October 6, 2008

Garbanzo beans & Potato Cutlet

First

I love(d) playing the guitar... but before you get any ideas as to how much of a pro I am... I was a beginner student at the Trinity school of music back home, and sadly never went beyond the basics. How pathetic. My guitar, as we speak is rigorously gathering dust beneath my armoire at home. Sorry all you musically inclined buffs, I mean no disrespect to music or the instrument, but that is how the way it is.
And boy! I did really lose touch with playing it. Isn't that one of the things that would come back to you even after a long hiatus? Like for instance driving a bicycle! And did I suck at that too recently. Not even gonna go there.
But I guess I could justify saying that I never knew how to play it thoroughly...

There goes one of the many things I have tried my hands at that didn't see the dawn of day. Is that why they call people "Jack of all trades, master of none?" And why is being master of any one trade "better" than the former? I never understood the assumption behind it.

With that story, can we get on to more important things like... making these figure-friendly garbanzo patties/cutlets! :)

Chick peas/Garbanzo beans are a true source of protein for vegetarians. They are very low in fat, and are also good ways of getting zinc, fiber and folate into your diet.
I always have a few cans stacked up in my pantry. It is great for and in curries, gravies, patties, hummus, or even in rice. Only thing I haven't tried yet is in desserts! Hmm, thinking of which... it might not be a bad idea!
Addition of potatoes in these patties are purely for the binding property to bring all of the ingredients together. And a potato or two never hurt, right?
Vegetables and herbs are completely flexible, and you could add what you have at hand, except tomatoes, that would be one soggy cutlet.
These are best eaten warm/hot right out from the pan. Microwave them before eating if you plan to store them longer.

Garbanzo beans & Potato Cutlet

Ingredients:

Garbanzo beans/Chick peas - 2 cans
Potato - 1 large (Boiled, peeled and mashed)
Red onion - 1 medium (finely chopped)
Green bell pepper - 1/2 cup (finely chopped)
Carrots - 1/4 cup (finely chopped)
Green onion - A handful (finely chopped)
Cilantro - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Curry leaves - 4-5 (torn into small pieces)
Bread crumbs - 1/4 cup (optional)
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Chilly powder - 1/4 tsp
Black pepper - 1/2 tsp
Salt - To taste
Olive oil - Just enough to cook the cutlets (we are not frying them)

Method:

Dry blend the garbanzo in a food processor without water. It will end up with a crumbly texture.

Add the mashed potatoes to the beans and mash together well.

Add all the vegetables (red onion, green pepper, carrots, green onion) and herbs (cilantro and curry leaves) and mix well.

Add the chilly powder, pepper, chilly powder, garam masala, & salt and combine.

Lastly add the bread crumbs. Mix. This is just to absorb the extra moisture.

Taste the raw mixture to check for salt/spice. If the flavors are balanced, shape into small patties and set aside.

Heat a pan with a couple of tablespoons of oil on medium heat, and add the patties and let cook on one side for about 5 minutes or till golden brown. Flip to the other side and add oil if needed. I did not have to as you can see from the image below.

Pan

Swirling the patties around in the pan helps with the even browning of the cutlets and the little oil in the pan is evenly distributed as well.
Do not push the patties down with the spatula since it tends to break.

After the patties are cooked on both sides, remove from pan, and serve with sliced onion, and chutney or tomato sauce.
None of which are in the picture!

Last

This goes to Vandana's Lunchbox special event & Sra's My Legume Love Affair event

53 comments:

  1. Looks delicious... yummy& awesome.. thxs for sharing..

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  2. Now here's a protein full way to making a cutlet....

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  3. looks yummy!!great picture!!

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  4. look very yummy! and after reading the healthy recipe makes me like them even more.
    Well, I know what you mean with that. You know it is the same for me when it comes to sewing. I tried my hand at it recently. my mother was so good at it she stiched so many things for us while we grew up. But, I found that it is nothing for me. I still haven't finished stiching the skirt with the beautiful cloth I bought this time - i couldn't finish it in the course I did. It is also "geting dust" over it and the summers are also over now.
    Now, since I don't know what my waiste line will look like next year, I better leave it for now. :D

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  5. Wow looks perfect, gr8 and yummy.

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  6. Delicious Divya,I love cutlets..

