From m.khaja@ntlworld.com Fri Oct 12 11:51:17 2001 Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 17:27:37 +0100 From: Monti Newsgroups: uk.food+drink.indian Subject: Palya Palya is a spicy potato dish, The appearance of it is a dryish yellowish (Colour of Haldi ) small semi mashed potatoes. Tastes absolutely wonderful, It is more of a vegetable dish and a filling rather than a substitute for mash or chips or roast potatoes. You couldn't eat a plateful of it, I think I know what I mean. But do u know what I mean? It is usually eaten with a Dosa, Poori and you will find it as a filling in Bonda and Samosa. But I will eat it with anything,Including bread !It shouldn't take too long to cook either. 2 lbs (pounds) potatoes 4 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 teaspoons of mustard seeds 6 curry leaves 1 teaspoon salt (and a pinch more for the fun of it and taste) 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric 1/2 teaspoon of chilli powder 2 large onions 8 ounces of tomatoes 1/4 pint of water lemon paprika 1 Peel and chop potatoes into 1 inch cubes. 2 Take a heavy saucepan and heat the veg oil until it is almost smoking, add the mustard seeds and when they begin to pop, cover the pan quickly so that they don't jump from the frying pan into the fire ! Make sure the heat is reduced to medium / low now. 3 Add the crushed curry leaves, the salt, the chilli powder,and the turmeric and stir for two minutes 4 Now add the potatoes and fry gently for a minute or so 5 Peel and slice the onions and add the tomatoes and approx. 1/4 pint of water and simmer for 10 minutes until the potatoes are soft.If necessary evaporate the excess water to give a dry-ish mixture. Lemon to taste and sprinkle paprica. Job done. When the potatoes are cooked, stir them gently, So that they don't break down to a complete mash, like creamed potatoes. No no no, it should be well cooked potatoes which can be completely mashed if u wanted to, but u shouldn't. If u see what I mean ? I am sure most of u will like it, I usually add one or two or three green chillies as I like it hotter and I LOVE green chillies. Don't be too dejected if u don't have one or two ingredients , I am sure it will still be ok as long as most of the stuff is there.