Roast Breadfruit & A Mad Tea Party!

>> Saturday, 16 August 2008


Roast breadfruit - have it once and you'll keep coming back for more. It's that good. No kidding. Last year, I introduced you to a backyard discovery, breadfruit. I mentioned then about my introduction to a good ole time Bajan (Barbadian) delicacy, roast breadfruit. Alas, it is a dying art to make this dish, but not if I have anything to do with it! I searched high and low for someone to show me how to roast the breadfruit and after more than a year of searching, I found someone. You can read all about it in this week's column. For step-by-step photographs of the process, click here.


There's A Mad Tea Party taking place and everyone's invited. Of course since we're all foodies, we have to bring food to the party but here's the thing, we all have to bring a particular dish, batata vada, in these parts we call it potato balls. Our party host, Anita, describes the batata vada as "batter fried spiced mashed potato balls..." and indeed that is what it is. There are however, many versions of this snack and that is what is making this party to exciting. I'm looking forward to the many variations that will be offered up.


Potato balls are sold as a snack particularly in Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago. T & T also make a snack called Aloo Pie, the spiced mashed potato is encased in a dough and fried. At school, we used to buy and eat loads of potato balls and you had to get to the snack lady as soon as the bell rang, if not, well, you know my story about that already. Back then also, vendors would be lined outside the cinemas, their glass cases packed with goodies to be purchased on the way to see a movie. Phulourie, channa, potato balls, cassava balls, egg balls, mitai, you name it and they had it in their cases.

I'm serving my potato balls with an array of condiments for you to choose from: achar, sour, mango chutney and pepper sauce.


My recipe does not give exact amounts, it is flexible, therefore, add amounts to suit your taste.

POTATO BALLS

Ingredients

Potatoes
Thinly sliced green onions (white & green parts)
Minced hot pepper
Chopped cilantro
Freshly ground cumin (geera)
A drizzle or 2 of oil
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying

Batter

Flour
Water
A pinch of turmeric
Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

1 small bowl
1 large bowl
1 large spoon or spatula
1 ice cream scoop
1 deep frying pan
1 slotted spoon
Paper towels

Method

  1. Mix batter ingredients together and set aside
  2. Boil potatoes in salted water; drian and mash potatoes (leave it a bit coarse if you like that texture)
  3. Add all the other ingredients and mix thoroughly (except the oil for deep frying of course). Taste for salt and seasoning
  4. Take mixture a little at a time and form into balls (using the ice cream scoop gives you equal portions)
  5. Heat oil in pan until very hot but not smoking
  6. Dip balls, one at a time into batter, shake off excess and add to oil and fry (do not overcrowd the pan if not they will stick together)
  7. Fry until brown on both sides
  8. Drain on paper towels
  9. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature, as is or with your favourite hot and sour condiment
Over at Forgive Me My Nonsense... I've left Bee's post of Malevolence up because I think that it is important that those who have not gotten a chance to read it, should.

75 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums August 16, 2008 4:53 PM  

I'd love to find breadfruit here, but I've never seen it... Those dishes all looks terribly good! Nice potato balls! Very pretty presentation...

Cheers,

Rosa

Jeena August 16, 2008 6:24 PM  

Wow breadfruit looks fantastic. I just read your older post about breadfruit, I have never seen it before until now.

Thank you for a delicious post and learning something new. :-)

OhioMom August 16, 2008 8:17 PM  

I have never had breadfruit..now those potato balls look delish! I will have to try those.

[eatingclub] vancouver || js August 16, 2008 10:04 PM  

Wow, that breadfruit really looks like bread! Roasted like that it looks fabulous. I've never seen breadfruit in the flesh, so thank you for posting this.

Passionate About Baking August 16, 2008 10:42 PM  

never heard of bread-fruit Cynthia...how strange it sounds & how good it looks. Those potato balls bring back my childhood days in the South of India...we had those often! YUM!

Chennette August 17, 2008 12:27 AM  

Ooooh, breadfruit! I cannot remember the last time I had fire-roasted potatoes or breadfruit, but I do love that smokiness and charred outside.
And of course, breadfruit. Looks great!