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  7. Wow awesome clicks..cutlets looks yummy..

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  8. Thank u for a wonderful recipe.

    --Priya

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  9. I love chickpe patties and these look fantastic! I love that you are a jack of all trades. I feel more comfortable picking up hobbies when I know I don't have to master them.

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  10. Divs,
    Legume affair 4th part is there.Send thhis over.it is at here- http://whenmysoupcamealive.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-legume-love-affair-recipe.html -(if interested)

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  11. These look yummy - I could just eat one (or six!) now. I'm printing off the recipe.

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  12. Cutlets looks awesome and delicious....

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  13. WOW, LOOKS VERY GOOD.I WILL VISIT YOUR BLOG DAILY HEREAFTER.
    THANKS FOR YOUR NICE CERTIFICATE ONCE AGAIN IN .....BLOG. GUESS WHO?
    RAMKUMAR

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  14. Wow! Cutlets looks perfect,awesome and delicious....

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  15. These cutlets look amazing. I will defnitely give them a go.

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  16. Cute cutlet Gal :) Of course healthy!

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  17. oh anu...i am feeling more close to u day by day...girl i luv guitar and more than that ppl who knows to play them! i am kinda crazy! luv ur cutlets...they are cute and fat! like me ;)i know wat u r thinkin...oh I am cute, girl! :)

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  18. and plz start playin again!!!i mean ur guitar!

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  19. really they look yummy and colourful

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  20. ooh, the patties look so delicious Divya! And I love to read your write ups.

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  21. hey, those look very good. u r tempting me to make cutlets now. i have made them with green moong and potato combination.. i will try your recipe soon.
    great to see my father's comments in your blog too :)
    Regarding your request to change my blog archive, i have done it as per your wish.

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  22. These look wonderful!! I love chickpeas in every form! I will definitely try these out!

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  23. Looks delicious...I have a variation of chickpea cutlets with oats in my blog...will try your version soon..please check my blog have tagged you :)

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  24. Pictures look too good..Even I learnt playing the guitar during m school dats and then it was left untouched!Same pinch! He he

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  25. cutlets look lovely..healthy too. Hey its perfect recipe for the Lunchbox special event hosted by vandana :)
    Send it.

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  26. Oh How I love guitar, but frankly speaking I cannot pick a string:-(. My hubby plays a little bit but ours is gathering dust too. Guitar is soo romantic.

    I love these cutlets. Will make it soon. Such a great weekend/or party snack.

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  27. Divya, funny story about the guitar. I do hope though that you'll dust it off one day and play again. I never learned a musical instrument, and often wish I had.
    The cutlets look just delicious. Anything with chickpeas and potatoes is a sure winner with me.

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  28. One thing i like about your recipes is they are simple,delicious,exotic and beyond all Fat-free(No deep fry's/fat food)......

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  29. I would love some of these! They look delicious!

    Thanks for visiting my blog! :) Yours is great, I'm exploring it right now!

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  30. Thanks for swinging by my blog. I really like how you use a healthy take on recipes, and you still make it fun :) The bean patties look very nice, I love the crust.

    And playing the guitar is not like riding a bike... at all :) Trust me, I know.

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  31. Bring on the figure-friendly beauties! They remind me of my late gradmother's :)

    Why do they say that you'll never forget how to ride a bike? I was the terror of the streets when I was twelve and now I need training wheels...

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  32. wawwwwii.that one is a eyecatcher...i am drooling all over it..great recipe Anudhivya

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  33. Yumm!! What a great looking cutlet. Adding Garbanzos sounds interesting. Very tempting pictures :-)

    Anitha

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  34. divya dear thank u very much yaar...for ur instant reply..its giving me energy..

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  35. woo...looking fantastic and in great look....tempting pic..and nice click..

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  36. Dee - Grandmother! Gosh I feel old already! Terror on wheels... LOL.

    Adam - I think I am never gonna pluck the strings ever again. BTW, Do you play guitar?

    Vaishali - Sob story becomes funny story! Darn, I wish I had stayed on it learning it for a little longer.

    Soma - Welcome to the club! Feels good not to be alone even in misery :)

    Anjali & Curry Leaf- Will send it to the events just after I am done writing these. Thanks for suggesting girls.

    PG - Sewing??? That is another sob story reserved for another day.

