A delicious Bengali style appetizer you need to try!! Crispy noodle nests topped with a chili potato cooked in Bengali style makes a very unique and interesting appetiser. These are a delicious vegetarian/vegan fusion recipe that is great to serve as appetisers or on a charcuterie board. The noodles nests are made by baking boiled noodles in a muffin pan in the oven. They are then topped with this delicious mustard chili potato which adds all the flavor.

Happy Cooking!

Servings: 10-14 servings

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cooking Time: 25-30 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

Ingredients: 

Noodle Nests:

• 4-5 oz noodles- I used Hakka noodles.

• 2 tsp mustard oil

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp red chili powder

Potato Topping:

• 1 tbsp mustard oil

• 1 tsp mustard seds

• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds

• 1/2 tsp hing powder

• 2-3 bay leaves

• 2 green chilis sliced

• 3-4 medium golden potatoes in thin slices

• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder

• 1/2 tsp red chili powder

• 1/4 tsp cumin powder

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tbsp garlic paste

• 1/2 tbsp ginger paste

• 2 tsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp ketchup

• 1.5 tsp red chili sauce

• 1/4 cup chopped scallions

Directions: 

1. Wash and peel the potatoes. Slice them into thin strips. Let it dry.

2. Preheat oven to 340F.

3. Place noodles in boiling water and boil till soft. Drain them.

4. In a bowl, add the noodles, mustard oil, salt and chili powder and mix them.

5. Divide the noodles equally in the hollows of a cupcake/muffin tray. Place it around the sides so that it forms a nest.

6. Bake at 340F for 20-30 mins till its crispy. Rotate the tray midway.

7. Potato filling- In a pan add mustard oil. Add mustard and cumin seeds and let it crackle.

8. Add hing, bay leaves and green chilis and cook for 1 minute.

9. Add the sliced potatoes and toss it in. Keep the flame on low-medium.

10. Add salt, cumin powder, red chili powder and turmeric and mix.

11. Cook it for 3-5 mins.

12. Add the soy sauce, ketchup, red chili sauce and mix.

13. Add 1/2 -3/4 cup water and cook the potatoes, stirring frequently till they become soft and water is evaporated. If needed add more water till soft.

14. Add chopped scallions and cook for 2-3 mins.

15. Top the noodle nests with the potato filling.

16. Garnish with the scallions greens and enjoy!

Notes/Tips:

• Use a cupcake/ muffin tray or silicone cups to bake the noodles in.

• Letting the potatoes cook in the gravy adds so much more flavor versus adding boiled potatoes.

• You can add cheese over the potatoes and bake it to make it cheesy.

• Adding oil to the noodles helps it crisp up so don’t skip that!