Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Arabi ke Kebab
Arabi ke Kebab (Colacasia (Taro Root) Kebabs)

Arabi ke Kebab

Colacasia (Taro Root) Kebabs
Vegetarian●●●Origin AwadhPrep 40 minutes, plus cooling timeCook 25 minutesMakes 8

Crisp, golden vegetable patties made from tender boiled taro root mixed with fragrant spices, fresh herbs, and browned onions.

kebab spices

7 gStirred into the mashed taro and onion mixture (step 3)
01
2.6 g1 teaspoon
spice
02
0.9 g½ teaspoon
spice
03
1.8 g1 teaspoon
spice
04
~0.3 gpinch
spice
05
1.3 g½ teaspoon
spice blend
Stir together; they go into the bowl together.

Everything else

01
225 g
vegetable
02
14 g1 tablespoon
oil/fat
03
150 g1 onion
vegetable
04
4.8 g1 cm
aromatic
06
~100 g1 bunch
herb
07
60 g
grain
08
to taste
salt

Method

  1. Place 225 g colacasia in a saucepan, cover completely with water, and boil until fork-tender. Drain and let cool enough to handle, then peel the skins and mash the flesh smooth.
  2. Warm 13.5 g vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté 150 g onion until browned.
  3. Transfer the browned onions to a mixing bowl. Season with salt to taste, then incorporate the kebab spices, 4.8 g ginger, 50 g chickpea flour, 100 g coriander leaf, and the mashed colacasia, working everything into an even dough.
  4. Portion the mixture into 8 equal balls, then press them into flat patties.
  5. Spread 60 g breadcrumbs across a shallow plate and press each patty into the crumbs to coat all sides evenly.
  6. Heat enough oil for deep-frying in a deep pan or kadhai to 180°C (350°F). Fry the patties in batches for 3 to 4 minutes until deeply browned and crisp, then lift out with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towels and serve hot.

Don't have something?

Taro root
  • Colocasia

    Use the same weight; it is essentially the same vegetable, peel and boil until tender.

  • Indian yam

    Use the same weight; firmer and less sticky, so cook 5–10 minutes longer.

  • Potato

    Use the same weight; less glutinous and milder, so add a little extra ghee or oil for richness.

Vegetable oil
  • Peanut oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.

  • Ghee

    Use 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.

  • Mustard oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

Onion
  • Shallot

    Use equal weight, finely sliced. Shallots soften and brown faster, giving a slightly sweeter and more delicate base to curries.

  • Cabbage

    Use 80% of the weight, finely shredded and browned slowly with a pinch of asafoetida. Replicates the bulk and natural sweetness in gravies without allium.

Chilli powder
  • Red chilli powder

    Use 100% of the weight. Provides direct, sharp heat and red colour in equal measure.

  • Kashmiri chilli powder

    Use 150% to 200% of the weight if matching colour, but add a pinch of black pepper or hot chilli if you need equivalent fiery heat.

  • Cayenne pepper

    Use 75% to 100% of the weight. Offers a sharp, clean heat with slightly less earthy depth and less crimson colour.

Ground ginger
  • Ginger paste

    Use 300% to 400% of the weight (e.g. 3–4 g paste for 1 g ground). Fry in oil alongside onions; provides a juicy, pungent kick rather than a dry, baking-spice heat.

  • Fresh ginger

    Peel and grate finely; use 300% to 400% of the weight. Add to the hot oil early; delivers bright, peppery warmth rather than the mellow, woody heat of dry ginger.

  • Ground mace

    Use 50% of the weight. Imparts a warm, spicy undertone in rich gravies, but lacks ginger's fiery, sharp zest.

Ground coriander
  • Coriander seeds

    Dry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.

  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.

  • Garam masala

    Use 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.

Asafoetida
  • Garlic powder

    Use double the weight. Stir into hot oil just before adding wet ingredients; mimics the allium savoury background without the sulphurous edge.

  • Garlic paste

    Use 2 g for every 0.5 g of asafoetida. Sauté in oil until the raw smell clears; adds moisture and sweet allium depth.

Garam masala
  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.

