Chirer Chop (Flattened Rice Patty)

My mother is a great cook and like all good cooks she guards her recipes well. Request her for her signature dishes and she happily cook them for you... Ask her for the recipe and she'll give you a list of ingredients to play with.  And sometimes, that list is so short and simple that it makes you wonder if that is all that went into that lip smacking curry or the cutlet you just finished.... 

Chirer Chop or flattened rice patty is one of those recipes. Whoever has it, always asks her for the recipe and after hearing her list of ingredients invariably remarks, "It that all ?" Yes, flattened rice, eggs, onion, ginger and coriander are the only ingredients that go into Maa's "Chire Chop," and it is amazing what these simple pantry staples do when they get together. 

Chire or flattened rice is rice which has been beaten into flat light dry flakes. It is an easily digestible form of raw rice which swells when liquids are added to it. It is a breakfast staple in several states in Eastern India where people have it with milk or yogurt, mashed seasonal fruits and jaggery. Chirer pulao and pohe are some of the other dishes made with flattened rice which are popular among Indians. While making pulao or pohe requires some work, these patties get done in no time. 

If flattened rice is not a staple in your pantry and you do not wish to make an extra trip to the Indian store just for it, simply replace it with left over rice or a grain that absorbs liquid well, and you'll have a delightful snack to serve at teatime..  

Chirer Chop (Flattened rice Patty)

Flattened rice patties with eggs, onions and herbs of your choice..

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Recipe by source Urmimala Pal

Total time: 20 minute                                                                        Yield: 9-12 depending on the size

Ingredients

• ⅔ cup chire or flattened rice
• 2 medium eggs
• 1 medium sized onion, chopped
• ½ inch piece of ginger, finely chopped
• handful of chopped coriander or parsley
• 1-2 green chillies, chopped
• salt to taste
• oil for shallow frying

Cooking Directions

1. Wash the flattened rice two-three times, drain off the water and keep aside.
2. Add the eggs, chopped onion, ginger, coriander, green chillies and salt to the flattened rice. Mix them well and keep aside. (I usually mix them with my hand.)
3. Heat the oil in a frying fan. 
4. When the oil is hot enough reduce the heat and drop lemon sized balls of the mixture in the pan, flatten them to look like patties and cook them over medium low heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side, that is until they are look golden brown on either side.
5. Serve hot with ketchup or a tangy dip if you like... or simply like that.

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