South-Indian style potatoes

I love writing lists. Sometimes, I write lists of lists I need to write! Yesterday, we were having a discussion about food we could eat everyday without getting bored and I decided to make a list based on that. The obvious answer for me was any potato dish.

This is one of my all-time favorite potato dishes. This is my dad’s recipe, ridiculously easy. It is called “podimas”, (although I have always called it “the-potato-dish-without-turmeric”). Perfect as a side for rice and curries.

So what is it that you could eat every single day?

Ingredients

1 lb of potatoes

1 tsp black mustard seeds

1 tbsp grated fresh ginger

2-1 Thai chili pepper or 1 serrano pepper, slit lengthwise

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp grated fresh coconut

1 tsp oil

salt, to taste

Instructions

Wash the potatoes and boil them (or pressure cook) until they are soft and cooked through but still holding shape.

Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle with your hands, peel their skin and crumble them.

You can also grate them with the help of a box grater. Set the potatoes aside

Heat oil in a wide skillet to medium-high and toast the mustard seeds until you see them spluttering (just like pop corn)

Next, add the chili peppers, grated ginger and sauté for a minute

Gently add the potatoes to the skillet and season with salt

Stir in the grated coconut, chopped cilantro and turn off heat

Stir in the lemon juice

Serve with rice and curry or wrap inside a flatbread with hot sauce or yogurt