While several parts of the country are swelling in the heat wave and waiting for a respite, our only hopes are the rains. The arrival of the monsoon season cools the breeze and turns the hot winds into fresh and cold winds hitting our face. It definitely rains more in some parts of India than others, depending upon their proximity to the coastal areas but there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t wait for that first rain shower. Enjoying the weather can mean different things for different people. Some might want to drench themselves in the heavy showers while others would prefer to sit back and let the droplets touch their palms once in a while.
The next thing that is special for monsoon is food. Every season has their own dishes and food items that are associated with it. Think rains. Think pakoras when you’re in North India. Anything that is deep-fried and crispy works well for this season. Be it the bhajiyas, pakoras, samosas, kachoris or the like, you serve it with a side of mint chutney and everyone will have a smile on the faces. Amidst this assortment of deep-fried delicacies, we found a type of patties that is quite popular in Madhya Pradesh. A famous street food and breakfast item of the monsoon season, the Bhopalis and Indoris like to call it Khopra or Kopra patties.
The word Khopra shouldn’t be mistaken for the Hindi term for brain. In fact, Kopra is actually a Malayali word which means dried coconut kernels. Now you must be wondering where does this come into play for patties? Well, the Khopra patties are nothing like your regular flaky patties, although the filling still has potatoes. These patties are closer to potato cutlets in shape, with a circular and thick patty made from mashed potatoes. What makes these patties unique is the addition of dried coconut in the mixture. The mild sweetness of the coconut finds way into the flavour of the patties, along with the spicy potato stuffing. Herbs and dried fruits add a certain nuttiness to the taste, lending the patties a distinct flavour.
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Throw in the balls and deep-fry until golden-brown. Once done, take them out and serve hot with a garnish of grated coconut and coriander leaves. Dip them into tomato sauce or mint chutney and enjoy. Want to try it? Here’s a tempting recipe that you can try at home.
