February 6, 2007...8:31 am

approximately Sailu’s adraki kebabs – less than $0.50 per serving

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Well, I was reading Sailu’s Kitchen, including her entry on adraki palak kebabs. They sounded so good that I had to make it. So, I went to the supermarket and got a 5lb sack of potatoes. Here’s my rendition of Sailu’s adraki kebabs (note, these are not “palak” kebabs, because they are not made of spinach but turnip greens):

  • 5lb russet potatoes, boiled, drained and mashed with skins(I haven’t tried instant potatoes – if you do, let me know if it still turns out OK);
  • 1 heaping tsp of Chunky Chat Masala powder (I used MDH brand);
  • 1 medium yellow onion;
  • 2 bunches of turnip greens, julienned;
  • 2 cubic inches of ginger, grated.

OK, while the potatoes are still hot, mix all ingredients. Sailu’s recipe calls for bread – and I think it would hold together better that way – but even without, it’s still going to be yummy. Shape into flat patties, around 1/4 inch thick, and let it rest for 1/2 hr. Fry each side for a few minutes until crisp. And, by the way, if you are frying these the day after you have shaped them, they are even better, because the spices had time to settle in. Deeelicious! The Chunky Chat Masala has mango powder (amchur) in it, playing beautifully off the bitterness in the greens. Serve with a generous dollop of vodka tomato sauce, or Worchestershire sauce mixed with yogurt.

Estimated total cost of ingredients: $4.75.

  • $0.16 for 1/8 of a package of Chunky Chat Masala ($1.28 for 100 grams);
  • 5lbs of potatoes ($1.99 perbag);
  • 2 bunches of turnip greens ($0.99 per = $1.98);
  • around $0.40 for 1/3 lb of onion;
  • $0.22 for 1/6th of a pound of ginger; and
  • pennies for cooking oil.

Guesstimating that you could eat about 1/2 lb of these kebabs per meal at the very most, this should last you ten meals – for less than five dollars! By the way, I cannot overemphasize how very stunning the amchur renders the greens – it’s magic.

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