Mince Potato Chops classic, traditional Goan savory dish!
Goan Mince Potato Chops are generally made during Christmas or functions at home. Cooked mince meat are covered with mashed potatoes. It’s crispy from outside and soft, fluffy from within. It just kinds of melts in your mouth.
Traditionally chops are made of beef mince however I have used chicken mince. You could use lamb mince. Vegans could use tofu mince and vegetarians could use paneer mince. Also dash of veggies are added in the chops like chopped carrot, french beans and peas. I bet once you start making them the chops will vanish away in a jiffy.
I am in love with Goan food, Thai food and also Kerala food. Just something in their cuisine which drives me crazy. Guess could be coconut and the spices used. This recipe is easy and you could make them in advance and store in the fridge. The only difficult part is to stuff the mince in the potatoes. Don’t worry I will make this process simpler for you 
Generally hubby demands this dish. Since it takes a while to make this recipe I make simple food to go along with it. You could make dal-rice, khichdi, tomato curry, pulao, any simple gravy Or curry. Chops are not spicy but if you like hot then add more of red chili powder.
There are various kind of chops made in Goa. Some are vegetable chop, peas potato chop, mushroom chops and mince chop. I have tried a couple of chops, puff, patties and cutlet which are goan and non -goan both. I have tried lot of goan chops and cutlets like Goan Peas Potato Chop, Mushroom Cutlet, Cottage Cheese Puffs, Beetroot Patties, Corn Tikki Patties, Sweet Potato Patties and Pumpkin Sweet Potatoes Patties.
I love to make various kinds of cutlets, patties, puffs and kebabs. Best part is I club them with vegetables which makes them nutritious and healthy.
Goan Mince Potato Chop step by step recipe below with picture and printable version right at the bottom.
Combine tomatoes, garlic and ginger into a grinder until smooth puree is formed. Don’t have a pic for this one.
Take a pan add oil once oil is hot. Add onion and saute. Also add little salt.
Saute onion until light brown.
Add sugar for caramelizing the onion.
After a minute add tomato-ginger-garlic puree. Mix all nicely.
Add all powdered spices like turmeric, garam masala powder, red chili powder, coriander seed powder, cumin seed powder and pepper powder. Stir all nicely.
Add mince chicken now.
Time to add green peas.
Also add chopped coriander leaves along with vinegar.
Allow to cook until water is evaporated and the mince is dry. Place the mince aside allow to cool.
In the meanwhile boil potatoes until tender. Peel off their skin. Add salt and rice flour.Mash them with help of finger.
Dust some flour on your palm make small balls of mashed potato. Make small cavities with your finger shaping it like a small bowl Or vati. Just like how you make kachoris. Place small amount of filling over it.
Here comes the hard part grrrrr. Cover the edges without any breakages. Dip these balls over beaten eggs and roll them over bread crumbs Or semolina. I used brown bread crumbs which I made home. You could make bread crumbs home Or but from outside. Alternatively you could use semolina instead of bread crumbs. Also check the tips section below for covering the stuffing.
Heat some oil in a non stick pan until hot. Reduce the heat and shallow fry the chops.
Fry until golden brown and crisp from both sides. Repeat the same with the rest of mince and potatoes.
Serve the chops hot with sauce Or food Or salad.
Notes for Mince Potato Chops:
- If you are finding difficulty in stuffing mince. Just make small cavity like shape on the balls. Stuff with little mince now cover with another small cavity. This is the easiest way to stuff any kind of chops Or cutlets.
- If you are not comfortable using egg instead use milk for dipping chops and then roll over bread crumbs.
- Also instead of breadcrumbs you could use semolina to coat the chops.
- Ensure the potato seals the stuffing properly else it might break during frying.
- You could use veggies like carrots and french beans instead of green peas.
- The mince should be dry if it has little moisture it won’t stay and might ooze out from chops. So take care of this part.
Goan Mince Potato Chops recipe and printable details listed below:
- For Stuffing:
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 medium sized onion chopped finely
- 250 gms mince of chicken/lamb/beef/tofu/paneer
- 3 tomatoes puree
- 1 inch ginger
- 3 to 4 garlic
- 1 t/s red chili powder
- 1 tbsp garam masala powder
- 1 tbsp roasted cumin powder
- 1 t/s turmeric
- 1 t/s sugar (i used organic sugar)
- 1 t/s coriander seed powder
- 1 tbsp vinegar ( i used white vinegar)
- 1 tbsp pepper powder
- ½ cup green peas
- ½ cup coriander leaves chopped finely
- salt as per taste ( i used organic rock salt)
- For outer covering:
- 750 gms potatoes boiled and peeled
- 3 tbsp oil for shallow frying
- 1 tbsp corn flour/ rice flour
- 1 egg beaten
- 3 tbsp bread crumbs Or semolina
- salt as per taste
- Combine tomatoes, garlic and ginger into a grinder until smooth puree is formed.
- Take a pan add oil once oil is hot. Add onion and saute. Also add little salt.
- Saute onion until light brown.
- Add sugar for caramelizing the onion.
- After a minute add tomato-ginger-garlic puree. Mix all nicely.
- Add all powdered spices like turmeric, red chili powder, coriander seed powder, cumin seed powder and pepper powder. Stir all nicely
- Add mince chicken now.
- Time to add green peas.
- Also add chopped coriander leaves along with vinegar.
- Allow to cook until water is evaporated and the mince is dry. Place the mince aside allow to cool.
- In the meanwhile boil potatoes until tender. Peel off their skin. Add salt and rice flour.Mash them with help of finger.
- Dust some flour on your palm make small balls of mashed potato. Make small cavities with your finger shaping it like a small bowl Or vati. Just like how you make kachoris.
- Place small amount of filling over it.
- Cover the edges without any breakages. Dip these balls over beaten eggs and roll them over bread crumbs Or semolina.
- Heat some oil in a non stick pan until hot. Reduce the heat and shallow fry the chops.
- Fry until golden brown and crisp from both sides. Repeat the same with the rest of mince and potatoes.
- Serve the chops hot with sauce Or food Or salad.
Have tried making Potato Chops, but during frying the outer layer of potatoes opens up.
Sometimes the chops turn out very soft and difficult to handle without breaking.
What can be done to prevent the outer layer from opening. Also to make the chops turn hard instead of soft?.
You could add some rice flour or corn flour to the mashed potatoes and allow them to cool completely before making the covering. Even the filling has to be at room temperature. Hope this helps you