Vegetarian Shikampuri

Shikampuri is a Hyderabadi cutlet made with minced meat.  And hard core non-vegetarians will tell you it is worth going all the way to the small joints in the old city to get the best cutlets ever.  And if you are vegetarian ( and not allergic to soya as K is ) then this is a must-try.  I found this recipe at Escapades.

I made 1/3 this recipe and got about a dozen of these cutlets.  Ingredients are listed as 1-2-3 since the preparation involves ingredients listed under each.  The spices in step 1 add to the flavour of end product.

Ingredients:
1.
Soya chunks - 100 gms - these are light !
Split chick pea ( Chana dal) - 1/2 cup
Green chilies - 2
Green cardamom - 2
Cinamon sticks - 2
Cloves - 3
Pepper corns - 5-6
Chilie powder - 1 tsp

2.
Oil - any refined oil - 2 tbsp
Onion - 1 - sliced
Salt to taste

3.
Ginger - garlic paste - 1-2 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
Bread crumbs - 1 cup ( if not readily available - toast one day old bread and put in mixie)
Egg - 1 ( beaten)
Coriander and Mint leaves - 1/2 cup ( together)

Soak the soya chunks in hot water and leave for about 15-20 minutes.  Squeeze out water and add cold water and do similarly. 2-3 cold washes recommended.
Put the soya chunks along with the ingredients listed under 1 - in a pressure cooker with a little water for 3 whistles to ensure the dal is cooked.
Cool, drain out any excess water

Step 2
Take a pan, add the oil, sliced onion, salt and the pressure cooked soya mixture and cook till thoroughly dry.

Cool.  And then grind to a fine pasty mixture. Make sure you do not add water or if you - it should be very little.

Put into a bowl and add ingredients listed in 3

Mix the ingredients well.  Shape into even balls and flatten them slightly into cutlets

Take a pan and add sufficient oil and fry these cutlets to a golden brown.

Serving suggestions:
Tomato ketchup, green chutney, onion slices, lemon wedges, rumali roti.