Helene August 17, 2008 12:41 AM  

I would love to taste those potatoes balls. Never heard of breadfruit before. I learn so much on your blog.

madteaparty August 17, 2008 12:43 AM  

I continue to be amazed at the food that traveled with the emigrants! But I shouldn't be - the potato traveled across oceans to get to India!
Those mashed potatoes must taste good on their own! Did you sneak off more than a taste before frying?
Thanks for joining the Party, Cynthia!

zlamushka August 17, 2008 12:44 AM  

i have never heard of breadfruit, learning something over here every week :-)

arundati August 17, 2008 1:47 AM  

the pictures are beautiful as usual....what rocked for me is the awesome chutnies with the potato vadas!! tantalising!!

Beachlover August 17, 2008 2:10 AM  

When I was vacationing in Malaysia,my country 5 months ago,it's the first time I ever try breadfruit.My mom deep fried as fritter and it's really delicious!!..breadfruit look like jackfruit small version.I was surprised!!In Malaya it's called Buah Sukun.I can see breadfruit tree all over the city and infront of everybody house!.I didn't know you can roast breadfruit!!.here is my mom breadfruit fritters
http://www.beachloverkitchen.com/2008/03/fried-buah-sukun-breadfruit-fritters.html

Swati August 17, 2008 2:16 AM  

I have'nt heard of bread fruit but it looks fab..
The potato balls are yummy and the variety of chutneys you have served with it is awesome..

Cham August 17, 2008 2:34 AM  

I ve never seen & heard about breadfruit - I learnt something new today :) I would love to digg the bowl!
The potato vada , wow so many dippings, Yummy :)

Jan August 17, 2008 3:28 AM  

I have never heard of breadfruit - it looks interesting. All your food Cynthia looks so delish.
I like the looks of those potato balls too - yum!

Tanya August 17, 2008 8:29 AM  

I don't think I've ever had breadfruit. You know, you make everything look good!!

The potato balls look great. I love your dishes because they are "outside of the box", at least for me. Thanks!

Ivy August 17, 2008 8:52 AM  

Never heard of breadfruit either but the potatoes do look delicious. I read the forgive my nonsence post written by Bee and the world is full of wackos. It's really scary that come are among us.

Carmen August 17, 2008 9:13 AM  

wow breadfruit it's very nice
kisses

Pat August 17, 2008 9:29 AM  

Cynthia, the potato balls sound really delicious!!! I am definately going to try those. Now where to find Breadfruit in the UK?

Alka August 17, 2008 1:13 PM  

The bread fruit is new to me...never heard of that
But yes the batatawadas are yummy....Do u know that It is claimed that the vada pav was first made when Ashok Vaidya, a snack seller outside Dadar railway station, decided to experiment.The combination of batata vada and split pav continues to be Mumbai's sledgehammer answer to the hamburger(wikipedia).That means it originated in Mumbai(my birthplace:-))
Sorry i know that u clearly mentioned that this is ur version ...but still i cant help but suggest that if you add some chopped mint and few pinches of garam masala in potato mixture,and also add a pinch of Soda bi carb to the chickpea batter u will find an awesome taste (soda bi carb make the batter layer crisp)
Hey i too posted a type of wada(tikki)made with lotus stem recipe
Nevertheless the wadas look inviting with such a wide range of condiments...Wish i too was invited to that mad tea party....

Sue August 17, 2008 3:06 PM  

Yum, yum and more yum. You've made me think about the many potato ball type dishes there are in different cuisines. Indian cooking has the fantastic Aloo Tikki; a knish, while not strictly a potato ball, has a wonderful spiced potato filling, Malaysian sweet potato balls and so on.

Your snack lady story is so sweet. It's amazing how the kindness of strangers can stay with us after so many years.

DaviMack August 17, 2008 3:51 PM  

It sounds good ... and it's something I've always wondered about, and wanted to try. Perhaps we'll make it to where such things exist, some day!

Laavanya August 17, 2008 4:37 PM  

I love the texture of breadfruit. I just posted Aloo Bondas as well :) Yours look perfect & golden Cynthia and I love those cute spoons that are holding the sauces.

Sireesha August 17, 2008 5:09 PM  

Wow breadfruit looks fantastic...Its new for me.....Aloo Bondas look perfect and awesome....

Sig August 17, 2008 5:52 PM  

oh wow Cynthia, I just went through the step by step pics of baking breadfruit... there is something so mesmerizing about cooking in an open fire......

Uma August 17, 2008 6:19 PM  

never heard of breadfruit! looks so good. And the potato balls are so mouth-watering with so many condiments.

