Years ago, my mother learnt to make begedil from a Malay hawker who sold nasi padang. When she made them today, I stood close by to jot down notes. Mum cooks by a kind of instinct that all experienced housewives possesses so there's no use asking her for measurements.
"Take 3 large potatoes," she began.
"How much do they weigh?" I asked. She glared so I kept my mouth shut. Still, I couldn't resist weighing them on my digital scales when she wasn't looking. :p
POTATO PATTIES
Makes about 20
3 large potatoes (approx 500 grams when mashed)
Salt to taste
100 grams filling
1 egg, lightly beaten
Oil for frying
Filling
We used a mix of minced pork and hay bee (dried shrimps). You can use any you like - mutton, bacon, or luncheon meat.
Prepare the filling. Stir fry the minced pork and dried shrimp. Set aside.
Slice the 3 large potatoes and deep fry them until slightly brown. Drain then add salt and mash. Mix in the filling.
Using your hands, shape the potato mixture into round patties, about 5-cm in diameter.
Coat each patty lightly with egg and fry on both sides until golden brown.
Drain on kitchen paper before serving.
