Thushi Perera from El Piano, explains how to make the delicious savoury fritters served up at the restaurant.

The root veggies are almost on their way out. Most of us are looking forward to Spring. But all the tender greens and soft fruits are still a long way into the future. What can we do that's interesting and exciting with the fruit and vegetables still at hand...?

All plant-based, and all gluten-free, these are fast to make, and surprisingly low in fat, given they are deep fried. The secret of lowering the fat of deep fat frying is to:

• get an electric deep fat-fryer, (less than £20). The temperature of the oil in an electric fryer is much higher than oil heated in a frying in a pan. As a result far less fat is soaked up into the fritter.

• par-fry them and then finish them off in the oven Here are the most popular fritters we make, but feel free to swap and change ingredients, and remember, the king of fritters in the UK is, without doubt, the onion bhaji...


Tinas - a savoury fritter from Bolivia of carrots and spring onion

Use an empty 500g margarine tub as your measure Pre-heat the sunflower oil in the fryer to top heat A tip is that the mix won't stick to wet hands.

In a large bowl mix
• 1 measure of grated carrots
• 1 measure of diced spring onions or leeks
• I tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
Let them sweat for about 5 minutes
• now add rice flour - not too much - about 1/4 measure to start with. You don't want the mix to be too floury but you need the fritters to stick together when you form them into patties 
• Form the mix into golf-ball sized portions and flatten them in your hand 
• Place them one by one into the fryer
• When they are golden brown remove them to drain 
That's it. 

20-25 patties. Will freeze when par-fried and can then be finished off in the oven.

- EL PIANO is a wholly plant based and wholly gluten-free eatery. It uses no palm oil or solid mixed fats, nuts, except coconut, nor seeds, except sesame. Cookbooks, information about cook classes and free recipes can be found on www.el-piano.com or on www.el-piano-cookschool.com