Potato Cumin Seeds Patties - Aaloo Patties

Watching English Vinglish this weekend was a better experience than I thought. A middle aged woman lurking to earn some respect in her own family, no new concept for a woman same age in an Indian Family. Especially the ones living in smaller cities, and are housewives. A highly acclaimed direction under Gauri Shinde and the lead character decently performed by Sridevi. Watching her on the screen was a pleasure in itself, plus am glad she set her comeback with a role that suits her age and thankfully not with yet another Glamorous role our bolly heroines yearns for. 

There were many individual scenes I loved; like the one where Amitabh met Sridevi in her flight to NY. It brought back memories of the childhood when their duets songs were on top charts. The image of the newly confident Shashi striding down a Manhattan street, a takeout coffee in hand and a trench coat belted over her sari, will make you smile days long after you watch it.  And off course, Shashi giving a speech in English at the end of the movie was adorable and very sincerely performed.

Ultimately, what make "English Vinglish" memorable are the small, step-by-step choices Shashi makes to transforms herself. Loved every core of it, and was seriously wishing the movie could run a bit longer. I recommend it as a must watch for every Indian woman, I am sure you will find a bit of “Shashi” in or around your home.

Anyways, coming  back to the only job I love more than watching movies ;) Cooking !! I baked these  Patties just before the movie and enjoyed them along with it. And like I said for the movie, I was not willing to finish these Patties either. I have used Puff Pastry first time ever, and though it’s easier and quicker to handle than the home made dough, I doubt I will use them again unless it’s a Big Party planned. It took over an hour for the frozen roll to thaw and it broke off while I tried to lay it down twice in between that hour. May be its my mistake since I was expecting it to be at normal temperature within 25-30 minutes when the window outside was witnessing cold showers through out the day. But all in all, it was a disappointment, and I find it a bit expensive too since one roll hardly made 8-10 patties. Its definitely a good idea when you have no time in hand and you want to have a quick snack for a small get together. But if you want to feed your family, I would suggest to plan in advance and prepare your own Dough. I haven’t posted the recipe of that yet, will be getting to it very soon. Trust me, it’s easier than you think.

Although I must admit, the patties came out exactly the way I wanted them to be. Flaky and crispy these Patties were filled of masala Jeera-Aalu stuffing. With Diwali coming near, these could be your perfect partner for the guests pouring in. You can even stuff them before hand and just bake fresh and warm for the guests. Kids will love them !

What you need ? ( Sufficient for 8-10 medium size Patties)

2 Packets ready-roll Puff Pastry

4-5 Potatoes, boiled, peeled and mashed

½ cup Green Peas (optional)

½ cup Corn (optional)

2 green chilies, chopped fine

2 tsp Cumin seeds

2 tsp red chili powder

Salt to taste

1 tsp Turmeric, Garam masala each

1 large onion, chopped fine

1 tbsp Oil

How to make?

• Keep Puff Pastry out for atleast an hour to thaw it, if frozen. Else 10-15 minutes should be enough for it to get at room temperature
• To make Aalu masala, heat oil in a pan and splutter Cumin Seeds.  Add in green chilies and fry for 10 seconds. 
• Add all the spices and stir. Throw in all the vegetables and mix well. Cook for next 10-12 minutes stirring in between, you could spray in some water if that feels too dry
• When cooked properly, turn off the flame and let the stuffing cool down. 
• When stuffing is cold enough to handle with hands, cut the Puff Pastry into rectangles and scoop stuffing on one side, sealing with another side. Bake them in oven for 10-12 minutes till they turn crispy 
• Enjoy with Ketchup or Green Chutney. 

My Notes:

• Addition of peas and corn is totally optional 
• These Patties can be reheated, but they will not be as crispy as when freshly made. 
• Kasuri Methi can also be added to the stuffing, for a different flavour. 

Off to Kalyani's Magic Mingle, hosted by Pradnya.