Potato Kurma

Other names - Aaloo Kurma / Urulaikizhangu Kuruma

Prep Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 15 min
Serves: 2 to 3

Ingredients

1. Potatoes (washed, cooked, peeled & crumbled) - 3 large sized
2. Onion (finely chopped) - 1 large sized
3. Salt - 1.25 to 1.5 tsp
4. Water - 2.5 cups
5. Coconut oil (optional) - few drops

To grind to a smooth paste

1. Fresh/frozen grated coconut - 3/4 cup
2. Saunf / Fennel seeds - 2 tsp
3. Red chilly powder - 2 tsp
4. Kashmiri red chilly powder (for color) - 1 tsp
5. Sambhar powder - 1 tsp
6. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
7. Water - 1/2 cup

For seasoning

1. Vegetable oil - 3 tsp
2. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
3. Bay leaf - 1
4. Cinnamon - 1 inch stick
5. Cardamom pods - 3
6. Cloves - 3
7. Curry leaves - few

For garnishing

1. Cilantro (finely chopped) - 1 tbsp

Method

1. Wash, pat dry potatoes & cut them vertically in to two equal halves.
2. Pressure cook them (need not add water) for three whistles & allow to cool for 10 min.
3. Once cooled, peel off skin & crumble them roughly using your fingers and set aside; do not use masher.
4. Grind all the ingredients mentioned above using the small dry grinding jar of the mixie to a smooth paste; set aside.
5. Heat vegetable oil in a pan, add mustard seeds & let it splutter.
6. Add the other seasoning ingredients one by one & saute for a min or two in low flame; do not char.
7. Add finely chopped onion along with salt & saute in medium flame for about 3 to 4 min until golden brown.
8. Add the roughly crumbled potatoes, water & wait until it starts to boil.
9. Once it starts to boil, add the smooth coconut paste and boil further on medium flame for 3 min.
10. Drizzle few drops of coconut oil if preferred.
11. Switch off gas & transfer contents to a serving bowl.
12. Garnish with finely chopped cilantro.
13. Serve piping hot along with idlies, dosas, chapthis, pooris, rotis, phulkas, pulaos and briyani varieties.

NOTE

• Do not use masher as it mashes the potatoes very smoothly; the recipe calls for only crumbled potatoes.
• Do not char the seasoning ingredients as it imparts a bitter flavor & taste in the recipe.
• Adjust the quantity of water as per desired consistency.