Sunday, May 19, 2013

POTATO & DRUMSTICK UPKARI

POTATO & DRUMSTICK UPKARI

"Upkari" is common Konkani terminology for a vegetable side dish which accompanies the main meal. There are perhaps as many types of upkaris as there are vegetables. Often, more than one vegetable is used in preparing an upkari. Some of the more common combinations are brinjal and drumstick, beans and potatoes and the like.

Today, I would like to share an upkari made of potatoes and drumsticks which is fairly simple to make. We call this, " Batata -Mashingasaang Upkari" in Konkani.





Ingredients:
  • Potatoes, medium sized, 2-3
  • Drumstick, big sized, 1
  • Mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp
  • Chilli powder, 1 tsp or to taste
  • Curry leaves, 1 sprig
  • Salt, to taste
  • Asafoetida (Hing) 1/4 tsp
  • Oil, 1 and 1/2 to 2 tbsp
  • "Hinga Udda", which in Konkani literally means (Asafoetida Water), a little asafoetida powder dissolved in just the required amount of water 

Method:

Wash and peel the potatoes and cut them into longish pieces of about 1"
Apply salt to the cut potatoes and keep aside for 10-15 minutes
Peel the drumstick and cut into 1" pieces
Heat oil in a thick-bottomed kadhai, and on medium heat add mustard seeds
When they splutter, add curry leaves and asafoetida powder and stir
Add the cut drumstick pieces and a little salt. Stir it and cook on medium flame, keeping it covered
When the drumsticks are almost cooked, add the potatoes after squeezing them dry (as they leave water due to the salt applied)
Mix the drumsticks and potatoes well
Cover this and cook till the potatoes are done
Next, uncover and stir the potatoes from time to time until they are crisp
Sprinkle chilli powder and stir fry for a few minutes more
Finally add a dash of "hinga udda"  (asafoetida powder mixed in a little water)
Serve hot as side dish to the main course

Hints:
  • Applying salt to the potatoes helps to make them more crisp
  • While doing so, the potatoes leave water hence they must be squeezed dry
  • To know when the drumstick is cooked, press it lightly. If the seed pops out, this indicates the drumstick is cooked. 





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