Shuddh Swad Company Creates Regional Snack Brand Using Traditional Homemade Recipes

Although many have tried potato chops, there is also the famous beetroot chop, which is a popular street food in Calcutta and boasts an incredible taste. This article presents a simple guide on how to prepare this crispy and aromatic snack at home.

This well-known street delicacy from Calcutta attracts attention with its appearance: it turns out very crispy on the outside and soft and spicy inside, captivating the taste buds. It is made from beetroot, carrots, and potatoes, complemented by roasted peanuts, raisins, and a special masala blend. If you are looking for something new and tasty for an evening snack, beetroot chop will be an excellent choice.

The advantage of this dish is that it does not require exotic equipment for preparation; all necessary ingredients can be found in a regular home kitchen. Next, we provide a detailed description of the process of creating the perfect and crispy beetroot chop at home.

To begin, clean and thoroughly wash two medium beetroots and two medium carrots, then grate them coarsely. You also need to peel and grate three boiled potatoes.

In a wide pan, heat two tablespoons of oil and fry the peanuts over low heat until golden brown. Remove the fried peanuts and set them aside. Then, add a little cumin seeds and finely chopped green chili to the same pan. As soon as the cumin starts sizzling, add the grated beetroot and carrot, frying for about a minute. After this, cover the pan and cook over low heat until the vegetables are tender.

When the beetroot and carrots become sufficiently soft, stir in the raisins. After they simmer for a while, turn off the heat. It is important to let this mixture cool completely, as adding potatoes to the hot mass will prevent the proper shaping of the chop.

After cooling, add the grated potato to the mixture, along with amchur powder, red chili powder, chaat masala, masala bhaja, salt, roasted peanuts, and three tablespoons of breadcrumbs, mixing all components thoroughly.

Next, form small oval patties from the resulting mass. It is advisable to follow this size, although other shapes can be used if desired. A batter is prepared for coating: in a bowl, mix cornstarch, a pinch of salt, and a little ground black pepper, gradually adding water until a medium-consistency batter is obtained, which should not be too runny or too thick.

Spread dry breadcrumbs on a plate. The finished chops are first dipped in the corn batter and then firmly rolled in the breadcrumbs. This process is repeated for all the chops.

Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed wok. When the oil reaches the required temperature, fry the chops over medium heat until they have a golden and crispy crust on both sides. Care should be taken to avoid excessive heat so that the outer shell does not brown too quickly while the center remains raw.

Place the finished chops on paper towels to remove excess oil. They are served hot with tomato ketchup, mint, or kasundi. The taste of these chops is especially good with evening tea.

To enhance the flavor, a special masala bhaja is used for the chop. To prepare it, take one teaspoon of cumin, one teaspoon of whole coriander, two whole red chilies, two cloves, and two green cardamom pods. Lightly roast all the spices without oil. When they start releasing aroma, turn off the heat, and let the spices cool. Then, grind them into a fine powder.

In anticipation of the Raksha Bandhan festival, if you wish to delight your brother with something special and different from ordinary sweets, you can prepare traditional Bihari dessert—Makuti. This dessert, made from milk, mung beans, and rice, is distinguished by its excellent taste and simplicity of preparation.

The Raksha Bandhan festival is traditionally accompanied by sweet treats, after which siblings exchange sweets and also treat guests. Instead of store-bought sweets or plain rice porridge, you can prepare authentic Bihari Makuti. Its texture turns out thick and creamy, setting it apart from regular kheer.

Makuti is prepared using milk, mung beans, and rice, and its flavor becomes even more exquisite with the addition of mawa, saffron, cardamom, and dried fruits. Furthermore, preparing this dessert does not require excessive effort.

How to make Makuti

First, thoroughly wash the mung beans and rice, and then soak them in water for about an hour. After that, cook them in a multi-cooker until one signal sounds, and then simmer on low heat for another five minutes. After turning off the stove, allow the pressure in the multi-cooker to release completely on its own.

Next, grind the cooked mung beans and rice well. Heat the milk in a separate large pan. While the milk is warming up, soak the saffron strands in one tablespoon of milk. When the milk begins to thicken slightly, add the ground mixture of mung beans and rice to it. Simmer the mixture over minimal heat, stirring constantly so that it does not stick to the bottom.

Then, add the finely ground mawa to the mixture along with the saffron-infused milk. If mawa is not used, it can be omitted, but in that case, you should slightly increase the amount of milk. Continue cooking the mixture over low heat for about fifteen minutes until it becomes sufficiently thick.

When the mass reaches the desired consistency, stir in the sugar and ground cardamom, and cook for another two to three minutes. Then turn off the heat, and transfer the Makuti to a bowl. The dessert is garnished with sliced cashews, almonds, and pistachios.

Makuti can be served hot during the Raksha Bandhan celebration, or chilled in the refrigerator if you prefer cold sweets.