As Diwali approaches, the desire for festive, flavourful snacks is at an all-time high. This year, skip the store-bought options and create a memorable, healthier treat right from your own kitchen with this vegetable oats tikki recipe.
A Healthier Twist on a Festive Favourite
Tikkis, or cutlets,
are a beloved Indian snack, known for their crispy exterior and soft, spiced interior. While traditionally made with potatoes and often deep-fried, this version incorporates the wholesome goodness of oats and a medley of vegetables, making it a lighter yet equally satisfying option for your festive spread. Oats not only add a wonderful texture but also bring a healthy dose of fibre to the table. The use of everyday pantry staples means you can whip up a batch without a special trip to the grocery store, making it a convenient and crowd-pleasing choice for any get-together. This recipe focuses on shallow-frying or air-frying, reducing the oil content without sacrificing the all-important crunch.
Gather Your Pantry Ingredients
The beauty of this recipe lies in its flexibility and reliance on common kitchen ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to get started. For the tikkis: 2 large potatoes, boiled, peeled, and mashed; 1 cup of quick-cooking or rolled oats; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 1/2 cup of mixed vegetables (like grated carrots, boiled peas, or finely chopped capsicum); 2 green chillies, finely chopped; 1 teaspoon of grated ginger; 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh coriander; and a blend of spices including 1 teaspoon cumin powder, 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon garam masala, and salt to taste. For the coating and frying: 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil for shallow frying and optionally, a slurry made of 2 tablespoons of cornflour mixed with 4 tablespoons of water for an extra-crisp finish.
Step-by-Step Preparation
Creating the tikki mixture is simple. First, ensure your boiled potatoes are cool, as this helps create a firmer, less sticky base. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes with the chopped onion, mixed vegetables, green chillies, ginger, and coriander. Next, add the oats and all the powdered spices—cumin powder, red chilli powder, garam masala, and salt. Mix everything thoroughly until it forms a uniform dough-like consistency that you can easily shape. If the mixture feels too moist, you can add a little more powdered oats to help absorb the excess moisture and bind the ingredients together. Once combined, let the mixture rest for about 10–15 minutes. This allows the oats to soak up moisture and the flavours to meld together beautifully.
Shaping and Cooking to Golden Perfection
Lightly grease your palms with a bit of oil to prevent sticking. Take a small portion of the mixture and roll it into a ball, then gently flatten it between your palms to form a patty or tikki, about half an inch thick. For an extra crispy coating, you can dip each tikki into a thin cornflour slurry and then roll it in some dry oats before cooking. To cook, heat a nonstick pan or tawa over medium heat and add a tablespoon or two of oil. Carefully place the tikkis on the pan, leaving some space between them. Cook for $3–$4 minutes on one side until golden brown and crisp, then flip and cook the other side for another $3–$4 minutes$, adding a little more oil if needed. For an even healthier option$, you can cook these in an air fryer at $200°C$ for about $15 minutes$, flipping them halfway through.
Serving and Storage Tips
These vegetable oats tikkis are best served hot$, straight from the pan$. They pair wonderfully with a variety of dips$. Classic choices include tangy green chutney$, sweet tamarind chutney$, or a simple bowl of whisked yogurt$. For a more elaborate presentation$, you can turn them into a delicious chaat by topping the hot tikkis with yogurt$, chutneys$, finely chopped onions$, and a sprinkle of sev and chaat masala$. If you need to prepare ahead of time$, you can shape the tikkis and store them in the refrigerator for up to a day before cooking$. They also freeze well$, making them a fantastic make–ahead snack for the busy festive season$.
