Potato ( Aloo ) Palya. ( Curry )

Potato Palya (dry curry) is one of the easiest curry which is very much needed to learn. Poori - Potato baaji or Masala Dosa should have this Potato Palya. It goes well with Chapatis too. Ideal for making bread sandwich and serving as one of the side dish with main dishes. Samosas also can be prepared with this Potato Palya.

You need Potatoes, onions, green chilly and very little spices are used to cook Potato Palya.
Lets see some benefits of eating " Potatoes " in our diet.
Potatoes are one of the common vegetable which every one loves to have. They are loaded with health benefits. They help to improve digestion, reduce cholesterol levels, boost health benefits manage diabetes and strengthen our immune system. They also help to protect the skin and increase blood circulation, Helps to reduce blood pressure. Potatoes help to reduce insomnia, boost eye healthy and maintain fluid balance. and essential dietary food. They are known as a storehouse of energy and nutrition. They contain vitamins, minerals and essential organic compound. Potatoes contain calcium, iron and phosphorus. They also contain Vitamin C, Vitamin A and B.
Potatoes are good for weight gain since it contain carbohydrates, Vitamin C and B. Potatoes are easy to digest and good for babies. It contain good amount of fiber and good for people who suffer from constipation. It is good for inflammation because of it anti oxidant properties.
Always cook potatoes with its cover(outer layer), so that minerals and vitamins are remain safe and thats a healthy way to cook potatoes.

Do not eat sprouted potatoes since it contain only starch. Avoid Eating French fries or any fried or Butter layered baked potatoes. 

Onions, boiled potatoes, green chilly, ginger, and some spices are used in this Potato dry curry.
Lets see the recipe Now:

Things Needed 

Potatoes : 2 to 3
Onions : 3  to 4
Turmeric : a pinch.
Green Chillies : 3 to 4.

Curry Leaves _ 5 to 6.

Ginger _ a piece.

Salt : to taste.

Water : required.

Oil : 2 Table spoons.

Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon.

Urd Dal : 1/2 Tea spoon.

Jeera 1/4 Tea spoon.
Coriander Leaves : 2 to 3 sticks

Method :

1. Wash and boil potatoes with its cover. Remove the outer layer once it is cooled. (Better to pressure cook). Smash the cooked potatoes nicely once you remove the outer layer. (skin).
2. Remove the outer layer of onions and wash and cut it into small.
3. Wash green chilly, curry leaves and coriander leaves and cut it into small.
4. Wash ginger nicely and remove the outer layer. Wash again and grate it.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil, mustard seeds and urid dal. Let the mustard seeds splutter.
6. Add cut green chilly, curry leaves and stir a little. Add cut onions and fry nicely.
7. Fry onions till they turn slightly brown. Add Turmeric powder.

8. Add smashed potatoes, grated ginger, salt and mix it well. Add 1/4 cup of water and salt. Stir in between so that it does not get burnt.

8. Let it cook on low flame for 1 to 2 minutes. Let all the moisture disappear. Add cut coriander leaves. Mix it well.

9. Shift ready " Potato Curry " to a serving dish and serve with Dosa, Poori or Chapatis.

.Note : 

Boil potatoes nicely so that it will be soft and mixes well with onion. Do not add too much of water when cooking the onions. You can fry onions in oil. (use more oil). If you fry onions in oil (using more oil) no need of adding any water. Adding more chilly is optional.
Adding more onions are also optional. It adds to the taste.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 .

CHAPATI AND SAAGU.

Chapatis are known as Indian bread. Chapatis are well known diet food in the World.  Saagu is a variety of side dish which goes well with chapatis. 

Varieties of Chapatis/Rotis can be prepared and each state has its own style to prepare. Gujarati rotis are bit thin and also known as pulka where as Punjabi roti is bit thick and roasted on tava using a clean cloth by pressing the roti while cooking.
Here is a simple Chapati which can be done easily and soft chapatis are ready to eat with vegetable Saagu. 
Saagu/Curry is a side dish which goes well with almost all the main dish. I have used coconut, jeera, green chilly, ginger, clove, cinnamon, coriander seeds and little tamarind.
No onion or garlic is used in this Saagu/Curry and it goes well with all type of rotis chapatis, poori, Naan, idli and dosa.
First let us see the recipe of  Chapatis.

Things Needed :

Chapatis :
Ingredients :
Wheat flour : 2 Cups.
Curd : 2 Tablespoons
Salt : As required.
Water : As required
Ghee/Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Oil : 2 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Put wheat flour, salt, curd and mix it well.
2. Add water and prepare dough. Add a teaspoon of ghee and mix it nicely. Let it rest for 10 minutes.

3. Divide the dough into small ball size. Keep 2 to 3 tablespoons of dry wheat flour in a big plate.
4. Take a ball size of dough and kneed it well. Turn as ball shape and flatten with your palm.

5. Dip in dry wheat flour and roll it as chapati with chapati roller. Give a round shape.
6. Keep tava on the fire and heat. Put already rolled chapati and cook on medium flame.
7. Sprinkle some oil on the top and turn the chapati other side to cook. (Cook for a minute).

8. Chapati is ready to serve. Prepare the rest of the chapatis with same way.

Note :

Add required water carefully and let the dough be soft. Adding curd helps the chapatis to be soft. Adding ghee adds to aroma and turns the chapatis fluffy. Cook on medium and low flame carefully.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 8 to 10 Chapatis. (According to the size).

2. Vegetable Saagu/Curry 

I have used vegetables like, Carrots, french beans, chapparada averekai/Broad Beans or Papdi beans, peas and sweet potatoes.

Things Needed: 

To Cook:
Carrot : 2
Beans : 1 Handful (100 gr)
Peas : 1 Small cup
Chapparadavare Kai/Flattened beans : 1 Handful
Sweet Potato : 1
Salt : Required salt
To Grind :
Coconut : 1 Cup
Green chilly : 2
Tamarind : 1/2 Marble size
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coriander seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Cloves : 2
Cinnamon stick : A small piece
Ginger : A small piece
To Season :
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
To Add :
Ground coconut mixture
Salt : As required
Jeera seasoning:
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons.

Method :

1. Wash carrots, green chilly, beans and cut it into small pieces.
2. Wash sweet potato and remove the outer layer and cut in to small and wash it again.

3. Wash coriander leaves and cut into small.
4. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
5. Put all the cut vegetables in a pressure cooker and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.

6. Grind coconut, clove, cinnamon, green chilly, jeera, Coriander seeds, tamarind and ginger with required water.
7. Remove from the mixi jar and keep it aside.
8. Keep a pan on the fire and put cooked vegetables and little water. Add salt. Cook for a minute.
9. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it well. Add turmeric. Let it cook for 2 minutes.

10. Mix it well and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

 10. Shift the ready Saagu to a serving dish and add a teaspoon of ghee/butter.

11. Add cut coriander leaves

 12. Serve with ready chapatis with cucumber or onion in the side.

 Note :

Cooking vegetables in a pressure cooker is optional. You can cook them directly. Do not over cook the vegetables. Adding garlic while grind coconut is optional. Taste may differ. Adding ghee/butter is optional. You can add l tablespoon of chenna (Huri kadale/pottu kadale) while grinding. It adds to teh thickness of the curry.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4.