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Bengali Potato Curry

Source of Recipe

Brenda-Lee Olson


Recipe Introduction

original recipe from Cook Smart Vegetarian

List of Ingredients

3 dried hot red chiles (about 3 inches long), stems removed
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 lb medium boiling potatoes (about 5), scrubbed well
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 bay leaves
3/4 teaspoon panch phoron (Bengali spice mix recipe filed under MYO Spice Blends)
1/8 teaspoon asafetida powder
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 cup water plus 1/4 cup boiling water
1 1/2 teaspoons tamarind concentrate
1/2 teaspoon salt


Recipe

Toast chiles and cumin seeds in a dry small heavy skillet, shaking pan occasionally, until fragrant and just a shade darker, about 1 minute.

Remove from heat and cool mixture, then finely grind in grinder.

Cover potatoes with salted cold water by 1 inch in a 2 1/2 to 3-quart saucepan.

Bring to a boil, then simmer, partially covered, until
potatoes are just tender when pierced with a small sharp knife, about 12 minutes.

Drain.

Once cool enough to handle, peel potatoes with a small sharp knife or a vegetable peeler and cut into 1-inch pieces.

Heat oil in wok over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking.

Add bay leaves, panch phoron, and asafetida and cook, stirring frequently, until seeds from panch phoron stop sputtering, about 1 minute.

Add potatoes and turmeric and sauté, stirring, until potatoes are pale golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add 1 cup water and bring to a boil, then simmer briskly, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.

While potatoes are simmering, whisk together boiling water and tamarind.

Add salt, 2 teaspoons cumin chile powder, and tamarind
mixture to potatoes and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.

Season with salt.

Discard bay leaves.

This spicy vegetarian curry is hearty enough for a comforting fall dinner. It's great simply ladled over steamed rice.

Makes 4 servings..