    Prudy - I am totally with you on that one... I tend to perform better when I know I don't have to perfect it... rightly said!

    Usha - Will do the tag soon, if not bug me.

    Mahimaa - I am thrilled to see your dad's comment on my blog. I am so happy! :)
    And also thanks for altering the appearance of your blog archive, I bet it would be easy navigation for your readers.

    Sangeeth - Thanks for your comment, it is very sweet of you.

    Mr. Ramkumar - I feel so privileged that you are visiting my blog. And I am even more happier for all your kind words. I really appreciate it. Needless to say, your daughter Mahimaa is very talented and an amazing cook. I am sure you must have experienced it first-hand. We envy you!

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  37. THANKS ONCE AGAIN. MAHIMAA LEARNED COOKING ONLY AFTER MARRIAGE.OF COURSE WE LOVE HER COOKING.BUT SHE DOES NOT LIKE SOUTH INDIAN ITEMS MUCH.
    YOUR PARENTS ALSO MUST BE PROUD OF YOU.I HAVE WORK IN OFFICE. WILL AGAIN VISIT LATER. THANKS
    RAMKUMAR

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  38. Cutlets looks just perfect and I am sure you must have relished them....
    Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe

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  39. My brother plays the guitar - he's v keen on all kinds of music!

    Thanks for the entry, these are perfect for a rainy evening. Divya, please link to Susan's host line-up announcement too - she's the creator of this event - details in my blog.

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  40. you know something Anudivya, this is my evevning snack today :). I have 1 cup around chana soaked, wasthinking what to make. n now I got it :)

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  41. These look healthy and easy to make.I'm gonna try these and let you know:)

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  42. These sound great. I'm always looking for new ideas for a gluten free, soy free and dairy free diet and these look like they would be a hit with the whole family. I just have to remember not to tell them the ingredients until after they try them!

    One question, before I try them:
    What is Garam masala? If I can't find it will it make a big difference in this recipe?

    Well, maybe 2 questions--this recipe says the flour is optional--what happens when you don't use flour?

    Thank-you so much for a great blog!

    http://grammyrecipes.blogspot.com

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  43. Sortin'ItAllOut - Garam masala is a blend of spices (coriander, cumin, cinnamon, star anise, cloves and a lot more), and it is okay to skip them. Instead, if you have any individual spices at hand you may add those.

    By flour did you mean the bread crumbs? That is the one listed as optional. Please get back to me if that is not what you asked. Good luck.

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  44. Yes, I meant bread crumbs :)
    Garam masala sounds interesting--more like something I might put in a pie though...

    Thank-you for the answer--I'll let you know when I try it.
    And thanks for visiting my blog!

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  45. Anudivya,I made burger patties with your cutlet recipe. It was deeelicious! thanks girl for the fantastic recipe:)

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  46. Awesome cutlets !! Nutritious and healthy..looking yummy too..

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  47. yummy cutlet. It is cool and rainy here, i should make this yummy cutlets.

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  48. Hi Anudivya,
    Congratulation for winning fourth legume love affair. You're going to get one cookbook from susan. Share it with us. I do love low fat recipes. I love ur blog and will try it and let u know
    Cheers,
    Rajee

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  49. wow these look yummt i m gonna try these :)

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  50. Wow!! Garbanzo beans & Potato Cutlet.....they are just delicious. they are looking great and I am sure that they taste great too. the spicy Black pepper flavor enriches the taste of these Cutlet. Thanks for the recipe.I am already feeling hungry.Can't wait to try it.

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  51. Anuvidya
    Stumbled upon your site, very good collection of recipes. The cutlet recipe is really nutritious and i tried it and posted it in my blog http://www.a2zvegetariancuisine.blogspot.com/. Thanks a lot for the wonderful recipe.

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  52. I'm late commenting because I just found your yummy blog :)
    I make a similar patty with yam/sweet potato, and it is so good! I've added chickpea flour when I didn't have breadcrumbs, and that is yummy too! It helps hold the patties together (like breadcrumbs) and adds a nice flavour.
    Thanks for the recipes... so many to try!

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Thank you for taking the time to comment on this post. I will try to respond to queries as soon as I can. If I miss anything that needs to be addressed... please feel free to ping me again.
Happy cooking/baking or whatever it is you are doing in the kitchen! :)