India's Meaty Potato Pancake Will Satisfy All Your Cravings

Meat and potatoes are a classic American food staple, but did you know that they are also the makings for a delicious Indian street food called potato chops? If you have leftover mashed potatoes, this recipe can be a great way to turn last night's side dish into today's main culinary event. 

Indian food is a feast for the senses. Many recipes contain herbs and spices that are highly aromatic such as turmeric, cumin, chili powder, and cinnamon. Cooking any Indian recipe will turn your kitchen into aroma heaven and, while recipes for Indian appetizers like samosas are more widely known, potato chops deserve some recognition too. According to Serious Eats, potato chops, are like a mashed potato pancake stuffed with flavorful minced meat. They are then breaded and shallow-fried until they're golden brown. Their recipe and assembly is somewhat similar to a French croquette or Italian arancini. East Indian Recipes, notes that potato chops are often made as appetizers for guests at special events such as weddings. Ready to learn how to make them?

The first step in making potato chops is to have a base of mashed potatoes. If you have leftovers, this is perfect. If you don't, just make a simple mashed potato with salt and pepper. The Spruce Eats suggests that you then add chopped mint, chili powder, and cilantro to the mix. Stir this all together and set it aside. East Indian Recipes suggests that you rest your potato mash in the refrigerator, so it'll be easier to handle during assembly.

Beef or lamb are suggested for the minced meat, per Serious Eats. The meat cooks down with a mixture of cumin seeds, onion, garlic and ginger, cilantro, cumin and garam masala, tomatoes, and lime juice. Then the chops are formed by stuffing the cold mashed potatoes with the cooled-down meat. Lightly bread each one with breadcrumbs, and shallow fry them in your preferred cooking oil. The result is a crunchy, soft, meaty, decadent bite. Serve while hot with your favorite chutney (per The Spruce Eats.) After experiencing the potato chop, also called Aloo chop, you might be so in love you'll think twice before ordering samosas. Or just order both.