Patra Vadi

Patra Vadi is a Gujarati /Maharashtrian dish made with Colocasia leaves(taro root leaves) rolled with a gram flour paste, gently steamed,sliced and pan fried.This can be served as an appetizer or breakfast item.

Preparation time:30 minutes
Serves:about 30 slices

Ingredients:
2 cups gram flour/besan
1 bunch coriander leaves
juice of 1/2 lemon
salt to taste
2 teaspoons red chili powder
1 teaspoon tamarind paste
4 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon chat masala(optional)
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1-2 teaspoons sugar
3 green chili finely minced
2 large colocasia leaves(taro leaves) washed and cut into half(I removed the big vein in the center and halved them)
1 tablespoon eno fruit salt(Optional to make it airy)

Procedure:
1.In a bowl take the gram flour and mix all the ingredients except the leaves,oil and lemon juice.Add sufficient water to  make a paste(should not be too runny)

2.Take each half of the leaves and evenly smear the gram flour mixture

3.Roll the leaves from one end to the other.

4.Place in a steamer and steam for 12 minutes.

5.Cut the edges off and cut each of the rolls into slices.

6.Heat oil in a pan and pan fry the slices until a golden color is obtained.Drain on to paper towel and sprinkle with lemon juice and serve.

Tips:
Fruit salt makes the dough airy so add it only if you please
Chat masala gives a nice and tangy taste to it,add if you like it.
You can also use grated jaggery instead of the sugar
If you have small leaves they will have a soft central vein,you don't need to cut it off, you can smear it on the entire leaf and place a second leaf on top and smear again and roll them both together,this is how it is done traditionally.
Serve with tamarind chutney or cilantro chutney or mint chutney