Batata Vada

3/4 lb. potatoes
3-4 onions, chopped finely
2 cups bengal gram flour (besan)
3-4 green chillies
A small piece ginger
4 cloves garlic
2 tbsp grated coconut
Sugar to taste
Juice of one lime
A few sprigs coriander leaves, chopped
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp cumin seeds
A pinch of soda-bi carb (baking soda)


Pressure cook the potatoes till soft.Peel and mash. Set aside.Blend together the green chillies, garlic and ginger to a fine paste.Mix together the potato, onions, ginger/garlic/chilli paste, coriander leaves, sugar, lime juice and salt to taste.
Heat a little oil and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves.When the mustard crackles, remove from heat and add to the potato mixture.Mix well.Make a smooth batter with the bengal gram flour,salt to taste, cumin seeds,red chilli powder and
turmeric powder.Add a teaspoon of hot oil when making the batter.Let the batter remain thick.Divide the potato mixture into equal sized portions, the size of a lemon.Dip each ball in the batter and deep fry till golden brown in color.
Serve hot with chutney/ketchup.