Monday, June 11, 2007

Amchi Mumbai Street Food - Aloo Tikki with Ragda

(....A.k.a Chaat or ragda patties...)

When I first visited Mumbai, the only thing I liked is the street food. Next time, I fell in love with the city itself; bustling with life, busy and hard working people trying to make ends meet. It is a good way to unwind the day's stress with a vada-pav or pav-bhaji or ragda-patti or pani-puri etc etc and piping hot chai. What separates an outsider from the city crowd is the bewildered look on his/her face while watching the street-wallah churning up these delicacies :-) Many of these street vendors have improved their hygiene in the recent past so we can devour these all time favs.

For Tikkies:
2 medium-sized boiled potatoes
3-4 baby carrots
1 green chili
salt to taste
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
enough oil to shallow-fry the tikkies
3-4 tbsp sooji or rava

For Ragda:
1.5 cups whole dried yellow peas
salt to taste
3 - 4 cups water
1 tsp chaat masala
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 - 1 tsp red chili powder
1 medium tomato, chopped fine
1 medium onion, chopped fine
1 tbsp cooking oil
1 tsp mint leaves, finely chopped
a pinch jaggery
1 tsp finely chopped cilnatro

Prep Work:
Pick and wash the peas. Soak for 2 hours.
Take all the ingredients listed under Tikkies except for rava (sooji), and oil in a food processor. Process until it becomes corase somewhat dry paste. Do not add any water. Make lemon sized balls, flatten evenly, sprinkle lightly with sooji on both sides, and keep aside.

Method:
To make Tikkies:
Heat a tablespoon of cooking oil in a skillet. Shallow-fry the tikkies 3 mins each on both sides or until they are golden brown. Sprinkle oil now and then if required. Finish all the tikkies, place them on a kitchen towel.

To make Ragda:
  • Drain peas. Add 2-3 cups water and pressure cook for 1-3 whistles or until they are well-done.
  • While they are still hot, add salt and half of chaat masala and keep aside
  • In a saucepan, heat 1 tbsp oil. Add jeera, half of onions, turmeric powder. When the onions become translucent, add half of tomatoes. Add Salt, remaining chaat masala powder, mint leaves, jaggery, red chili powder.
  • Cook until done. Remove from heat, cool for a while. Blend into smooth puree. Return to stove, add the cooked peas, mix gently. Cook until it starts simmering. Reduce the heat to lowest setting and simmer for 3 min.
  • Remove from heat. Cool for a while.
  • If the ragda is too thin, mash some of it and simmer for few more minutes.
For serving, serve two to three tikkies per person and a ladle or two ragda. Garnish with chopped onions, tomatoes and cilantro.

My contribution for RCI - Mahararashtrian Cuisine

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

that's one of my favouirte street foods, Vani.I don't think anyone can resist street food once they taste it!Nice photo of Ragda Pattice there.

Suganya said...

I can 'taste' the tikki & ragda by looking at yr pic.. Slurp!

Nupur said...

Street food...the most important food group in my eyes :D
What a delicious-looking dish, and gorgeous pictures, Vani! Thanks for participating!

Viji said...

Very nice and well presented. It is mouthwatering. Viji

Anonymous said...

gosh
those tikkis look yum yum
never made ragdi though
whole dried yellow peas?
batanila?
www.talimpu.com

Sharmi said...

this is a great one for RCI looks so yummy. you have a great blog.

DEEPA said...

This is very yummy one ...Tasty it looks ....must have tastes great ...

Vani said...

Thank you, all.
Nupur, yes, absolutely. :-)
Anusharaji, yes, bataneelu. That's what chaat is made with back home. Here in US, canned chana has replaced whole dried peas. I like it with dried peas.
Sharmi, thank you.

Kajal said...

Love your aloo tikki with ragda...My mouth is watering my dear... Thanks for sharing nice recipe.:)

Dhana said...

Wanna reach out and have one!

Roopa said...

my favorites! looks tempting and delicious

TBC said...

Oooh , I just love ragda patties!I used to love going to Juhu beach just to eat all the street food. I really miss those days now!
They look so tempting in ur pic!