Kozhikkal / Tapioca Fritters

         Kozhikkal / Koyikkal is a delicious Malabar / Thalassery special tea time snack..It is a vegetarian snack and when fried it resembles like chicken legs, hence the name "Kozhikkal"..

Ingredients:

1/2 kg tapioca/ kappa/ kolli kizhangu

3/4 -1 cup gram flour

1/4 cup rice flour

1 green chilly, chopped

1/2 tsp ginger paste/ finely chopped

1/2 tsp garlic paste/ finely chopped

1 sprig curry leaves, chopped

2 tsp chilli powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

a pinch of asafoetida

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

salt to taste

oil for frying

Preparation:

1. Peel the skin of tapioca and slice them into thin strips (approximately 3 to 4 inch strips). Soak them in water for 10-15 minutes, drain and keep it aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, add the gram flour, rice flour and salt and prepare a semi thick batter adding enough water.
3. Then add chilli powder, turmeric powder, asafoetida, chopped green chilly, cumin seeds, curry leaves and salt and mix well.
4. Add tapioca strips to this prepared batter and coat well with the batter.
5. Heat oil in a pan on medium flame, Take a handful of tapioca strips together and slide it gently into the oil.
6. Deep fry on medium heat till it turns golden brown and crispy. Remove it from the oil and drain them on a paper towel....Serve hot with tea :)