Simple and Quick Dinner

Gujarati Potato Curry (Bateta nu Shaak)

Ingredients :-

4  medium potatoes peeled and cubed
1  teaspoon(s) cumin seeds
½  teaspoon(s) mustard seeds
½  teaspoon(s) each of turmeric and asafoetida (hing) powders
1  teaspoon(s) red chilli powder
1  teaspoon(s) ginger-green chilly paste
1  tomato(es) finely chopped
1  tablespoon(s) sugar
1  cups(s) water
1  tablespoon(s) coriander-cumin seeds dry roasted and powdered
2  tablespoon(s) oil
salt to taste
finely chopped fresh coriander leaves to garnish

Recipe :-

1. Heat the oil in a pan on medium flame and crackle the mustard and cumin seeds. Add the asafoetida (hing), turmeric and red chilli powders and saute.
2. Add the ginger-green chilly paste and saute briefly not letting it get dry. If it gets dry add a few drops of water and fry.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes and fry for about 2  minute(s) or till they are soft and wilted.
4. Mix in the potato cubes along with the water, sugar and salt. Cover and cook on low flame for about 15 minutes or till the potatoes are cooked and the gravy thickens.
5. Mix in the coriander-cumin seed powder and keep covered for a while to trap in the aroma.
Garnish with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves.

Lasan Wali Toor Dal

Ingredients :-
Toor dal boiled
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp mustard or vegetable oil
1 rounded garlic, chopped
3-2 small dried red chillies
1 tsp dried mango powder
salt to taste

Recipe :-
1. Boil the toor dal in a pressure cooker and keep aside
2. Now in a pan add the oil and heat.
3. Add the chopped garlic and saute for 30 secs
4. Now add the red chillies and saute till garlic turns golden brown.
5. Now add the toor dal and mix well.
6. Add turmeric powder and salt. Cook on medium flame for about 5 mins.
8. Simmer and add the dried mango powder. Remove from flame and serve hot

My Take on these dishes :

If you are cooking both simultaneously, it gets ready in 1.5 hrs max. Its best eaten with Roti or Paratha. I added little whipped curd to the potato curry before serving along with a dash of lemon juice to the toor dal.

Trivia :

The Gujrati cuisine is predominantly vegetarian. We also find a number of dishes which have strong 'sweet' taste. The typical Gujarati Thali consists of Roti (a flat bread made from wheat flour), daal or kadhi, rice, and sabzi/shaak (a dish made up of different combinations of vegetables and spices, which may be stir fried, spicy or sweet).