Suma Rajesh August 17, 2008 7:38 PM  

woo..its fantastic.....i never tasted breadfruit b4..ur presentation is too gud...gud work..

Valentina August 17, 2008 8:34 PM  

I love this post. And those beautiful spoons!!

Sreelu August 18, 2008 12:04 AM  

Cynthia, I have yto try bread fruit, it makes me drool. love your batata vada's

daphne August 18, 2008 4:42 AM  

I have never tasted roast breadfruit! That looks fabulous and interesting.

and I can pop quite a few potato balls into my mouth!

Meg Wolff August 18, 2008 8:31 AM  

Your potato balls look delicious. Love the photo of them with the condiments. I will read Bee's post. Thanks.

Aparna Inguva August 18, 2008 9:51 AM  

Never had breadfruit! I will 'post it' marked in my brain to look out for it when we travel. The batata vadas with dipping sauces look awesome.

Kelly-Jane August 18, 2008 10:53 AM  

Those potato balls look so delicious, and so many lovely dips too - you are spoiling us :)

Gloria (Canela) August 18, 2008 11:38 AM  

Look so wonderful and tasty Cynthia, how ever, xxGloria and ....I love the potato balls! yummy

Rosie August 18, 2008 3:22 PM  

Breadfruit is new to me but boy it looks fantastic.

It really is a pleasure to read your posts and learn new things :)

Rosie x

Laurie August 18, 2008 3:32 PM  

It's wonderful to learn about new fruits and vegetables! How interesting. :)
And those potato balls with the varied condiments look yummy too!

meeso August 18, 2008 8:28 PM  

Yummy pictures! So tempting, I love this kind of food!

maybelles parents August 18, 2008 8:32 PM  

oh, i adore breadfruit but we don't get it. all these recipes make me think of my grandmother and India.

glamah16 August 18, 2008 9:17 PM  

This one fruit I have always wanted to try since I first heard about it as a child. What does it tastes like. The variations seem endless. One day I hope to have th opportunity to taste this.

Proud Italian Cook August 19, 2008 1:16 AM  

Here you go again teaching me something new, this time breadfruit. I only wish I could taste it and experience the flavor!
And those potato balls look so fun to eat, dipping them into all of those condiments of yours. You always make your food look so good and desirable!

Meeta August 19, 2008 2:48 AM  

breadfruit? yet another one of your alien fruit I have never heard of. i see i just have to make a trip to barbados to try these!

your potato balls look lovely and reminds me to move my butt on that!

Shreya August 19, 2008 8:25 AM  

breadfuit looks too good to be true! the potato vadas are great!:-)

Priti August 19, 2008 8:29 AM  

We all are on mission now to find what's breadfruit :)..Potato vada looks so yummy and delicious

Poonam August 19, 2008 10:27 AM  

Looks beautiful, Cynthia!

Sangeeth August 19, 2008 10:39 AM  

wow! iam drooling...great recipes and lovely pics....can't wait to eat them all...

Mishmash ! August 19, 2008 11:07 AM  

How much for couriering one? just kidding..:)) In kerala, we use it fro everything from curry to chips to stirfry.....And your fire roasted jackfruit sounds so exotic....must taste awesome!! :)

Urban Vegan August 19, 2008 8:28 PM  

I remember breadfruit when I last visited Barbados (and I'm coming back in November), but I never tasted it. Hopefully, this time I will.

What I'm really looking forward to is riding those crazy-tiny service taxi vans and listening to great music!

Anali August 20, 2008 12:27 AM  

I want to try those potato balls! It looks like a great appetizer. Thanks for the idea Cynthia! ; )

Noor August 20, 2008 2:32 AM  

Wow this sounds amazing and looks it too.

Chuck August 20, 2008 2:52 AM  

Cynthia, I love the idea of the potato balls with the different condiments. I'm going to have to remember that for my next get together. Love it!

Nina's Kitchen (Nina Timm) August 20, 2008 7:53 AM  

I've read about breadfruit, but never seen or ate it. The potato balls however looks scrumptious and that serving platter is so beautiful!

