Aloo Tikki

Soya Chaps is mock meat or vegan meat made with soya beans. In Northern India, the ribs of mutton or meat are called chaps. The soya meat is wrapped around wooden sticks to give a vegetarian leg-piece-like appearance. Hence, the name soya chaps.

Heat ghee in a large, heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon cumin seeds; cook, stirring constantly, until seeds begin to pop, about 30 seconds. Add white onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until almost translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, and bay leaf; cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce; cook, stirring occasionally, until ghee begins to separate from tomato mixture, about 3 minutes. Stir in ground spices, and, if using, amchoor and kala namak. Stir in chickpeas and 2 ½ cups water; season with kosher salt to taste. Sprinkle with smashed cardamom. Bring to a simmer; cook 5 minutes. Using back of a spoon, mash about one-third of the chickpeas. Stir in lemon juice; cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Garnish with cilantro; serve with red onion, cucumber, tomato, lemon or lime wedges, serrano chiles, and puri.