Aloo Bonda

It had been a very mild winter for us this year. The winter days almost felt like spring and now that the winter has ended and spring began, it has become surprisingly cold with occasional showers.  Being confined in the house during the cold and rainy days really spurs up the appetite; especially craving for something fried.
Bonda is a typical south-Indian snack,  that can be made quickly, with not much pre-planning, and using ingredients which almost always would be there around.  If you haven't tried making it, I would recommend you to give it a try as it is simple and tasty.
Ingredients
For bonda covering:
1 cup  Besan/ chickpea flour
1/2 teaspoon Asafoetida
1 teaspoon Red chili powder
1/8teaspoon Baking soda
Salt to taste
For bonda filling
3 Potatoes
1/2 Onion(finely chopped)
2-3 Green chillies(finely chopped)
2 tsp Ginger (finely chopped)
1/4 cup Cilantro/Coriander leaves (finely chopped)
Curry leaves
1/2 tsp Mustard   seeds
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
Salt to taste
Oil

Method
Pressure cook potatoes till done.  Peel the skin and mash them or slice them into little cubes and keep it aside. Heat oil in pan and when the oil is hot add mustard seeds once they splutter  add curry leaves,ginger,green chillies and finely chopped onions and saute them  till onion turns translucent. Then add the turmeric powder,mashed potatoes,enough salt and mix everything well saute for another 2 minutes. Before turning of the heat add coriander leaves and give a final stir. Leave this to cool. Meanwhile make the batter for the covering by mixing all the ingredients listed under the covering ingredients and adding water little by little to get the consistency of pancake batter without any lumps. Divide filling  into equal portion and make small lemon size balls. Heat oil in a deep bottomed vessel. When oil is hot take one ball at a time and dip in the batter and drop carefully into the hot oil. Deep fry till it turns golden brown on both sides. Repeat the same with rest of  the balls. Serve hot with ketchup or chutney of your choice.