Sabudana Vada (Tapioca-potato dumpling)

This is a snack from Maharashtra, a state in western India. I love their recipes and try to make them when possible. This snack/dumpling/fritter is usually eaten during a fast. The potato and tapioca provides abundant carbohydrate to sustain a fasting! Needless to say this is an excellent rainy day snack. This is usually served with hot chai (tea).

Ingredients:
2 large potatoes- peeled, boiled and diced
2 cups Sabudana (tapioca)-soaked for 2 hrs
1 medium onion, diced fine
1 green chili, chopped fine
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup peanuts, roasted and coarsely crushed (Optional)
1 tsp amchur powder (raw mango powder
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp lemon juice an 1 tsp grated lemon rind (this is optional for extra tang)
2 tbsp roughly chopped cilantro
Salt to taste
Water, about 1 tbsp if needed
Oil, for shallow frying, about 1/4 cup

Soak the Sabudana for about 2 hrs (or upto 5 hrs) in just enough water. It will be mushy and soft. In a bowl, mix the potatoes (I dont mash it, I like diced pieces) , onions, chili, peanut powder, amchur powder, cumin seeds, lemon juice, cilantro and salt. The consistency must be such that you must be able form a ball and flatten it wihtout it falling apart. Add water if the mixture is too dry. Alternatively, add some corn flour if too wet.

Heat the oil until it smokes. Make about 1.5” diameter balls and flatten then very gently. Spread a drop of oil on your palm to help flattening. Use a kadai (with a concave curvature) to utilize the least oil possible. Fry then until golden brown.

Sizzling...being shallow fried.

Stacked delicacy!