10 October 2008

Chettinad Aloo / Potatoes with Chettinad Masala

Do not get thrown away by the blahh pic accompanying this recipe. You have to try it to see how awesome it tastes. Before I go any further, this recipe is an original one but from a cousin. She is very new to cooking and yet came up with this amazingly flavourful dish for us. I took the recipe from her (she just calls it throwing a few things together) and have made it twice in 2 weeks.

I think I am beginning to like potatoes almost as much as TH!

What I Used:
Pototoes - 3 big
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp or to taste
Cardamom - 1
Cinnamon - 1" piece
Cloves - 2
Star anise - 1 (optional)
Grated / dessicated coconut - 2 tbsp
OR
Khus khus / poppy seeds - 1 tbsp, soaked
Salt - to taste

For tempering
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
How I Made It:

1. Boil and mash the potatoes. Set aside.

2. Grind together the cinnamon, cardamom, anise, cloves and coconut/couscous with no added water. Ok fine, you can add very little water if you absolutely must.

3. Heat oil in a wide pan and temper mustard seeds. Add the urad dal and fry till golden brown.

4. Then add the ground paste along with the ginger garlic paste and the chilli powder and roast for 30 seconds.

5. Finally, add the potatoes and leave on sim (lowest heat) for 10-15 minutes till the masala blends with the curry. Add salt.
Serve hot with steamed rice or roti.

This original recipe goes over to Lore's monthly Original Recipes Event.

Related Posts:

Aloo Gobi
Aloo Tindora Curry
Kerala Potato Stew
Potato Cabbage Gravy

21 Comments:

Happy cook said...

Yeah this is sure for original.
I have never had Khus khus in potatoes.
I would like te eat them with roti more than rice.
I made to day your MIL chickepea curry , i tasted while making themans is really delicious.
Now just waiting for daughter and hubby to come home for lunch.
Will post it next week

ANJALI J. said...

Nice one.. different from any other potato dish i know.

Shreya said...

hi Nags, this is definitely interesting! Yeah, the pic puts me off, but the recipe definitely doesn't. I think I am going to try this with a little pepper crushed on top :-)

Medhaa said...

Looks great

anudivya said...

Sometimes the "blah looking" foods are what taste amazing. Your recipes sounds like a winner...

Sangeeth said...

I have never used the kaskas in my cooking! are those whole pepper on top of the potatoes?

RAKS KITCHEN said...

Gawd!I am so much drawn towards chettinad cuisine! Main thing I like in the dish is the masalas! It should be flavourful! I think I can smell here! Its spread over whole singapore LOL:D

Anonymous said...

That sounds delicious.
Meera/ Enjoy Indian Food

Divya Vikram said...

Sounds simple yet should have been great with all the spices blended with the potatoes..

Nazarina A said...

Your picture is beautiful and I can have a "tater" any way it is presented to me!

Laavanya said...

That sounds very flavorful and delish...

Priya said...

Delicious dish...i love chettinad cuisine...temtping clicks...

Lore said...

This is one unique flavour mix for mashed potatoes!!! I've never even heard of a garlic-ginger paste but it does sound like a winner to me :D
Thanks for sharing your dish with the Original Recipes Round-Up!

Jayashree said...

Sure sounds flavourful. I never add khus-khus to anything. It's one of things that I've disliked even without giving it a try.

Sig said...

When I read the title, I was expecting some brown spicy looking potatoes... :) Loved the Indian take on mashed potatoes!

bee said...

khus khus is poppy seeds.

isn't couscous a wheat product?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couscous

looks delicious.

Nags said...

ohhh khus khus is different from couscous? Shoot! My mistake. I meant poppy seeds or khus khus

Sonam L. Bhutia said...

I love potatoes, and I love your blog more. It's awesome. Will definitely try the chettinad aloo and the chicken recipes. My aloo palak never looks this good also. What pics, man!

Jayashree said...

Sure sounds flavourful. I never add khus-khus to anything. It's one of things that I've disliked even without giving it a try.

Lore said...

This is one unique flavour mix for mashed potatoes!!! I've never even heard of a garlic-ginger paste but it does sound like a winner to me :D
Thanks for sharing your dish with the Original Recipes Round-Up!

FoodLovers said...

Hi Nags ,
Great dish and yet nice click dear

Post a Comment

Thank you for your comments. I appreciate your thoughts and points of view.

All spam and mean comments will be deleted promptly.