Great for lunchboxes too!! Recipe inspired by cheese filled croquettes and thought of creating something similar for Navrati. Traditionally, croquettes are cylindrical shaped veggie or protein rolls, coated in bread crumbs and later deep fried until crispy and brown. But since it’s Navratri week, my goal was to make them gluten-free – I skipped the breadcrumbs and added millet (sama rice) to the recipe. Adding millet (sama rcie) really made a huge difference. These croquettes were so crispy on the outside that I hardly missed the breadcrumbs. The outer covering is a combination of tapioca (sabudana), boiled potatoes, millet (sama rice) and spices. This croquette recipe is stuffed with paneer (Indian cottage cheese) that was marinated in green chutney . Believe me, it tastes delicious!! For a vegan or non-fasting option, substitute paneer with tofu. Feel free to play around with the ingredients and add more starchy veggies to this recipe like – mashed arbi (colocasia) or raw banana. If you consume spinach or carrots in vrat than add these too to the outer covering. It will make a great crunchy and crispy appetizer!
Paneer stuffed croquettes can be deep fried or pan cooked. Pan cooked croquettes takes longer to cook compared to the deep fried ones. I have tried both the methods and they turn out great – crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside. Best part, it freezes beautifully. Shape like croquettes and store them in a plastic bag. When ready to use, thaw and deep fry! If you happen to make this recipe, please leave me a comment or share your pics with me on Facebook. I would love to see your creation and would be happy to answer any questions. Thanks!
