HOMEMADE MEAT CUTLETS

Mmmm.....Homemade cutlets for lunch!!!

Making cutlets is no more an ordeal.Gone are the days when you had to start things from scratch like getting chunks of meat, cooking it, removing the fat and then mincing it before the actual work began.Things are a lot easier as you can get fresh, clean, fatless, beef mince from your local butcher.Here in Bangalore, we have Frosty's for the loveliest of meat and fish cleaned and cut in anywhich way you want.I had bought some of their special beef mince the other day and since I had this sudden urge to eat some homemade cutlets, I defrosted it and got ready to make some.But once I got started, it seemed like the perfect "wrong day" to make cutlets.......The maid turned up late,the milkman came with his coupons, the ironing wala for clothes, the neighbour for a chat and of course my little girl was all over the house,enjoying her holiday!!

Phew......it was no fun as I had thought it to be.I found myself,working on the cutlets till kingdom came.It seemed like eternity before they were done.But as I fried the first batch,the wonderful aroma of warm, homemade cutlets wafted in the air.It reminded me of my mother's home back in Kerala.I looked at the remaining batch of unfried cutlets ready to go into the chiller and smiled to myself.Hee hee hee....Easy lunch for a couple of days!!

MEAT CUTLETS(makes about 15 cutlets)

Beef mince-1/2 kg

Onion-1 medium

Ginger-1 inch piece

Garlic-4-5 flakes

Green chillies-3-4

Curry leaves

Garam masala-2tsps

Pepper powder-1 tsp

Coriander powder-1 tsp

Salt-enough

Vinegar-2tsps

Soyasauce-2tsps

Chilli sauce-2tsps

Tomato ketchup-2 tsps

Potato-2 medium

Egg-1

Bread crumbs

Oil

Method

Wash meat well and drain.

Finely chop onion, ginger, garlic, greenchillies and curryleaves.

Pour oil in a kadai and when it boils add the above and saute.

Add garam masala, pepper and coriander powder.

When the aroma rises, put in the minced beef and mix well.

Add enough salt and vinegar and mix with a fork, removing the lumps.

Cook for sometime on low fire.Dont add water.

When the meat is well cooked, add the sauces and mix well.

Off flame when the stock almost dries up.

Add boiled and mashed potatoes and mix again.

When cool,divide into small equal balls.Flatten it into desired shape(round or oval).

Dip in beaten egg and coat with bread crumbs.

Deep fry in oil and serve hot.