
Aloo Aur Anjeer Ki Tikki
Aloo aur anjeer ki tikki are crisp potato cakes with a soft, sweet-savoury fig and mascarpone filling, seasoned with chilli, mint, coriander and warm spices.
Filling spices
8 gStirred into the fig and mascarpone filling (step 1)Tikki spices
10 gMixed into the grated potato (step 4)Everything else

Method
- Mix 70 g dried fig, 44.1 g mascarpone, 5 g ginger root, 2 g green bird's-eye chilli and 1 g coriander leaf with the filling spices in a small bowl.
- Chill the filling in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- Coarsely grate 500 g potato into a large bowl.
- Add the tikki spices, 2.4 g mint leaf, 1 g coriander leaf, 13.2 g breadcrumb and salt to taste; mix well.
- Divide the potato mixture into 8 equal portions and shape each into a patty.
- Make a hollow in one patty, spoon in a little chilled filling, then draw the edges up and seal so the filling stays enclosed in the centre. Repeat with the rest.
- Heat oil for shallow frying in a large non-stick pan over medium heat.
- Fry the tikkis in batches for 2–3 minutes on each side, until deep golden and crisp.
- Drain on kitchen paper and serve with fresh chutney.
Don't have something?

Potato

EggplantUse equal weight. Cut into large chunks; cooks down much faster (10-12 minutes) and softens into the sauce rather than staying starchy and firm.
PaneerUse 80% of the weight. Cube and add in the last 5-10 minutes of cooking; adds rich dairy protein instead of starchy bulk.
Dried chickpeaUse 45% dry weight. Soak overnight and boil until fully soft before stirring into the sauce to simmer for 10 minutes.

Cumin seed

Ground cuminUse 70% of the weight; add with ground spices or sauce bases rather than hot oil tempering, where it scorches quickly and turns bitter.
Black cumin seedsUse equal weight for oil tempering. Delivers an earthy profile with an additional musky, smoky, and slightly bitter edge.
Fennel seedUse 60% of the weight for tempering; offers comparable warm aroma, but leans sweet and liquorice-like rather than savoury and earthy.

Kashmiri chilli powder

Dried kashmiri chilliGrind deseeded dried pods to an equal weight of powder; gives identical vivid red colour and gentle warmth.
Red chilli powderUse 25% of the weight mixed with sweet paprika for colour; straight red chilli powder is substantially hotter and will make the dish fiery.
Chilli powderUse one-third of the weight; the sauce will be less intensely red and notably sharper in heat.

Ground coriander

Coriander seedsDry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.
Ground cuminUse 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.
Garam masalaUse 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.

Mint leaf

Mint leavesUse the same weight; identical herb, just the plural listing.
Dried mintUse 25% of the fresh weight, about 1 g dried for 4 g fresh; crush between fingers. Flavour is stronger and slightly hay-like.
Coriander leafUse the same weight; it gives a fresh green note but not true mint flavour.

Coriander leaf


Dried breadcrumb

Fresh breadcrumbsUse the same weight, but adjust liquid slightly as they are moister. Softer set; good for binding.
Bread sliceUse the same weight of stale bread, whizz to crumbs and dry in a low oven. Closest texture to dried crumbs.
Coarse semolinaUse about 70% of the weight and rest briefly before cooking. Grittier and absorbs more liquid; use for crunch or binding, not for coating.

Oil

Vegetable oilUse the same weight. It is neutral and behaves the same in frying and tempering; no noticeable change in flavour.
Corn or vegetable oilUse the same weight. Neutral and good for high heat; the dish will taste virtually the same.
Groundnut oilUse the same weight. It has a mild nutty flavour and is good for Indian cooking; heat until just hot, not smoking, so the nuttiness does not dominate.

Dried fig

Dried apricotUse the same weight, chopped. More tart and less seedy; adjust sugar slightly.
DateUse 80% of the weight, chopped. Sweeter and softer, so reduce added sugar.
Raisin or sultanaUse the same weight. Smaller and sweeter; reduce sugar and expect less fig texture.

Mascarpone cheese

Cream cheese or cheddar cheeseUse the same weight of cream cheese only; cheddar is not a good swap. It is tangier and firmer, so soften and beat before folding.
Clotted creamUse the same weight; richer and denser, with a cooked-cream flavour. Fold gently and do not boil.
Hung natural yoghurtUse 75% of the weight and hang it overnight; it is tangier and lighter. Add a little cream for richness.

Fresh ginger

Ginger pasteUse equal weight. Sauté in hot fat until the raw allium smell disappears; slightly wetter, but provides identical warmth and pungency.
Ground gingerUse 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.

Green bird's eye chilli

Bird's eye green chilliUse the same weight; heat and flavour are very close.
Green chilliUse 1.5 to 2 times the weight; deseed for less heat. Larger chillies are more watery.
Fresh green chilliUse 1.5 to 2 times the weight; chop finely and adjust heat by tasting.

Amchoor powder

Ground dried mango powderUse the same weight; same sour mango flavour. Add early so it can soften into the dish.
Dried mango powderGrind to a powder and use the same weight. Slightly coarser unless finely ground.
Lemon juiceUse 5–6 times the weight, e.g. 1 tsp powder to about 5 tsp juice; add off the heat. Wetter and fresher-tasting.
Similar dishes

- Same: Tandoori Shimla Mirch shares potato, cumin, Kashmiri chilli powder, green bird's-eye chilli, ground coriander, dried mango powder and coriander leaf with this dish.
- Different: It uses green bell peppers stuffed with crushed potato and is grilled, while this dish is breadcrumb-coated potato cakes filled with dried fig and mascarpone and has no asafoetida or turmeric.

- Same: Bedmi Aloo shares potato, amchur, green chilli, ginger, cumin, Kashmiri chilli, ground coriander and coriander leaf with this dish.
- Different: Bedmi Aloo is a ghee-based curry with turmeric, asafoetida, tomato purée and water, while this dish is a breadcrumb-bound potato cake with an oil-fried fig-mascarpone filling and no turmeric, tomato or asafoetida.

- Same: Subz Seekh shares potato, cumin, ground coriander, green chilli, dried mango powder, breadcrumb, mint and coriander with this dish.
- Different: Subz Seekh adds paneer, sweetcorn, carrot, chickpea flour, garam masala and ground cardamom, lacks this dish's dried fig and mascarpone filling and Kashmiri chilli powder, and is griddled in sausage shapes rather than made as filled potato cakes.

- Same: Bengali Beetroot Chop and this dish are both crisp, breadcrumb-coated fried potato cakes seasoned with cumin, Kashmiri chilli, dried mango powder, green chilli, ginger and coriander.
- Different: Bengali Beetroot Chop uses grated beetroot, carrot, raisins, chaat masala and a cornstarch-water coating, while this dish uses a dried fig and mascarpone filling with mint and no beetroot or carrot.


































