Popped Rice Balls

Popped Rice Balls (Khoi Moa/Murkhi )

Makes:300gms                                                                                     Time:10 mins

Popped Rice Balls or Khoi Moa/ Murkhi as it is known in Bengali. Yes, this dish is a Bengali specialty. It is a simple, sweet and tasty snack which you can make in minutes. A near-extinct recipe as mothers are moving on to unhealthy fast food such as chips, noodles, and burgers. 

Ingredients

Popped rice   200gm

Jaggery         100 gm

Water             2 tbsp

Ghee              2tsp

Preparation

Take a kadhai/ sauce pan put the jaggery and water and keep on stirring while letting it boil until it becomes bubbly and starts sticking to the stirring spoon. Then add the ghee. Switch off the flame.Keep on stirring for a little more time to cool it. Add the popped rice and mix well so all of it is uniformly coated with the jaggery. Make sure it is not sticky.Then take a handful of the mixture and press it between the palms to shape it into a ball. Your snack is ready

Baked Veg chops/Cutlets

                               Baked Veg chops/Cutlets

INGREDIENTS(MAKES 15-20 MEDIUM CUTLETS):

• ½ tsp of cumin seeds,
• ½ tsp of fennel seeds,
• 6 cloves,
• 3 green cardamoms,
• Small ½ inch cinnamon stick,
• 5 peppercorns,
• 2-3 green chili,
• 1-2 dry bay leaf
• 2 medium sized beetroot, cut into small pieces,
• 2 medium sized carrots, cut into small pieces,
• 2 small potatoes, boiled and mashed,
• 1 tsp of grated ginger,
• 2 green chilies, finely chopped,
• 2 tsp of peanuts,
• Salt to taste,
• Sugar to taste,
• Green coriander, finely chopped
• 4 tbsp oil

FOR THE COATING:

• 2 tsp of rice flour
• 5-6 tbsp of gram flour
• 3 eggs

PREPARATION:

1. First, grind the roasted whole spices and keep it aside.
2. In a skillet, take 1 tsp of oil and lightly fry the peanuts. Keep them aside and in the same oil, fry ginger and green chilies till you get a light aroma.
3. Into this add the grated beetroot and carrot and saute well. Cook until they are soft and can be smashed. Now add the mashed potatoes, salt, sugar, ground roasted spice powder and chopped coriander leaves. Mix well.
4. Cool the mixture and make 15-20 medium cutlet balls.Take medium sized balls and pressing it softly on the palm give it an oval shape as shown in the picture.
5. In a separate bowl beat the eggs, in another take 2 tsp of the rice flour and in a third container keep the gram flour. Roll each ball into the egg batter and then roll them in gram flour and then rice flour.
6. Now warm the oven and place them in a greased baking pan and bake them at 200.Try to turn them over after 10 mins to give nice even coloring.Now, bake it for 10-15 minutes till it turns a little brown.To get nice crispiness like the fried ones grease them with oil ones you turn them.
7. Serve them piping hot with onion rings, ketchup.