There are some bloggers who present with such beauty and specificity that you want jump right out of the blog and into their kitchens. One such blog is the saffron trail, where recently Nandita featured Arbi ke Tikkey, a lovely way to dress up the humble Taro.
I followed her recipe pretty closely, with tiny tweaks, could not leave out my beloved chat masala now, could I?
Arbi Ke Tikkey - Spicy Taro Cakes
Makes 8
Ingredients
8 medium sized taro
2 limes
1 tsp cumin-coriander powder
1/2 tsp crushed carom seeds
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp chat masala
1 tsp black salt
1 tsp salt
Oil for frying
To garnish
Onion rings
Cilantro
Additional Chat masala
Freshly ground black pepper
Method of Preparation
1. Cook the taro for 10 minutes, till parcooked. Cool and remove the skin.
2. Squeeze the juice of 1.5 limes on the taro, and add the remaining spices to the taro. Let this sit for 1 hour stirring occasionally.
3. In a shallow skillet, add the taro in a single layer and cook on medium-low heat for about 6 minutes on each side. This should allow a thick golden crust to form on each side.
4. Remove from the oil and let this cool slightly.
5. Squeeze with the remaining lime, add the chat masala and pepper.
6. Garnish with onions and cilantro and serve with a chutney if desired.
This dish would make a great side dish for any other fish or chicken dish.
