Batata Vada or Indian Potato Fritters are prepared deep-fried with spicy potato filling and covered with besan mixture!
Batata Vada – Indian Potato Fritters
Indian potato fritters or Batata Vada are a popular fast food from the state of Maharashtra. The mashed potatoes are cooked with spicy green chili, garlic and ginger paste which is then made into round balls, then coated with the besan flour and then deep-fried.
Fried potato fritters, how can it go wrong? (After two non-fried chaat recipes, I am back with fried ones) It is not only popular in Maharashtra; it’s pretty popular other states too with slight variations in the ingredients and under different names.
What Is Batata Vada?
What does Batata mean? Is it a Marathi word? No – it’s a Portuguese word. Batata means potato in Portuguese and it’s the Portuguese who introduced potato in India. That’s how Batata Vada got its name. The Batata Vada always reminds me of the South Indian bonda.
My Own Batata Vada Variation
Apparently there are different varieties of this Batata Vada. It is also called as aloo bhonda or potato bonda. After researching a lot, I kind of came up with my own variation. I didn’t use any onions and also lemon juice. Just went with the flavors that we like. So I am not sure if I can call this authentic, but I can assure you that it tasted great and satiated our potato cravings.
This Vada is usually served with green chutney unlike the South Indian Style bonda is served with coconut chutney. But there is one more great way to serve this Vada.
I know you might have guessed by now, but please wait until tomorrow for the other recipe.
Batata Vada | Indian Potato Fritters Recipe
Ingredients:
- Medium Sized Potatoes – 5
- Oil – 1 tsp
- Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp
- Hing – ¼ tsp
- Salt – 1 tsp
- Chopped Cilantro – 2 tbsps
- Curry leaves – 5 to 6 leaves cut into small pieces
- Turmeric – ¼ tsp
- Oil for frying
To Grind:
- Garlic Cloves – 2
- Ginger – 1 inch piece
- Green Chillies – 2
- Chopped Cilantro – 1 tbsp
For Outer Cover:
- Besan – 1 cup
- Turmeric – ½ tsp
- Salt – ½ tsp
- Baking soda – 1 pinch
- Water – ¾ cup
Prep-Work:
- Sieve the besan.
- Grind the green chillies, ginger and garlic cloves and set aside.
- Boil the potatoes in your preferred way. I usually microwave them. Let it cool, peel the skin and mash them nicely.
Steps:
Preparing the filling:
- Heat the kadai and oil.
- Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and hing.
- As they start to splutter, add the curry leaves and the ground paste.
- Let it cook in low flame until the raw garlic smell weans away and all the water evaporates.
- Now add the mashed potatoes, salt and turmeric and mix well.
- That’s it. The filling is ready.
Preparing the outer layer:
- While the potato filling is cooling down, we can prepare the outer layer. Mix the besan, water, salt, turmeric and baking soda.
- Whisk it nicely and ensure that there aren’t any lumps.
Preparing the Vadas:
- Heat the oil for frying and meanwhile we can shape the vada filling.
- Once the potato filling is easy to handle, make small lemon sized balls and set aside like below.
- Once the oil is hot, turn it to medium heat.
- Now dip the potato balls in the besan mix. Ensure it is completely covered with the besan mixture.
- Slow drop the besan covered potato filling in the oil.
- Deep fry them until the layer turns golden brown.
- Repeat the same for the remaining potato fillings.
That’s it, Batata Vada is ready. Serve these Indian Potato Fritters hot with green chutney!
Notes:
- Onions can be added to the potato filling and also you can add about 1 tbsp of lemon juice.
- You can skip garlic and prepare no onion no garlic version also.
- Adjust the salt and spices as per your preference.
- Ensure the heat is in medium low while frying. Also be careful while dropping the vada for frying.
Enjoying Batata Vada, Indian Potato Fritters? You will love these, too:
Have you made this recipe?
If you’ve made this batata vada recipe, please share your photos with me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter – I will be delighted to see your results!
