Green Peas Kachori with Spicy Dum Aloo - Bengali style

Today's recipe is Green peas Kachori with Spicy Dum Aloo.  I prepared this for the South vs North Challenge, brain child of Divya Pramil. I am sure many of you know about this challenge. But for those who are hearing about this challenge for the first time- There are two teams - South Team and North Team. Every month one person from each team will challenge the other team. We have completed four challenges and this is the fifth. This month Sanoli Ghosh of North team challenged us with Green Peas Kachori with Spicy dum aloo, a bengali delicacy  while Tamilarasi Sasikumar of our team challenged North team with Paal kozhu kattai.  To know more about the event click here. 

 When Sanoli announced the challenge in her space I wanted to prepare it right away but I could prepare it only now. When my other team mates prepared it and gave feedback about it my expectations started growing. When I prepared it yesterday and tasted, it tasted beyond all expectations. Totally yummy!! We all loved it and I thoroughly enjoyed this month's challenge.

Green Peas Kachori/ Koraishutir Kochiri

What are the ingredients needed?

For Kachoris

All purpose flour, 2 cup

Salt, 1/2 teaspoon

Oil, 1 tablespoon (to knead the dough) + more for frying

For the stuffing

Green peas, 2 cup

Green chillies, 2 nos

Grated ginger, 1 teaspoon

Cumin powder, 1/2 teaspoon

Garam masala powder, 1/2 teaspoon

Asafoetida, a pinch

Fennel seeds, 1/2 teaspoon

Oil, 1 tablespoon

Salt to taste

How it is made?

1. In a bowl combine all purpose flour, oil,salt and add water little by little and keep kneading till you form a smooth dough. Keep it covered and let it rest for at least half an hour.
2. To prepare the green peas filling- coarsely grind the green peas, ginger and green chillies. Then heat oil in a skillet, add fennel seeds and then asafoetida and fry for a minute, then add the ground peas mixture. Mix well. Then add cumin powder, garam masala powder and salt to taste and mix well. Keep stirring the mixture in medium low heat until all the extra water evaporates and mixture becomes dry. Then turn off the heat and roll the mixture into small balls and set it aside. It yields 12- 14 balls depending on the size you roll.
3. Now take the resting dough and roll it into small balls.
4. Then roll it into small disc, place the prepared peas balls in the centre and cover it such that it is completely covered. 
5. Then roll it again gently till the you get the required kachori shape. 
6. Heat oil and deep fry the kachori till they are golden brown on both sides. The kachoris will puff like pooris. 
7. Remove from oil, drain the excess oil in a paper towel and serve it warm with Dum Aloo or any other curry of your choice.

Dum Aloo/ Aloor Dam

What are the ingredients needed?

Baby potatoes, 1 lb
Oil, 2-3 teaspoon
Fennel seeds,1 teaspoon
Cloves, 3-4 nos
Cinnamon stick, 1 small
Bay leaf, 1 no
Green chillies, 2 nos

Tomatoes(Large) 2 nos
Grated Ginger, 2 teaspoons
Asafoetida, 1/4 teaspoon
Turmeric Powder, 1/4 teaspoon
Cumin Powder, 1/2 teaspoon
Chilli powder, 1 teaspoon
Coriander powder, 2 teaspoons
Garam masala, 1 teaspoon
Yogurt, 1/2 cup
Salt, to taste
Cilantro, handful to garnish

How it is made?

1. Boil the potatoes and peel the skin. Then heat oil in a skillet, fry these potatoes till they turn slightly golden brown. Then set them aside.
2. In the same skillet, add the fennel seeds, cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaf and fry for a minute or two. Then add asafoetida, tomatoes, grated ginger, green chillies and fry for 2-3 minutes.
3. To this add turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, and garam masala and mix well and let it cook for few minutes till oil starts seperating on the sides.
4. Then add the potatoes, mix well and cook for 3-4 minutes.
5. Then add yogurt mix well and add water to get the required consistency and check the salt and bring it to boil and reduce to simmer for few minutes and then turn off the heat.
6. Garnish with chopped cilantro.
7. Serve it with Green Peas Kachori, or any bread of your choice.

This is for the South vs North Challenge