Bean Cutlets

Since I slept for almost 13 hours on my flight yesterday I was awake most of the night and decided I best make something nice for my lunch today. So here it is

a healthy and protein rich cutlet made with red kidney beans (rajma) that I use as a filling in sandwich. Try this for a healthier version to the regular all potato / bread cutlets, this one does not compromise on taste and it is quick and simple too.

Ingredients

1 cup red kidney beans soaked for about 8 hours with a pinch of soda (soda is optional)

4 small potatoes

2 cups mixed vegetables ( I used a mixture of beans, carrots and peas)

4 slices of bread (powdered in a spice grinder to a coarse mixture)

1/4 cup semolina

1/2 tsp red chilli powder (optional) (or according to taste)

1/2 tsp garam masala

salt according to taste

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp cumin seeds

Grind together

4 green chillies

handful of cilantro (coriander leaves) cut fine

1 inch piece ginger

Cook potatoes with skin either in the pressure cooker or stove top or microwave until soft and keep aside.

When the potatoes are cool, peel potatoes, mash them and keep aside.

Grind together green chillies, handful of cilantro and ginger until it becomes a fine paste.

In a heavy bottomed pan heat oil and add cumin seeds to it. When cumin seeds begin to splutter add the mixed vegetables to it,add salt to taste, chilli powder, garam masala, sprinkle a few drops of water and cook on a low flame until it is soft.

Add mashed potatoes to the cooked vegetables and mix well.

Add cooked red kidney beans to this mixture and mix well. Using the back of your spatula or a potato masher, mash the mixture gently until most of the vegetables, beans and potatoes get mashed.

Add bread crumbs and semolina to this mixture and mix well.

Cool slightly and form lemon sized balls and flatten it slightly.

Heat a flat pan/ griddle/ tawa on medium high, place the flattened cutlets on them and add a few drops of oil around the cutlets. Turnover and fry the other side similarly.

Serve hot with ketchup as a snack or use the cutlets in your burger or sandwich or serve as an appetizer.