Potato Masala Food

POTATO MASALA (ALOO MASALA)

Steps:

• Boil potatoes either in a pot or pressure cooker.
• If cooking in a pot, bring water to a boil and add the diced potatoes. Cook them just until done or fork tender and not mushy. OR If cooking in a pressure cooker, add the potatoes to a bowl and pour little water. Cover and pressure cook for 3 whistles on a medium flame.
• Ensure potatoes are just cooked and not very soft or mushy.
• Heat oil in a pan and add mustard and cumin.
• When they begin to splutter, add chana dal and urad dal. Fry until golden and then add hing.
• Then add ginger and saute for 30 to 60 seconds until aromatic.
• Optional step to soften the dal - Pour 2 to 3 tablespoons water to the pan and cook until the dal turns soft. This is an optional step done to soften the dal. Ensure you evaporate all of the water before going to the next step.
• Add onions, green chili and curry leaves. Saute till the onions turn transparent.
• Once the onions turn transparent, add potatoes, turmeric and salt..
• Mash slightly and add very little water or potato boiled stock to make the entire potato masala moist. Stir and cook for one to 2 mins. Taste test and add more salt if needed.
• Add coriander leaves. Stir. Serve potato masala with dosa, puri, chapati, bread or rice.
• Press SAUTE button and pour oil to the inner pot of the instant pot.
• Add mustard, cumin, chana dal & urad dal. Fry all of these until the dals turn golden.
• Then add curry leaves, onions and green chilies.
• Saute onions well until they turn transparent or pink. Add ginger and fry for 30 seconds.
• Transfer the diced potatoes (1 inch cubes), add salt, turmeric and pour ⅓ cup (80 ml) water.
• Press CANCEL button. Deglaze the pot by scrubbing the bottom with a spatula to release bits of food stuck.
• Secure the instant pot with the lid. Position the steam release handle or vent to sealing.
• Next press PRESSURE COOK button and set the timer to 4 mins (high pressure).
• When the instant pot is done, press cancel. Release the pressure manually by moving the steam release handle from sealing to venting.
• If there is any excess moisture left, evaporate it in the saute mode first.
• Give a good stir and lightly mash only after the excess moisture has evaporated. Add more salt if needed. Garnish with coriander leaves.
• Serve potato masala with dosa, sandwiches, roti or even in wraps.

SWEET POTATO MASALA DOSA WITH COCONUT RAITA

Steps:

• For the best flavour and texture, the dosa pancake batter is best made at least 24 hrs ahead. Measure the flours into a large bowl, add the milk, season with salt and add 300ml water. Whisk to a smooth batter, then cover with cling film and chill for 24 hrs or up to 5 days.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the sweet potato in a drizzle of the oil and spread out on a large baking tray. Cook for 20 mins, stirring on the tray once or twice during cooking, until soft and starting to caramelise. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large pan and fry the mustard, fennel and cumin seeds for 30 secs or so until fragrant. Stir in the chilli, onion, garlic, ginger, coriander stalks and curry leaves, and cook over a low heat for 10 mins until the onion is really soft. Stir in the ground spices for 15 secs, then add 100ml water and bubble to bring all the flavours together.
• Stir the sweet potato into the pan and season well. Use the back of your spoon to crush some of the sweet potato, leaving some pieces chunkier - the mixture should resemble very chunky mash. Keep the mixture warm until the pancakes are ready (or leave it to cool, then chill for up to 2 days - gently reheat in the pan or microwave before continuing).
• To make the raita, put the grated coconut in a bowl, stir in the coconut yogurt, coriander, lime zest and juice, and a pinch of salt. If the yogurt is very thick, loosen it with 1-2 tbsp water. Chill until ready to serve (you can make this up to 2 days ahead too, but stir in the coriander just before serving).
• Heat the oven to its lowest setting and put a plate inside ready to keep the dosas warm once you've cooked them. If the dosa batter has thickened in the fridge, thin it with a splash of water - it should be the consistency of double cream. Use a little oil to grease your largest frying or crêpe pan, wiping out the excess oil with some kitchen paper. Pour a ladleful of batter into the centre of the pan and quickly swirl it around to fill the surface, getting the pancakes as thin as you can. When the surface of the pancake looks almost dry, spoon a quarter of the filling down the centre. When the pancake is deep golden-brown and crisp on the underside, roll it up in the pan to encase the filling, cook for 1 min more, then transfer to the oven to keep warm while you continue cooking the remaining dosas.
• Any leftover batter will keep well in the fridge for 4 days (if the batter was made the day before, don't keep for longer than 5 days in total). Serve the dosas with the coconut raita, lime wedges and remaining coriander leaves, with your favourite Indian chutneys and pickles on the side.

