Pre-Preparation - Always start by boiling the potatoes with the skin on. This ensures they don’t soak up too much water and become soggy. Once cooled, peel and mash them well, no lumps! Then chop up all my add-ins: green chilli, garlic, and coriander. Usually do this prep earlier in the day, so assembling later is super quick.

Making the Dough - In a large bowl, combine the mashed potatoes with chopped chillies, garlic, coriander, salt, sugar, baking soda, lemon juice, and flour. Mix everything gently into the dough. It should feel soft but not stick to your fingers. If it’s sticky, add another spoon or two of flour. It’s a fun part, honestly like making edible play dough but for grown-ups!

Shaping the Poppers - Dust the surface with flour, take a chunk of dough, roll it into a long log, and cut it into small pieces. Roll each piece again lightly in flour. This coating helps them stay crisp while frying. Sometimes I get creative and make a few into tiny balls or oval shapes just for fun.

Frying - Heat oil not smoking hot, but medium heat. Drop in the poppers and let them gently puff and turn golden brown. It takes just a couple of minutes. Take them out and drain them on a paper towel. And that’s it! The smell at this point is amazing. It always brings my family into the kitchen before I even call them.