📖 Recipe
Batata Vada | Indian Potato Fritters
Ingredients
- 5 Medium Sized Potatoes
- 1 tsp Oil
- 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
- ¼ tsp Hing
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 tbsps Chopped Cilantro
- 5 -6 Curry leaves cut into small pieces
- ¼ tsp Turmeric
- Oil for frying
To Grind
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 1 Ginger 1-inch in size
- 2 Green Chillies
- 1 tbsp Chopped Cilantro
For Outer Cover
- 1 cup Besan
- ½ tsp Turmeric
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 pinch Baking soda
- ¾ cup Water
Instructions
Prep-Work
- Sieve the besan.
- Grind the green chillies, ginger and garlic cloves and set aside.
- Boil the potatoes in your preferred way. I usually microwave them. Let it cool, peel the skin and mash them nicely.
Steps
Preparing the filling
- Heat the kadai and oil.
- Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and hing.
- As they start to splutter, add the curry leaves and the ground paste.
- Let it cook in low flame until the raw garlic smell weans away and also until all the water evaporates.
- Now add the mashed potatoes, salt and turmeric and mix well.
- That’s it. The filling is ready.
Preparing the outer layer
- While the potato filling is cooling down, we can prepare the outer layer. Mix the besan, water, salt, turmeric and baking soda.
- Whisk it nicely and ensure that there aren’t any lumps.
Preparing the Vadas
- Heat the oil for frying and meanwhile we can shape the vada filling.
- Once the potato filling is easy to handle, make small lemon sized balls and set aside like below.
- Once the oil is hot, turn it to medium heat.
- Now dip the potato balls in the besan mix. Ensure it is completely covered with the besan mixture.
- Slow drop the besan covered potato filling in the oil.
- Deep fry them until the layer turns golden brown like below.
- Repeat the same for the remaining potato fillings.
- That’s it, Batata Vada is ready. Serve hot with green chutney.
Notes
- Onions can be added to the potato filling and also you can add about 1 tbsp of lemon juice.
- You can skip garlic and prepare no onion no garlic version also.
- Adjust the salt and spices as per your preference.
- Ensure the heat is in medium low while frying. Also be careful while dropping the vada for frying.
Nutrition
I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.
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Oh gosh really so sinful!..I won’t mind a plate right now..and good info on the intro!
:-) Thanks Valli.
irresistible snack!! i remember making a low-calorie version and pan-frying the vadas!! Nevertheless potatoes are always a winner anytime!!!
Low cal version sounds amazing. Thanks Priya
Batata Vada looks so tasty and reminds me of my childhood in Mumbai where it was a staple diet along with the ubiquitous pav
:-) Thanks Sowmya.
Love love love this batata vada. These bring back so many childhood memories :-)
Thanks a lot Pavani. :-)
Batata vada looks so tempting .My all time favorite chaat.
Thanks..
I thought after the batata vadas in my canteen which we eat so often I will not want to see another batata vada. Your Vadas prove how wrong a person can be. I want them.
:-) Thanks a lot
By far my favorite snack, Vadas looks super tempting. I think I am going to whip up a new batch this weekend :)
:-) Thanks Smruti.
These are super inviting and I can eat them any time of the day.
:-) Thanks Sandhya.
That’s one plate of lipsmacking goodness :)) ur street food series is rocking !!!
Thanks a lot Kalyani.
That’s one tempting and addictive potato bondas.Nice presentation.
Thanks Nalini..
Potato bondas in any form are welcome for my family. These look so tempting.
:-) Thanks
Super Vidya. I love potato bondas and I know what you are going to post tomorrow. Waiting for one more delicious lip smacking chat..
ha ha.. Thanks Gayathri. :-)
I prepare the filling slightly differently but batata vadas are absolutely one of the tempting snacks.
Thanks Suma. Love to hear your version too.
That is a yummy looking batata vada. I think I line what your next post is. ?
:-) I know, its easy to guess right. :-)
Those batata vadas are inviting me Vidhya, how crispy and beautiful they are, tempting to the core.
:-) Thanks much Priya