Simple rustic Aloo methi served with rice and salad
There are some memories which never fade and some which just evanesce into oblivion. But smell can be a powerful memory trigger. Smell so rustic and comforting that deep buried images stand bare and bigger, usually leaving you distraught. You will be tormented and distressed till you put all those cognizant images back to where they belong.
Now before you speculate extraneous theories, let me clarify. The smell that invoked such strong visuals of my past, was nothing more than potatoes and fenugreek being sautéed on a particularly hot humid day. It wafted from somewhere above. Where, who, when and how … I did bother, but soon all that dissipated when flashbacks of the mother’s kitchen loomed up at me. Someone was making food just like my mothers – this thought was eerily comforting.
I mean, how weird, I tell myself. Whats there to get excited to smell food like what your mother cooked for you. But I was.
Fenugreek has medicinal properties.
Aloo methi. Something so traditional and homey and simple….now why am I making a post for this? I am making this for all those young people out there who suddenly-mindlessly crave for food that they have grown up with. That cozy feeling – that you get out of familiarity.
And for documentation purposes too 😉
15 years down the line, I doubt if the daughter will ever call and ask for a recipe. She most probably will scan her favourite sites and lastly come to her mums where she will read this and nod and say yes, I miss my mother’s cooking too. And now I’m just being too hopeful! Am I not??! Never mind.
What all you need –
Just potatoes and fresh fenugreek leaves sautéed in some powerful mustard oil, with a bit of all Indian spices, and look how I am dancing with my words! Well, the above picture shows you all that you need to make this wonderful side to your everyday bread or rice.
That essential piece of lime!
There are plenty of variations for this vegetable side or sabzi as we call it. Mother used mustard oil, and no onions or garlic or any other paraphernalia for this dish. She kept it simple and it worked fabulously. A drizzle of lime and some fresh salad is all that you need to make your day.
Made my day 🙂
Ingredients
- 2 cups par boiled potatoes, diced into medium sized chunks
- 2 cups of fenugreek leaves, picked, washed and roughly chopped
- 2-3 green chilies, minced – optional
- 1 big whole red chilli
- 2 tbsp mustard oil or any other oil would also do.
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1-2 tsp red chill powder or as desired
- 2 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds and mustard seeds mixed
- 1/4 tsp asafoetida powder – I don’t skip this!
- salt to taste.
- Lime wedges to serve with
Method
In a large skillet or pan, drop a tsp of oil. Gently roast the potatoes till it gets a golden coating all over it. Regular tossing and turning help. Once done, remove from the pan and keep aside.
In the same skillet, heat rest of the oil. Crackle cumin and mustard seeds. Add asafoetida and whole dried red chili. Fry chopped fenugreek leaves and green chilies till they wilt. Now add potatoes, along with all the masalas and salt. Saute for another minute or so.
Serve with chappathis or rice or any bread.
No onion, no garlic. So easy peasy!
Note: if desired, 2 tsp chopped garlic can be added before adding the fenugreek leaves.
you will not regret making this 🙂
Like someone rightly said We live on the leash of our senses. Taking this wonderful aromatic side to pair with Angie’s gorgeous phulkas, for her 41st Friday Fiesta. come take a look, she make these chappathis and every single one puffs up! P
Happy Cooking dear foodies!
MyFoodTapestry 