Vada Pav - Every Mumbaikar's on the move favorite....

Recipe for Vada Pav

Prepare a paste of 8-9 green chillies, 2-3 cloves garlic, 1 inch ginger.
Alternately you can use ready paste as follows: 1 tbsp green chilli paste, 2 tsp garlic paste, 1 tsp ginger paste.
Take 3 big potatoes, boiled, peeled and mashed coarsely.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a Pan. Add 3/4 tsp mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp cumin seeds, 1/4 tsp asafoetida.
When the seeds crackle add 8-10 curry leaves and the green chilli, garlic and ginger pastes and let it cook for a few seconds.
Then add 1/2 tsp turmeric and 1/2 cup finely chopped onion. Wait till the onions becoe translucent.
Fold in the mashed potatoes, 1/2 tsp garam masala, salt to taste, 1/4 tsp sugar, juice of 1 lemon and 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro. Remove from fire. Cool.
Make small balls of this mixture, about the size of a ping pong ball. Leave aside.
In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup of gram flour (Besan), 1 tbsp rice flour (optional), 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1/2 tsp red chilli powder, salt to taste, a pinch of baking soda, and 2 tsp hot oil. Make a thick batter of smooth consistency using water.
In a frying pan, heat enough oil for frying the potato balls.
Dip the potato balls in the preprared batter and then fry in hot oil till golden brown.
Blot the extra oil on a paper towel.
The potato balls are ready to use.
If you want to store them in the freezer, wait till it is completely cooled down, and then store in airtight zip locks.
Whenever you wish to use these frozen potato balls, thaw only the required number of pieces in a microwave and then toast lightly in a convential oven.
Serve as it is with green chutney and tamarind chutney or
Sandwich between regular buns ( best with pav bhaji bread available in hot breads). Spread green chutney, tamarind chutney and dry garlic chutney on the innner side of the bun and place 1 or 2 potato balls in between. Serve Hot. You can lighly toast the bread as well.