Navratri Recipe- North Indian Style Rajgiri Batata Vada

Most of the people in North India fast during Janmashtmi, Navaratri and Ekadashi and eat only satvik food as grains and pulses are prohibited during fasting . Sabudana(sago), Singhoraka atta(Water chestnut flour), kuttu(buck wheat flour), Sama(Barnyarmillet ),Rajgiri atta, Ramdana are used for making patties, poori and pilafs.

Only some selected spices can be used during fasting i.e sendha namak(rock salt),pepper powder salt),mango powder,asafoetida and cumin seeds.But it may vary from region to region.

Ingredients

For Making The Vada

3 Potatoes / Aloo boiled
1.5 tsp Green chilies/Hari Mirch chopped
1.5 tsp Ginger / Adrak chopped
2 tbsp Fresh Coriander / Cilantro / Hara Dhaniya
1.5 tsp Lemon Juice / Nimbu Ka Ras
1/2 tsp Pepper Powder / Kali Mirch
1.5 tsp Raisins chopped
1 tbsp Cashew Nuts / Kaju chopped-
2 tsp Clarified Butter / Desi Ghee
1 tsp Cumin Seeds / Sabut Jeera
to taste Salt / Namak

For the Batter

1 cup Amaranth flour/Rajgiri flour
3/4 tsp Pepper Powder / Kali Mirch
3/4 tsp Cumin Seeds / Sabut Jeera
Pinch of Asafoetida / Hing powder
To taste Salt / Namak

Method

- Peel and mash boiled potatoes in a bowl.
- Heat 2 tsp of ghee in a heavy bottom pan and add 1tsp of cumin seeds.
- Now add pinch of asafoetida and chopped chilies in the pan and stir .
- Add ginger,mashed potato,cashews,raisins,salt and pepper powder and stir fry for a minute
- Add lemon juice or mango powder and fresh coriander,mix well and remove from the flame.
- Let it cool down a bit and then make small balls of equal size.
- In a big and wide bowl add rajgiri ka atta.
- Add salt,pepper powder,cumin seeds,asafoetida in rajgiri flour.
- Add water to make a medium thick batter of coating consistency.
- Heat enough oil/ghee in a deep and wide pan.
- Now dip the potato balls in the batter and drop gently in hot oil.
- Deep fry vadas on medium heat till golden and crisp.
- Serve hot with kiwi and mint chutney or aam papad chutney.