Mumbai Ragda Pattis

Spring break began, and we invited friends over for Easter Chaat Party! It was a great day with beautiful climate, great friends and sweet, spicy, tangy chat and chaat!! So the menu for the day was: Pani Puri, Dahi Batata Puri, Dahi Pakodi and Mumbai style Ragda Pattis. Delicious dessert of Gulab Jamuns, GJ as my friend would say and fresh strawberries :)
Ragda Pattis is a great recipe for Chaat Party! Cooked live on buffet counter will surely inpress your guests :) Pattis is pan fried patty made of mashed potatoes which makes them crisp from outside and soft from inside. Ragda is a mushy gravy made of peas.

Soak 2 cups white dried peas in 4 cups of water for 5-6 hours. As they double in size; time for cooking :)

Add 1 cup water, 1 tbsp. salt, pinch of turmeric and pressure cook till they turn soft. (5-6 whistles)

Let the pressure cooker cool before you open the lid. 

Prepare the temper: Heat 1 tbsp oil. Fry 3 cloves and 1 stick cinnamon for 30-45 seconds. Add the spice temper into soft cooked peas. Smash 1 boiled potato and add to cooked peas. Potato starch will allow the mixture to thicken and form a delicious gravy.

Simmer for 3-4 minutes and transfer into a serving bowl. I like to keep them in an electric bowl/fondue pot to keep it warm and simmering while the guests enjoy the buffet.

To make Potato Patty or Patties or Pattis :)

Boil/ Pressure cook 2 pounds/1 kg potatoes.

Peal and mash them. Add salt, lime juice, ginger and chilli paste and freshly chopped cilantro. Mix them well.  We will use Arrowroot, a starch obtained from a plant root as a binder. Depending on type of potato, you may have to use more of less arrowroot. Add 2tbsp. of arrowroot and mix the mashed potato mixture well to make a smooth dough. If you potato dough is sticky,  you make want to add more arrowroot so that the patty pan fries well and does not start cracking up.

 Take a scope of potato mixture in your palms and make a tight ball. Press to make it circular, oval or any shape you like. Press and flatten the sides.

Heat a flat bottom skillet or griddle or an electric griddle.

Brush some oil.  Place the patties and pan fry on both sides. To avoid the patty from sticking add few drops of oil to the side of the skillet or the patty. Pan fry both sides till it gets golden brown evenly.

Lay out the food and let your guests help themselves.

It is a great buffet food too!!

To serve: In a bowl or a deep dish, place potato patty. Put a spoon full of Ragda/ pea mixture. Garnish with cilantro chutney, garlic chutney, sweet chutney, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, chickpea flour noodle/ sev,  finely chopped cilantro.

Sprinkle some Chaat Masala and 
crack some crisp Puris!