  • Lentil stew spice mix

    Use 75% of the weight. Simmer briefly in the gravy; imparts roasted warmth and complexity, though it adds a slight tang and earthy lentil undertone.

Ginger
  • Fresh ginger

    Use equal weight; scrape off the skin and grate or finely julienne according to the recipe.

  • Ginger paste

    Use equal weight; stir straight into the sizzling aromatics, taking care as the extra moisture may spit.

  • Ground ginger

    Use 15 to 20% of the weight; add alongside ground spices, noting it imparts warm, dry heat rather than zesty freshness.

Chickpea flour
  • Yellow split pea flour

    Use 100% of the weight. Many commercial gram flours are milled from split peas; performs identically in pakora batters and kadhi.

  • Cornstarch

    For crisping batters or binding cutlets: use 50% to 60% of the weight. Produces a very crisp shell but lacks the earthy, roasted nutty flavour of besan.

Coriander leaf
  • Coriander

    Use equal weight finely chopped; this is the exact same fresh herb.

  • Mint

    Use half the weight finely chopped; provides vibrant green freshness, though the flavour profile becomes noticeably cooler and sharper.

Dried breadcrumb
  • Fresh breadcrumbs

    Use the same weight, but adjust liquid slightly as they are moister. Softer set; good for binding.

  • Bread slice

    Use the same weight of stale bread, whizz to crumbs and dry in a low oven. Closest texture to dried crumbs.

  • Coarse semolina

    Use about 70% of the weight and rest briefly before cooking. Grittier and absorbs more liquid; use for crunch or binding, not for coating.

Similar dishes

Papri
Gram (Chickpea) Flour Biscuits (Crackers)
Papri is significantly crunchier and has a simpler, sharper mustard oil bite, missing the soft interior, herbal freshness, and complex spice profile of this dish.
  • Same: Both recipes are savoury, spiced snacks that use chickpea flour, chilli powder, and asafoetida.
  • Different: Papri is a deep-fried dough cracker made primarily of chickpea flour and mustard oil, lacking the boiled taro root, onions, fresh coriander, ginger, and warming spices used in these pan-fried kebabs.
Arbai ke Patte
Yam Leaf Wraps with Spicy Lentil Paste Filling
It tastes tangier and significantly hotter due to the amchoor and fresh green chillies, whereas this dish is milder and more aromatic from garam masala and heavy fresh coriander.
  • Same: Arbai ke Patte shares the use of vegetable oil alongside seasonings like chilli powder, ground coriander, asafoetida, and both fresh and ground ginger with this dish.
  • Different: Instead of forming patties with chickpea flour, onions, and garam masala, it wraps a spiced urad dal paste in yam leaves and cooks them with cumin, turmeric, amchoor, and green chillies in substantially more oil.
Gatte ka Pulao
Gram (Chickpea) Flour Dumpling Rice
Gatte ka Pulao is tangier from lemon juice and more aromatic with whole spices and garlic, contrasting with the ginger-forward, concentrated savoury flavor of this dish.
  • Same: Both dishes rely on chickpea flour, browned onions, vegetable oil, and a shared spice base of chilli powder, garam masala, asafoetida, and fresh coriander.
  • Different: Gatte ka Pulao is a basmati rice preparation incorporating boiled gram-flour dumplings with garlic, cumin seeds, bay leaf, turmeric, and lemon juice, whereas this dish consists of pan-fried taro root patties seasoned with fresh and ground ginger.
Methi Pakora
Fenugreek Fritters
Methi Pakora tastes herbaceous, nutty and slightly bitter from fenugreek and peanuts with green chilli heat, while this dish tastes milder and sweeter from taro and browned onion with fresh coriander.
  • Same: Methi Pakora shares chickpea flour, onion, chilli powder, garam masala, salt and vegetable oil with this dish, and both are spiced fried snacks.
  • Different: Methi Pakora uses fenugreek leaves, peanuts and green chilli in a gram-flour batter deep-fried in 228 g oil, while this dish uses boiled taro root, breadcrumbs, coriander leaf, ginger and asafoetida shaped into patties with only 13.5 g oil.