Onion Potato Curry
Onion Potato Curry – popular Gujarati kanda bataka nu shaak, an extremely satisfying and simple dry curry made with very basic ingredients!!
Let me start this post with a delighful dinner we had with one my non-Indian friend and his family. I had made Chana Masala, Paraths, Gajar Halwa, Jeera Rice with so much love and enthusiasm. While I was cooking, I felt like I needed one more dish but I really did not have energy to cook something super fancy or complicated. So guess what?!?! I fixed up very basic Gujarati dry curry, this onion potato curry called kanda bataka nu shaak. It literally came together within minutes and I felt like I had a complete meal for my guests.
When I was serving them, I was showing so much love and importance to everything else but this basic dry curry. My guests loved everything but could not stop talking about how delicious that onion potatoes curry was. And they were so surprised by the fact that just onions and potatoes along with some spices can create such delicious dish!! I felt bad for not showing so much love to this simple dish at that moment. Do not get me wrong, this dish is very near and dear to my heart since I grew up eating this on regular basis!
This is one of my absolute favorite Gujarati shaak. However we do not show this simple dish so much love due to its simplicity. And I think that is one of the biggest reason for me to give this dish it’s space on my blog because it totally deserves it! This simple curry comes together so easily and quickly with just few ingredients.
There are so many ways you can enjoy this goodie. You can just use it as part of your Gujarati thali with Phulka Rotli, Gujarati dal and bhaat. Or like taco, burrito, frankie, and fav way is in sandwiches!! You can even make it a little runny and eat it with plain khichdi and Gujarati Kadhi. I mean the options are endless!! And did I mention that it is very economical dish?!?! It does not cost a whole lot to make this dish. You will find many lower middle class families making this dish on regular basis for that very reason, like my family did when I was growing up!
I strongly recommend trying this simple Gujarati Shaak. Please tag me on Instagram @myvegetarianroots if you end up making it and liking it. I would love to see your recreation of this goodie!
Happy & Healthy Eating!!
Onion Potato Curry
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Peanut Oil any cooking oil would work
- 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 1 pinch Asafetida
- 5 Curry Leaves
- 1 medium Sliced Yellow Onion
- 3 medium Boiled Potatoes, cubed you can use uncooked as well, peeled and cubed. It will take a little longer to cook
- 3 clove Sliced Garlic
- 1½ tsp Thai Green Chili and Ginger Paste about 2 thai green chilis + 1 inch ginger root
- ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
- ¾ tsp Red Chili Powder
- 2 tsp Cumin Coriander Powder dhana jiru powder
- 1 tsp Garam Masala
- 1½ tsp Salt 1 tsp salt if skipping sugar
- 2 tsp Sugar
- ¼ cup Chopped Cilantro
Instructions
- Heat oil in a heavy bottom wide shallow pan.
- Once hot, add cumin seeds and mustard seeds.
- Once they are done popping and cumin seeds turn deeper in color and release the aroma, add a pinch of asafetida, curry leaves, chopped thai green chilis, sliced garlic and sliced onions along with 1 tsp salt.
- Mix it all well and keep sauteing on medium heat until the onions are translucent but still hold its color, sure they do no turn brown.
- If using boiled potatoes, Add boiled cubed potatoes along with ¼ cup of water. Mix well.
- If using uncooked potatoes, add peeled and cubed uncooked potatoes to the pan. Add tiny amount of water (2-4 tbsp), mix well and cover it. Keep cooking on medium heat while it is covered until potatoes are fork tender.
- Add all dry spices, salt (1 tsp if adding sugar, ½ tsp if skipping sugar) and sugar.
- Mix it gently until all the potatoes are evenly coated with the spices. Cook for 2-4 minutes on low/medium heat.
- Cover it for a minute or two and cook on medium heat,
- Take the lid off, add chopped cilantro and mix well gently.
- Take it off the heat and serve it hot with side of phulka rotli, gujrati dal and bhat!!