Beet Cutlets and Mashed Beets-Indian Inspired

I have been wondering about the role that food plays in shaping-up your memories.Isn't it amazing that so many memories in your life revolve around food?My friend Cucina from Cucina49 has been talking about a book she read titled Let us Eat Cake-Adventures in Food and Friendship that in her words "is a remembrance of friends told through the foods that they ate together" and that got me thinking about my food related memories.Growing-up I have fond memories of my Dad making his signature mutton every Sunday (which he does even today!).I was his assistant and taste tester, handing him over all the spices and learned a lot from him just by watching him cook.That's how my interest in cooking began to develop.

In the same way, I remember my Mom's Vegetable Cutlets that we used to have as a snack many times and often demanded it even for our breakfast on the weekends!They were heavenly.She made them by stuffing all kinds of veggies like beets, carrots and peas inside a ball of mashed potatoes with a crispy coating of breadcrumbs and it tasted wonderful.The recipe here is inspired by Mom's vegetable cutlets.I'm doing it by using beets as the base and mixing it with some potatoes here.

They also make for a great party appetizer your guests will absolutely fall in love with.The sweetness of the beet is balanced by the spices and the moment you taste it,it just explodes with flavor and all the beet goodness!
Talking about beets, they are one of the most nutritious vegetables around.Rich in anti-oxidants, they are anti-inflammatory and detoxifying and contain powerful nutrient compounds that help protect against heart disease and certains types of cancer.They are also rich in Vitamins, fiber and potassium.

Beet Cutlets or Mashed Beets-Indian Inspired
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Ingredients:

Beetroot-3 medium
Potatoes-2 small
Ginger-1 tbsp crushed
Ground Cumin-1 tsp
Ground Corinader-1 tsp
Green Chillies/jalapenos-2 chopped
Coriander leaves-1 cup chopped
Salt- to taste
Oil-for shallow frying

Batter:
All purpose flour/Maida-1/2 cup
Water-1 1/4cups

Coating:
Breadcrumbs or Panko/Semolina-2-3 cups (I've used panko/semolina here)

Process:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the beets in an aluminium foil, drizzle some olive oil and salt.Cover it and cook for about an hour, or until tender.Alternatively you can also boil them with salt until cooked (although I've never boiled them)
Peel and mash both the potatoes and beets in deep bottomed dish.
Mix the flour and water to form the batter in another bowl.Keep the breadcrumbs/panko ready in a plate.

Mix all the ingredients except oil into the beet/potato mixture.Your Indian Style mashed Beet is now ready!
Now for the cutlets.Take a small amount and roll them between your palms to make oval shaped patties.

Dip these into the flour batter and then roll them in the breadcrumbs/panko/Semolina.

At this point you can:

• Shallow fry them with some oil in a skillet.
• Spray them with Cooking spray and bake in the oven to get a golden brown color.(I haven't tried baking, but please let me know how it comes out)
• Deep fry them (as I've done here,it gives them a nice golden color, perfect for parties!)

Serve them hot with Green Chutney,Ketchup or hot sauce.Elegant, spicy, delicious Mashed Beet or Beet Cutlets-Indian Style!!