Shredded Plantain Clusters
KHASA KACHA KELA BHAJI
-Recipe from Yamuna mataji
These little finger foods work well as d’oeuvres and appetizers for any
social occasion. If you want to try the dish but lack asafetida, omit
three ingredients and use ¼ cup (60 ml) of Mint-Lime Butter instead.
Preparation time (after assembling ingredients): 15 minutes
Cooking time: up to 20 minutes
Makes: 10-12 clusters
4 table spoons (60 ml) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¼ teaspoon (1 ml) yellow asafetida powder (hing)
1/8 teaspoon (0.5 ml) paprika or cayenne pepper
2 large plantains, 9-12 inches (23-30 cm) long
ghee or oil for deep-frying
5 or 6 lemon or lime twists (optional)
This amount applies only to yellow cobra brand. Reduce any other asafetida by three-fourths.
1. Mix the butter, asafetida and paprika or cayenne in a bowl and set aside.
2.
Peel the plantains with a knife, removing the tough green skins
and stray strings. Shred through the large holes on a hand grater or in
a food processor fitted with a coarse shredding disk. Press ¼ cup (60
ml) of shredded plantains firmly between your palms to flatten and mold
into a tight 2-inch (5 cm) cluster. Arrange them on a plate in a single
layer.
3. Pour ghee or oil into a large, heavy
frying pan to a depth of 1 ½ inches (4 cm). Place over moderate heat
until it reaches 365 F (185 C) on a deep-frying thermometer. When it is
hot, place the clusters one at a time into the oil in a single layer.
Fry on both sides until golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes per
side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Fry the
remaining clusters. While they are still quite warm but not steaming
hot, smear the top of each cluster with the seasoned butter.