CLASSIC MASALA DOSA

Steps:

• Make the dosa batter: Put rice in a bowl, rinse well and cover with 4 cups cold water. Put urad dal and fenugreek seeds in a small bowl, rinse well and add cold water to cover. Leave both to soak for 4 to 6 hours.
• Drain rice and dal-fenugreek mixture in separate colanders. Put rice in a food processor, blender or wet-dry grinder. Add 1 cup cold water and grind to a smooth paste. It will take about 10 minutes, and it may be necessary to work in batches. Repeat the process with the dal-fenugreek mixture.
• Combine the two pastes in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk together, adding enough water to obtain a medium-thick batter. You should have about 6 cups. Cover bowl with a kitchen towel and set in a warm place. Let ferment until the surface is bubbly, about 8 hours. Stir in the salt. Use the batter straight away or refrigerate for later use. (Batter will keep for up to a week, refrigerated. Thin with water if necessary before proceeding.)
• Make the potato filling: Put ghee in a wide skillet over medium heat. When oil is wavy, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Wait for seeds to pop, about 1 minute, then add red peppers and onion. Cook, stirring until onions have softened, about 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt. Add turmeric, asafetida, ginger, curry leaves, garlic and green chile. Stir to coat and let sizzle for 1 minute.
• Add potatoes and 1/2 cup water. Cook, stirring well to combine, until liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Mash potatoes a bit with the back of a wooden spoon. Season well with salt, add cilantro, then set aside at room temperature. (Potato filling may be prepared up to a day in advance.)
• To make dosas, set a griddle or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Brush with about 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. Ladle 1/4 cup batter in the center of griddle. Using bottom of ladle, quickly spread batter outward in a circular motion to a diameter of about 7 inches. Drizzle 1/2 teaspoon oil over the top. Leave dosa batter to brown gradually until outer edges begin to look dry, about 2 minutes, cooking on one side only. With a spatula, carefully loosen dosa from griddle. Bottom should be crisp and beautifully browned. Spoon 1/2 cup potato filling onto top of dosa, centering it as a strip in the middle of the round dosa. Flatten the potato mixture slightly. Using the spatula, fold the sides of the dosa around the filling to make a cylindrical shape. Serve immediately. Continue making dosas one at a time.

MASALA POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large sauce pan.
• Cover with boiling water.
• Cover pot.
• Simmer for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• Remove from pan.
• Cool slightly.
• Peel and cut into 1 inch cubes.
• Set aside.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet.
• Add mustard seeds.
• Cook over low heat until they start to pop.
• Add chilies, coriander, ginger, tumeric, curry powder and salt.
• Cook over low heat stirring for 1 minute.
• Add potatoes and toss well to coat.
• Sprinkle with lemon juice and cilantro.
• Stir yogurt into potatoes.

MASALA POTATO PUFFS

Steps:

• First, make the filling. Put the potatoes in a pan of cold salted water, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 mins until tender. Drain, then crush roughly using a fork. Leave to cool, then stir in the rest of the filling ingredients and season well. Can be made up to three days in advance and kept covered and chilled.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Put the pastry squares on the tray and working with them one at a time, spoon three or four teaspoonfuls of the potato filling onto one corner. Brush the exposed edges with some beaten egg, then fold the other corner over the filling to enclose it and make a triangle. Press the edges together and seal by pressing again using a fork. Repeat the process to make 12 potato puffs. Brush with more of the beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Can be assembled a day ahead and kept chilled overnight. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden and puffed up, then transfer to a wire rack and cool for 10-15 mins before serving, or cool completely to pack for a picnic. Once cooled, will keep chilled in an airtight container for two days.

PEAS AND POTATOES MASALA

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; sauté until golden, about 6 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juices, potato, cumin and allspice. Cover; simmer until potato is just tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add tofu, peas and cilantro. Simmer uncovered until vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.