By Ambaree Majumdar, ESRAG Southeast Asia Chapter Chair
Hara Bhara Kebab is a green delicacy usually cooked with dairy but this recipe is a plant-based version. Whether you’re preparing for an Indian festival or for Thanksgiving in the United States, try this delicious, vegan, protein-rich recipe.
One of the most wonderful protein sources for us is green peas and tofu. This recipe uses both! Try this easy, delicious and nutritious kebab and serve it as an appetizer or a snack (or even breakfast, if you like it spicy).
Makes: 7 – 8 kebabs
Active Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Inactive Time: 30 mins
Ingredients
2 TBSP cooking oil, divided
1 TBSP chopped green chili
1/2 TBSP grated ginger
1.5 cup fresh or frozen and thawed green peas
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1.5 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp garam masala
salt to taste
1 cup spinach chopped
10 – 12 fresh mint leaves (optional)
2 TBSP chickpea flour (besan)
1/2 cup firm tofu grated
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 TBSP lemon juice
10 pieces of whole cashews
oil for greasing
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C. Heat 1 TBSP oil in a pan. Add the ginger and chili, fry for a few seconds. Add the green peas. Stir fry for a minute.
Now add turmeric, coriander, cumin and garam masala powders and salt to the green peas. Mix everything well. Transfer this mixture to a food processor.
Process the green peas mixture, spinach and mint leaves to form a paste. Add as little water as possible while blending.
Add 1 TBSP oil to the same pan as before. Transfer the green peas paste to the pan and cook till it starts leaving the sides of the pan. Lower the flame.
Now add the chickpea flour to the peas mixture. If the flour seems lumpy, then you can sieve it before adding to the pan. Once the besan is well incorporated, add the tofu, cinnamon and lemon juice. Mix everything well. Let the dough-like mixture cool for a few minutes.
Pluck about 1.5 TBSP of the dough and give them a disc-like shape. Make as many kebabs with the dough as you can.
In the center of each of the kebabs, push 1 cashew nut and place them on a greased baking tray.
Brush the kebabs with oil on both sides. Bake them for 15 minutes first. Then reverse the kebabs and bake for about 5 minutes.
Serve hot with a vegan dip of your choice.