i'll let u know if i cant get it here;) thanks a lot girl:)
    cheers
    supriya

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  17. Hey supriya,
    This look yummy will try this.Any ways nice pics

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  18. Hi supriya...hmm mouth watering pics..
    Hey nice one.Missing all these .Will make some this weekend.

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  19. Hi Supriya,

    I am Abhi. I stay in San Diego, CA. When I came down here I did not even know how to boil water let alone cook anything. Now that I dont have any option, I look arnd the net for Indian Recipes. I have tried loads of stuff on ur blog spot & things have come out good. Being from Bangalore...I just love BisiBele Baath.
    Thanks for posting out ur recipes with clear cut directions.

    Abhi

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  20. hi soumya, thanks girl for ur compliments:)

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  21. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  22. hi abhi, i'm so glad to know that u tried the recipes from my blog. u r most welcome to ask any doubts/queries u have as i very well know how its for the beginners in cooking world:) infact its just been over a year since i started cooking:)
    cheers
    supriya

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  23. I love these batate ambaDe. This is the authentic mangalorean recipe for aloo bondas. Simply the best. Taste great without the intimidating garam masalas and onions.

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  24. Sia,
    I shouldn't have browsed your site this early(6.30 am). Your pictures made me so hungry. If God would grant me a wish right now, I would ask him to make your blog alive and gobble up all the food there. Aloo Bonda looks YUMMY.

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Namaste! I am Sia and welcome to Monsoon Spice, my virtual home. Thank you for all your comments, inputs and feedback. I really appreciate the valuable time you spent browsing through my recipe repertoire.

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