Indian Tater Tots | Potato Bites Recipe and Quick Fix Indian Cookbook Giveaway

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[Updated on October 29th 2012] This recipe was featured on Huffington Post under the article "Tater Tot Recipes, Because They're Good In Everything"  

New York Times ran an article last year - "Are Apps Making Cookbooks Obsolete?", which created quite a stir among foodies. In the article it is said -

"Cookbooks have long offered their own kind of enriched content, in the form of scribbles left in the margins by cooks who found they liked a little extra cinnamon, or a higher oven temperature."

..yes I own cookbooks for the same reason as I can scribble what I think about a certain recipe as I make it. Though I don't normally end up cooking from all the books I own, they have an old-school-charm to it. Only when one experiences it, they would know the warm feeling for cooking from a book rather from an app.

After 5 years of her first cookbook, Ruta Kahate (5 Spices 50 Dishes fame) brings us a new edition with about 125 easy indian recipes that can be made in 30 mins or less. It starts with a "Shortcut Shelf" which has recipes for read-to-use pastes/condiments that can be stored or refrigerated for later use. Drawing inspiration for Thai Red Curry and Green Curry pastes, she has Red Masala and Green Masala that can be made quite easily and these are handy to spruce up almost anything - from meat to veggies to sandwiches and even pastas.

Similarly there are some funky names for other categories as well such as "Brisk Breakfasts", "Mains in Minutes", "Curries in a hurry", "Swift Soups", "Zippy Snacks" etc. Some of the recipes are quite intriguing like "Tomato Water" and her "Maa's Sheera", but I have a feeling that an experienced cook will find these recipes quite basic.

When it comes to a cookbook, I love ogling at a photograph of the finished recipe as it gives a good idea on what to expect. Quick Fix Indian has a very small number of photographs, often just the ingreidients and not of the recipe featured which is a little disappointing for me, personally speaking.

Nevertheless, Ruta demystifies Indian food and makes sure there is something for everybody and every occasion in her book. It gives a modern twist to few of our classic recipes without compromising on taste. Do try to grab a copy today.

I bookmarked quite a few recipes from every section and since it was raining & quite gloomy in our neck of woods, I chose to make some Indian Tater Tots today - a quick snack with a cuppa of tea did work its wonders on me. :-)

Enjoy!

{Recipe} Indian Tater Tots | Potato Bites

Source: Quick-Fix Indian: Easy, Exotic Dishes in 30 Minutes or Less by Ruta Kahate

Ingredients:

12 ounces (approx 4 medium-sized) potatoes, boiled
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
2 small green chillies, seeded, minced
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
salt - to taste
1 large egg, whisked
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 cup canola oil
1-2 tablespoons all purpose flour/maida (my addition, optional)

Note: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour if the mixture is too sticky and cannot be rolled into balls. 

Preparation:

1. Peel the potatoes and mash well. Mix in onion, chillies and cilantro. Season to taste with salt. Stir in the whisked egg and the bread crumbs (and flour if using).

2. Form into small balls (as the original recipe). (or) sprinkle some bread crumbs on a plate or wax paper, roll potato mixture into a thin cylinder. Cut into small pieces with knife. (just like gnocchi).

Optional Step - Line the balls on (wax) paper and refrigerate for atleast an hour, until firm.

3. Heat oil in a skillet and shallow fry the tater tots until light golden brown. Drain excess oil on paper towels. For a healthier option, these can be very well be baked at 180 C or 350 F for 20-30 minutes, carefully flipping them in the middle.

4. Serve them immediately with ketchup or any chutney

How to enter Quick Fix Indian Cookbook giveaway

1. Leave a comment on this post with your favorite quick fix recipe  (indian or non-indian) - No need of links, just the name will do. Note: Quick fix recipe is something you make when you are darn hungry and short of time. 

2. Mention your location - US or India so that you are entered for the corresponding drawing.

To increase your chances in the random drawing, do one or more of the following and leave a comment once you did so. 

3. Follow Cooking With Siri on Facebook.

4. Follow me on Twitter. - @sirime

5. Subscribe to Cooking With Siri feed.

6. Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the below text -
Share your favorite quick fix recipe for a chance to win Quick Fix Indian Cookbook giveaway on @sirime's blog. http://www.tinyurl.com/quickfixindiangiveaway

If you are already liked me on facebook, following on twitter or subscribed to RSS feed, just leave a comment letting me know and you are entered in the giveaway automatically! This giveaway is open for everybody, You don't have to be a blogger to win the cookbook.

The giveaway will end on July 31st 2012 and two winners randomly picked - one from US and another from India will be announced on August 1st 2012. . 

Good Luck Everybody!

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until next time,

Note: This is not a paid post. The giveaway for US residents is sponsored by the publisher and one for Indian residents is sponsored by me.