Learn how to make popular Tamilnadu street food Roadside Kalan recipe with step by step pictures. Rottu Kadai Kaalan recipe, Kalaan recipe made with mushrooms & masala!
In a mixing bowl add 2 cups finely chopped mushrooms, 2 cups chopped cabbage, 1 small onion sliced, ½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste, ¼ cup finely chopped coriander leaves, 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder, ½ teaspoon coriander powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and salt as needed.
Mix it well and set it aside for 5 mins. Mushrooms, cabbage and onions leave water when mixed with salt.
Add 3 tablespoon each of all-purpose flour and corn flour.
Mix it well and it should come together.
It should hold shape when held together.
For deep frying mushroom pakodas - heat oil in a pan. Once hot, drop small lumps of the prepared mixture into oil. Don’t overcrowd the oil and fry the pakoda on medium flame until golden brown.
Drain off the excess oil and set them on a kitchen tissue. Repeat it with rest of the mixture.
For air frying mushroom pakodas - preheat the air fryer at 180°C for 10mins and then place the mixture in small lumps slightly flattened. Set the air fryer for 12 mins at 180° C.
Half way through the time, after 6 mins coat the pakodas with a layer of oil on both sides and continue air frying for 6 more minutes. Repeat the process with rest of mixture, if needed.
To Make Gravy
In a pan heat 2 tablespoon oil and splutter ½ teaspoon fennel seeds followed by 6-8 garlic pods finely chopped.
Next add 1 large onion finely chopped and fry until it is light golden brown.
Meanwhile make a smooth puree from one large tomato roughly chopped. Set aside.
Add ½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste and fry for a couple of mins.
Now add all the spice powders – ½ tablespoon Kashmiri red chilli powder, 1 teaspoon coriander powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder and ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder. Fry for a few seconds.
Quickly add ¼ cup of water and cook the spice powders for 2-3 mins.
As the oil oozes out from the sides of the pan, add prepared tomato puree. Cook it on low flame covered for 5-7mins.
As the gravy comes together, add ½ cup of water and salt as needed. Cook it covered for 7-9mins on low flame. Adjust by adding water as needed. The gravy should neither be too thick nor thin.
As oil floats on top, add few fresh coriander leaves finely chopped and remove from heat.
To serve Roadside Kalan
Place a few mushroom cabbage pakodas on the serving plate. If they are large, roughly tear them into bite sized pieces.
Pour the gravy on top such that each pakoda is covered with gravy on top.
Sprinkle finely chopped onions and coriander leaves on top. Serve immediately.
Notes
DO NOT add any water to the vegetables and let them rest for a minutes to leave water.
Adjust spices per taste preferences.
Technically, roadside vendors don’t add a lot of mushrooms due to cost factor so the measurements can be adjusted depended on the availability