SWEET POTATO ROAST

 SWEET POTATO ROAST

Sweet Potatoes are known as Shakarkhand in Hindi, Sihi Genasu in Kannada, Sakkarvalli Kilangu in Tamil, and Kannang in my mother tongue, Konkani. 

In addition to their distinctive flavor, we know that the sweet potatoes have several health benefits.

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find other recipes using Sweet Potato, such as:-

• Sweet Potato Stir Fry 
• Sweet Potato Tikkis
• Sweet Potato Masala Fry 

Today's recipe is for a side dish called Sweet Potato Roast. This goes great with our meal of rice and dal. In Konkani we call this Kannanga Bhajun Upkari.  

The special touch of adding dissolved asafoetida ( or what we call 'Hinga Udda" in Konkani) in the end is a must! 

Ingredients:-

• Sweet Potatoes, 3 or about 350-380 grams
• Mustards Seeds, 1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida, ( 1/8 tsp + 1/4 tsp to be dissolved in water)
• Turmeric Powder, 1/4 tsp 
• Curry Leaves, 1 sprig
• Salt, to taste
• Chilli Powder, 3/4 to 1 tsp
• Coconut Oil, 2 tbsp or as required

Method:-

Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly 

Peel and cut them into thin strips

Immerse the sweet potato strips in water to avoid discoloration

Drain away the water and add salt to the sweet potato

Keep aside for 5 to 10 minutes

Heat oil in a thick bottomed kadhai and on medium heat add the mustard seeds and when they splutter add 1/8 tsp of asafoetida, turmeric powder, curry leaves and sauté for a few seconds

Squeeze out the water released from the sweet potato and add the sweet potato strips to the kadhai and sauté for a couple of minutes

Now cook this covered on medium/low flame, stirring from time to time, till the sweet potatoes get done

To this add the chilli powder and mix well so that it gets well blended

Check for salt and add only if required

At this stage if you want the sweet potatoes to be roasted even more, add a little more oil and cook till it gets further roasted as sweet potatoes suck up a lot of oil in the cooking 

Lastly, dissolve 1/4 tsp of asafoetida in a little water

Sprinkle this on to the dish and mix well. 

Switch off the gas and transfer to serving plate