Dhanggit August 20, 2008 8:44 AM  

im getting mad seeing all these yummy stuffs Cynthia!! oh i miss so badly breadfruit!! wish i could find one :-)

sra August 20, 2008 11:01 AM  

have been trying to tell you since saturday how much i enjoyed reading your column.
I've never tasted breadfruit, and if I have, i don't know that i have, what a shame!

farida August 20, 2008 7:16 PM  

Everything looks so delicious, Cynthia! I especially loved your potato balls. IN fact, the recipe is printing right now. I am sure my daughter would love them. She is a potato lover:)Thanks for sharing!

Lyrical Lemongrass August 20, 2008 11:44 PM  

I've never tried breadfruit before. I'm learning so much from your blog!

Lori Lynn August 21, 2008 3:25 AM  

What a party! All those potato balls, with all those different condiments, I would be happy with just potato balls and beer!

The roast breadfruit is very interesting too.

pixen August 21, 2008 6:27 PM  

Hi Cynthia,

There's one giant breadfruit tree in my old school but I never got the chance to eat any :-( it was so high up even at the lowest branch. Those that dropped on the ground is spoilt. The locals in my island would slice it thinly and deep fried it like fried bananas. Sometimes they add fresh shreded coconut into the batter to give it a creamy taste and drizzle with palm sugar syrup.

Your roasted breadfruit is interesting and I will try it - now to find a griller somehow LOL

Annemarie August 22, 2008 2:54 AM  

Breadfruit - the intrigue continues. Perhaps I need to make more of an effort at the west indian groceries near me and I'll find some. The aloo pies though - those I know. I think my fingers would have picked that whole platter clean.

SteamyKitchen August 22, 2008 10:26 PM  

i've never had breadfruit before!! I'm sooo missing out.

SriLekha August 23, 2008 8:04 PM  

an event for icecreams and milkshakes is going in my blog! participate in it!

Arabic Bites August 24, 2008 5:38 AM  

I have never heard of breadfruit before ,looks delicious.

you have an award waiting for you on our blog ;)

Tom Aarons August 24, 2008 10:36 AM  

Hi Cynthia. Just a heads up that something is a bit broken. I'm not seeing any pictures. I'm on Firefox/Linux/Telstra Australia. Good luck sorting it.

Keva,  August 24, 2008 3:21 PM  

You know Cynthia, I've never had breadfruit. It looks interesting though. However, those potato balls look sooo good! My mouth is watering just looking at the display plate with the different dipping sauces. :-)

QlinArt August 24, 2008 7:00 PM  

Cynthia, the potato balls look incredibly delicious. Here's an idea for my next dinner party. Thanks!

SweetBites August 25, 2008 9:53 AM  

Hi,just came by your awesome blog. I've never heard of breadfruit in this part of the world but glad to know of it now.

CECIL August 26, 2008 6:54 PM  

The potato balls just look so festive!

Geeta August 26, 2008 7:25 PM  

Those potato balls are going to hit the spot on a cold day...if it ever gets cold here again.

GEETA August 26, 2008 7:34 PM  

Great going, getting someone to show you a traditional way of making breadfruit and recording the method for posterity.
Loved the batata vada and the stories of school and the old cinema house.
Looking forward to getting a copy of your book.

Darius T. Williams August 31, 2008 12:32 PM  

Wow - you've got a great amount of good things going on here. You know, I've never had breadfruit - I'd totally try it though.

-DTW
www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com

Rachna September 03, 2008 2:40 PM  

wow this looks sooooo yummy...

Aparna September 04, 2008 5:58 AM  

My husband does not agree with me but I'm not a breadfruit fan. Its very common back home.
The potato balls, well, that's a different thing entirely. Those sppons with the chutneys/ relishes are cute.
Aloo pies are samosas?

Sheetal Kiran September 14, 2008 9:31 PM  

Cynthia, those potato balls look absolutely beautiful ... I wish I could reach in and grab me a few!!! And the presentation is so pretty too!

Tara,  September 23, 2008 5:33 PM  

Your pictures are great! Love the presentation. They brought back wonderful memories of my mom's cooking.

~~louise~~ June 27, 2009 9:22 AM  

Hi Cynthia,
Thank you so much for "bringing" your potato ball recipe to our online picnic. We had a wonderful assortment of dishes. I hope we get to do it again real soon...

Have you ever seen this Caribbean cookbook?

maybelle's mom June 27, 2009 3:07 PM  

My dad is deathly allergic to breadfruit so we stopped eating it when I was young. I can't even remember what it was like--but the picnic balls remind me of many any indian function. I love them. ANd, later this summer, I will try to make green tomato achar.

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