Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Potato Podimas (Mashed Potatoes Indian Style)

Here is India's equivalent of the mashed potatoes - tasty without any butter or cream! It is a lovely gluten-free and dairy-free treat for a vegan meal as well.

Podimas is a family favorite especially with children and is typically served with plain rice, sambar and/or any type of rasam, and papadams.

Also, here is one of the few veggie dishes where turmeric is not used!

Baking potatoes (like russet) are the best choice for this dish. Mature green plantains and/or bananas work well also to make podimas; just make sure that they are green and are without even a hint of ripeness in them at all.

4 Portions; But may only serve two people :}

Ingredients:

2 large Potatoes
Salt or to taste

Thalippu/Tadka:

2 tsp Oil
1/2 tsp Brown Mustard Seeds
1 Tbsp EACH Urad Dal and Chana Dal
1 dry hot Red Chili
1 pinch Asafoetida (Optional)
1 Sprig fresh Curry Leaves

Method:

Steam, pressure-cook or bake the potatoes. Cool well. Peel if desired (I usually leave the peel on) and break up the potatoes well being careful not to make them squishy.

Prepare thalippu in a kadai (Indian wok) or a skillet: heat the oil with mustard seeds, dal, and the chili. When the mustard seeds finish popping, add asafoetida and curry leaves.

Stir in the potatoes and salt and cook until heated through over low heat.

Serve hot.

No comments: