Kashmiri Dum Aloo/ Baby potatoes in spicy yogurt gravy

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I love this time of year, wherever I am! I think everything about the season is delightful - the smells, the lights, the people, the shopping, the rush, the food, the festiveness and on and on.

We finally put up some lights outside along the door and the railings as part of our Christmas decorations, and there is still more to do, but that will be for next weekend. How about you? Do tell me where you are with your decorations and cooking, etc. for the season.

Talking of festive food, today I am sharing a delicious preparation with potato which will have your guests drooling. The first time I had this a zillion years ago at a friends place for Diwali, I distinctly remember how everybody was raving about this dish. I sang my own tune of appreciation to her, and I can still feel the taste on my tongue just reminiscing. Okay, agreed that was a little exaggeration, but the taste by no means is being exaggerated :)

Recently, at a get- together at my house, I made this and it was well received. So much so that the dish looked like it was licked clean. I like that! The recipe gives the mild version of the dish. Spike up the spice to your liking. I always make it less spicy, keeping my kids as well as the non-Indian guests in mind.

It's a wonderful party dish to the eyes as well as your taste buds.



Don't you think that Star Anise is one of the prettiest spices ever ?



Ingredients:

Baby potatoes- 1lbs
Oil- For deep frying

Oil- 2 Tbsp
Cumin seeds- 1 tsp
Asafoetida- a pinch

Whole Garam masala:

Cinnamon stick- 1 small piece
Star Anise- 2
Cloves- 3-4
Cardamom- 1 or 2
Tejpatta/Indian Bay leaves- 2

Finely chopped Onion- 1 cup

Ginger Garlic paste- 1 Tbsp
Tomato Puree- 1 1/2 Tbsp
Salt- To taste

For mixing in the yogurt:

Yogurt- 1 cup scant
Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder- 2 tsp
Red Chilli powder- 1/2 tsp
Fennel powder- 1 tsp
Coriander powder- 2 /14 tsp
Turmeric powder- a big pinch

Ginger juliennes- for garnishing


Method:

1.Peel and clean the potatoes.Prick them thoroughly with a fork and immerse them in salted water for n hour.
2.Drain them on a paper towel.
3.Heat oil in a deep frying pan and fry the potatoes till they turn golden brown.You have to do this on medium high heat, since if you keep the heat low, the potatoes will absorb more oil.
4.Heat oil in pan and splutter the cumin seeds.Add the asafoetida and keep stirring.Add the whole garam masala ans saute for a couple of minutes.
5.Throw in the finely chopped onions and saute till they turn brown.
6.Add the ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell leaves.
7.Add the tomato puree (I used the canned one)and saute till the oil startes to leave the sides.
8.Mix all the other spice powders in the yogurt and pour it into the pan.
9.Mix everything well and bring it to a boil.
10. Add the fried potatoes and mix well.Adjust the consistency with water.
11.Cover and cook on medium low heat for about 10 minutes.
12.If you want to have more gravy add more water while cooking.If you want it semi-dry or dry boil it accordingly.Remember that it will dry again even after switching off the heat.
13.Serve with poori/roti.

Contributor: Namitha

Ribbon Pakoda/Kerala Pakkavada

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How is the weather in your part of the world? It's getting really cold in Colorado, and with Christmas around the corner, I can easily picture snow-laden pine trees, snowy white sidewalks and lawn. We are not there yet, but easily perceived. The weather paired with a natural liking for fries, I have been doing some serious snacking. I can’t help it ! The evenings make me crave for coffee or tea to keep me warm, and cozy up crunching on something similar to the pakavada I have to share today.

One evening when the actual plan was to make parippu vada, I ended up taking an unexpected detour landing up with pakavada also. I had dal soaked in water for making parippu vada (which by the way is a family favorite). As I started working on it I heard myself humming this old Malayalam tune "parippu vadaaaa pakkuvada.....nammude vayil pada padapada". You know how old tunes can make you nostalgic and make one all excited. I succumbed and the next thing I knew I was working on making pakkavada. I don’t kid you my friends, here is proof ;)

Disclaimer: Keep away from humming tunes while at work you might just end up doing more than you planned for. Except, in cases like mine, you will have an enjoyable evening, but if you repeat this at work you may miss tea time with family.




Best with a cuppa !




Ingredients:

Roasted Rice flour- 1 cup
Besan/Gram flour- 2 cup
Salt- To taste
Red chilli powder- 1 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida- 1/2 tsp
Ghee- 1 1/2 Tbsp
Curry leaves- 1 sprig
Hot water- to make the dough

Method:

1.Take the rice flour in a mixing bowl.Add the hot water and knead it well.
2.Mix the gram flour, salt, chilli powder and asafoetida in another bowl and add this to the rice dough and knead again.Slowly add ghee and more hot water if necessary to make a dough that has the consistency that is little bit looser than chappathi dough.
3.Fill the seva/idiyappam mould with the dough after putting the pakkavada/ribbon pakoda disc in it.
4.Meanwhile heat oil in a deep frying pan.
4.Squeeze the dough through the press into the hot oil to make a big circle.
5.Fry it till the pakkavada turns golden brown.
6.Drain on a paper towel and let cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
7.When you switch off the heat slowly slide in some curry leaves into the hot oil and close the pan with a lid till all the splutters end.Drain them too and mix with the pakkavada.



Contributor: Namitha

Potato and Cauliflower

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We have had a rainy spell these last few days, making my walk outside wet, wet,and just plain wet. It is also getting colder but no snows yet. I am waiting expectantly for the first showers of snow to fall, which is always fun, though hated soon after. Given the perfect weather to snuggle up on the couch, I am doing just that. Reading and talking on the phone occupies me. Cooking for survival is my mantra these days, and the following is one of those but quite worthy of a post.



I made this potato and cauliflower dish a while ago, and it tastes great with rotis ! This is a simple recipe with the only trial being it calls for slow cooking. You could microwave the potato and cauliflower and then mix it with the masala for an easier/faster option. But the slow cooking of the vegetables with the masala makes it so much tastier. If you can be patient for about 15 - 20 minutes to cook the taste will tell you it was well worth the wait.



Feel free to throw in more or less chilies and chili powder as per your taste. Most dishes I made tend to be on the spicier side, unless otherwise mentioned. Have fun with some 'chat patta' aaloo gobi.



Ingredients:

Potato - 1 big (Idaho Potato)
Cauliflower - 1/4 th
Onions - 1/2 or 1 medium size onion
Green Chilies - 2 nos
Chili Powder - 1/2 tspn or if you like it spicy hot go to 1 tspn
Coriander Powdcr - 1/2 tspn
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tspn
Turmeric - 1/2 tspn
Asafoetida - a pinch
Dry Mango Powder - sprinkle to give the dish a tang

Method:
1.Saute onions, green chilies and once onions are translucent add the ginger garlic paste
2. Saute further till the ginger garlic paste is cooked and express an aroma
3. Spoon in the powders and stir in briskly avoiding burning
4. Give it a minute and then add some water just a little like maybe 2 Tspn or if you are beginner go with 1/4 cup
5. Add the diced vegetables and cook on low fire until potato is cooked


Notes:
1. You could add the potatoes in first and cook for a while before you add the cauliflower if you like cauliflower crisp
2. The above method tends to cook the cauliflower a little too well that it falls apart.

Contributor: Sunitha