Geetha's Kitchen

Chole Tikki Aloo Tikki are a favorite snack all over India. Eaten with a little chutney or with protein-rich pea or bean curries, they make a filling meal. As evening approaches, snack vendors get ready with their array of patties sizzling on the griddles waiting for the crowds of people stopping for a late afternoon snack and offer combos such as Ragada-Patties in Western India and as Chole - or Chana -Tikki in the North. 12 Tikki - Allow 2-3 tikki per serving. Ingredients: 1 lb Potatoes (2 medium to large) 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated 1/2 tsp Cayenne or Serrano/Jalapeno chile, minced 1/2 Onion, finely chopped 1 cup Peas, fresh or frozen 4 tbsp Cilantro, finely chopped 1 tsp Amchoor Or Lime/Lemon juice to taste 1 tsp Sea Salt 1/4 cup Rice Flour About 1/2 cup Rice flour for coating the patties About 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil for cooking 1/4 cup Green Chutney to serve 1/4 cup Sweet Chutney to serve Chole / Ragada to serve (optional) Method: Make shallow cuts around the...

Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) is a gorgeous member of the onion family. Similar in flavor to chives, garlic chives have a mild garlic flavor and is often used as a vegetable in Asian cuisines. Known as Gau Choy, Chinese chives, Nira, etc, both the leaves and the young flower stalks with the buds and the flowers can be used in cooking in place of green onions or regular chives. Garlic chives can be easily grown from seeds or plant divisions. It is a perennial plant that does not require a lot of care. Once planted, it slowly spreads and self seeds also. Harvest the grass like leaves and flower stalks by cutting close to the base. The seeds can be collected to make delicious tasting sprouts during winter months when the chives themselves slow down. Garlic chives make wonderful border plants in regular as well as the herb gardens with the fragrant and attractive white star-shaped flowers. I have used them in bouquets in high summer when there aren't a lot of other flowe...

Potato Bonda with Sweet and Green Chutneys Potato Bonda is probably Paji's all time favorite snack. It is a traditional afternoon tea-time treat all over Southern and Western India. In Mumbai area it is called "Batata Vada" and is a very popular street snack. Seasoned potato and vegetable balls are dipped in batter and fried to make Potato or Aloo Bonda. If you prepare the potatoes a day ahead, bonda making goes together pretty quickly. Ingredients: Potato Filling: 1 recipe Basic Potato Curry 1 recipe Bajji Batter Oil for deep frying Assorted Chutneys, ketchup, etc. to serve Method: Prepare the Potato Curry; make into 1 inch balls and set aside. Chill if made ahead. Potato Balls Prepare the batter: Mix the ingredients to make a fairly thick batter. The batter should form a thick coat for the potato balls. Heat oil for deep frying. When hot, slip in batter coated potato balls carefully without splashing the hot oil or crowding. Bondas are almost ready! Bits of Bo...

Aloo Chana Chat Chats are piquantly spiced snack dishes laced with lime juice prepared with readily available ingredients. Aloo Chana Chat (Ah-loo Chanah Chah-t) is more than a simple snack of seasoned potatoes and chick peas. It is based on the ubiquitous snacks offered by snack vendors all over India. With the protein- and fiber-rich chick peas or garbanzos, crisp veggies, crunchy sev, and a sweet and sour dressing made with chutneys, it can double as a filling and nutritious meal. Served with a side of cooling plain Yogurt or the yogurt based beverage Lassi , it makes a delicious no-cook repast especially during summertime. Clockwise from the top: Carrots, Lemon, Cucumber, Red Onion, Green Chili, Chick Peas, Potato, Cilantro; Sev in the center I used sprouted chick peas here but un-sprouted or canned may be used as well. The chutneys can be homemade or store-bought. Other crisp fresh veggies and fresh or steamed sprouts may be added. This is a basic blueprint...