All Aboard for Breakfast: A Nostalgic Indian Railways Breakfast

There’s nothing quite like waking up to the clattering rhythm of an Indian train chugging along the tracks, surrounded by family, friends, and a mishmash of playing cards, anthakshari (if you know, you know), and the occasional afternoon snooze that could rival a sloth’s napping skills. Ah, the nostalgia!

Now I wasn’t exactly what you’d call a morning person, but i dont remember ever missing the breakfast call. Whether you were Team Veg with your soft idlis, crispy vadas, and fluffy upma, or Team Non-Veg with the classic bread omelette and those mysteriously addictive cutlets, breakfast on the Indian Railways was a rite of passage.

So, this morning, I decided to bring a slice of that magic back into my kitchen. Ready to join me on this delicious journey? Let’s get cooking!

Step 1: The Famous Cutlets 🚋

First things first, let’s talk cutlets—the real star of this breakfast show.

Ingredients:

• 3 medium-sized potatoes

• 1 carrot (grated)

• 1 cup of green peas

• 2 green chilies (finely chopped)

• A handful of fresh coriander

• A bit of garlic and ginger (because, duh)

• Breadcrumbs (just blitz some old bread in the blender)

• Spices: 1/4 tsp garam masala, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, salt, pepper, and a pinch of chaat masala (gotta keep it authentic!)

• 1/4 cup besan (chickpea flour) for the slurry

Step by Step Instructions:

1. Boil those potatoes: Toss them into a pressure cooker and let them whistle away for one whistle (around 10 minutes). Then, lower the heat and let them chill for another 5 minutes before turning off the stove. Let the pressure release naturally—trust me, your hands will thank you later!

2. Prep the veggies: While the potatoes are cooling down, grab your carrot and peas. Grate the carrot finely. Throw the peas and the carrot into some hot water for a quick 10-15 minute steam bath—just enough to soften them up. Drain and set them aside.

3. Spice things up: While waiting, chop up your garlic, ginger, and those green chilies. The secret to good cutlets? Layers of flavor, my friend.

4. Mash and mix: Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel off the skin and mash them up in a large bowl. Throw in the grated carrot, peas, chilies, garlic, ginger, and all those spices. Add two teaspoons of breadcrumbs to hold it all together and mix until you get a dough-like consistency.

5. Shape, Coat, and Bake: Form the mixture into small balls, then flatten them into discs. Before baking, dip each disc into a slurry made from besan (chickpea flour) and water until lightly coated. Then, roll them in the remaining breadcrumbs for an extra crispy coating. Preheat your oven to 180°C, grease a baking sheet, and place these beauties on it. Spray a little oil on top for that perfect crunch and bake for about 10-15 minutes on each side, or until they’re golden and crispy. If you’re short on time or craving instant gratification, you can also shallow fry them in a pan with a little oil. The choice is yours!

Step 2: The Classic Bread Omelette 🥚

While the cutlets are crisping up, let’s move on to the trusty bread omelette.

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs

• Fresh coriander, chopped

• 2 green chilies, chopped

• Salt, to taste

• A couple of slices of bread (toasted)

Step by Step Instructions:

1. Whisk it good: Crack those eggs into a bowl, add the chopped coriander and green chilies, sprinkle in some salt, and whisk until you get a nice froth going. Pro tip: Let the eggs come to room temperature before whisking—this makes them extra fluffy!

2. Cook it up: Heat a little oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Pour in the egg mixture, cover with a lid, and let it cook for 3-4 minutes until it’s mostly set. Flip it over, cover again, and cook for another 1-2 minutes. And there you go—omelette perfection!

3. Toast time: While the omelette is doing its thing, pop those slices of bread into the toaster. Once they’re nice and golden, slather on some butter.

Enjoy Your Railway-Inspired Breakfast! 🚂🍽️And there you have it—a breakfast that’ll transport you back to those carefree days of train travel!

Happy cooking! And remember—life is a journey, enjoy every delicious bite. 😉