SUVIR SARAN'S PALAK KI TIKKI (SPINACH AND POTATO PATTIES)

Suvir Saran's Palak Ki Tikki (Spinach and Potato Patties) image

These are adapted from Suvir Saran's potato patties called palak ki tikki, from his lovely cookbook "Masala Farm." They are a striking green because of all of the raw spinach that gets packed into them. The big, spicy burgers are incredibly easy to put together and to cook. Suvir serves them with chutney, either green or tamarind, but we both agree that they're delicious with plain old ketchup. I made a quick raita to serve with the burgers by stirring sweet pickle relish into plain yogurt.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories dinner, lunch, burgers, main course

Time 50m

Yield Makes 10 substantial burgers (about 3 1/2 inches)

Number Of Ingredients 11

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Ingredients

2 pounds red boiling potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
4 firmly packed cups finely chopped, stemmed, washed spinach (about 3/4 pound leaves)
1 fresh, hot green chili, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Salt to taste (Suvir Saran uses about 1 1/4 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup panko or chickpea flour (you will not use all of it)
2 tablespoons grape seed oil

Steps:

Steam potatoes over 1 inch of boiling water until tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wide bowl and mash with a fork. Add remaining ingredients except panko or chickpea flour and oil and mix well with your hands, squeezing the ingredients together. There will still be small chunks of potato and potato skin in the mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Scoop out about 1/2 cup of the spinach-potato mixture, roll it with the palm of your hand to make a ball, and coat with panko or chickpea flour. Then press down to flatten to a 3 to 3 1/2-inch cake. Continue with remaining mixture. Chill for at least 1 hour.
When you're ready to cook, place a rack over a sheet pan. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Swirl pan to coat with the hot oil. Lower heat to medium. Place 4 to 5 patties in the pan (do not crowd), and cook until well browned on one side, about 4 minutes. Turn and brown for about 4 more minutes. Remove to the rack. Heat remaining oil in pan and cook remaining patties. Keep patties in a low oven until ready to serve. Serve with a salad and your choice of toppings, such as the usual (ketchup, mustard, relish), or yogurt raita, garlic yogurt, or chutney.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 141, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams, Carbohydrate 23 grams, Fat 4 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 337 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams