Batate/ potato bhaji ( Seasoned potatoes with turmeric)

When you say the term "batate bhaji", what comes to one's mind is yellow color potato cubes sautéed with some kind of seasoning. The potatoes are usually parboiled and diced into desired size pieces. They are then sautéed with onions, green chillies, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and of course turmeric. Some like to make it without onions, while others like a lot of onions( read my husband). Some like to cook it dry( that's me!:) ), while others like to add water to it and make it like a stew. Potato bhaji can be used for a myriad of reasons. It is most commonly eaten with Poori ( fried puffed Indian bread) for which most people prefer it to be cooked like a stew . It is also used as a stuffing/filling in crispy crepes and in samosas, where it is preferred that it is dry. There is hardly anyone who does not like batate bhaji. It is also a very economical dish as potatoes are rather cheap. Last, but not the least, it is quick and easy to make!:)

Servings: 3-4

Ingredients:

Potatoes: 3 medium
Onion: 1 medium, diced medium
Green chillies:2-3, slit lengthwise into two.
Coconut oil: 1 tbsp
Jeera( cumin seeds): 1/2 tsp(optional).
Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp
Curry leaf: 1 sprig ( optional)
Haldi( turmeric powder): 1 tsp
Salt: to taste

Method:

Wash the potaoes. Boil potatoes with peel on, with water on stove top until Al dente ( around 15 mins). Do not overcook the potatoes. You should be able to dice them. Once cooled, peel and dice them into small cubes. Keep aside.

Heat coconut oil in a sauté pan/ frying pan upon medium heat.Add the cumin seeds. After 20-30 seconds, add the mustard seeds. Once the mustard crackles, add curry leaves. Now add the slit green chillies and chopped onion. Sauté the onion until it is transparent. Add the turmeric powder, sauté for a minute. Now add the diced potatoes, salt and mix well. Cook on low for 2-5 mins until everything comes together and the potatoes are warm. Turn off the flame.

Garnish with fresh finely chopped cilantro leaves.

Serve hot with poori/chapati/roti or use as a stuffing in your masala dosa!

Enjoy!

Cooking made easy:

Boiled potatoes can be easily peeled using a peeler! You don't have to get your hands messy!

Tip for healthy living:

Whenever possible use organic potatoes as potatoes have been found to have the highest level of pesticides in them. This is due to the double whammy that potatoes get subjected to! They absorb pesticide present in the soil and also the ones that get sprayed onto the plant!
References:
http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/27107/1/21030021.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11434996
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php