Mixed Vegetable Cutlets

Ingredients

1 cauliflower florets
1 c potatoes
1 c green peas
1 c green beans
1 c carrots
1/2 beets
1/4 c celery
2 green chilies
5/8 c chick peas
3 tb almonds
3 tb walnuts
3 sunflower seeds
1 1/2 ts salt
1/4 ts black pepper
1/2 ts turmeric
1 ts garam masala
3/4 c soy milk
2 tb cornstarch
2 tb wheat flour
5/8 c poppy seeds

Instructions

Ghee for shallow frying Place the cauliflower, potatoes, fresh peas & green beans in the bottom of a pot & cover with water. Put the carrots, beets & celery in a steaming basket, cover & place over the pot. Cook until the vegetables are tender-crisp. Drian, saving the water. Add the frozen peas, defrosted first, to the steamed vegetables. In a blender, while it is running, drop in the chilies. Add the chick peas, nuts & seeds & process until the peas are mashed. Some vegetable water may facilitate this. Add the cauliflower, potatoes, fresh peas, if using, & beans. Pulse on & off till they are coarsely mashed. Transfer to a mixing bowl, add the steamed vegetables, salt, pepper, turmeric & garam masala. Mix well. Divide into portions. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Flatten a portion into an almond shaped cutlet, 1/2 inch thick & place on the sheet. Cover & refrigerate for 30 minutes. Whisk the soy milk, cornstarch & flour in a flat bowl until smooth. Dip each cutlet into the batter, roll in poppy seeds & set aside briefly to air dry. Heat ghee to a depth of 3/4 inch. Without crowding, fry the cutlets in batches for 2 minutes each side. Drain & serve. Adapted from Yamuna Devi, "The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking"