Fasting Food - Jeera Aloo

 Jeera Aloo – Maggi of fasting

Soft boiled potatoes with tempering of spices and Cumin

Jeera aloo is so easy to make that this recipe may well be just of 5 lines. It needs just 3 basic ingredients and your delicious potatoes in minutes are ready. This dish is basically the Maggi of Fasting – ready in 2 mins and super tasty and can be had in so many ways – you can have it as a appetizer if cut into cubes, and can be had with Kuttu ki roti and curd as a proper lunch meal or just as a side dish on the usual non fasting days as well. You can ½ cup tomato puree and 1 cup water to this recipe and make the gravy potatoes which are simply awesome with pooris.

Find the complete recipe for aloo poori click here. You can make them the day you end your fasts along with the Prasad as sooji ka halwa. What a feast!

Serves 4

Cooking time 20 mins

Ingredients

3 medium Potatoes

Green chili 1 (more if you like spicy)

Jeera / cumin 1 tsp

Garam masala ½ tsp

Dry coriander powder ½ tsp

Red chili powder ¼ tsp

Amchoor powder ¼ tsp

Saenda namak (salt for fast) To Taste

Oil 1 tbsp

Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing

How to make Jeera Aloo

• Boil the potatoes. Peel and roughly mash or cut into small pieces.
• In a cup, mix all the dry spices.
• Heat the oil in a pan.
• Add jeera and chopped green chilies and stir well for 2 mins.
• When jeera splits, add the mixed dry spices. Stir for 1 min.
• Add potatoes. Mix well using a flat spatula. Do not use a ladle for stirring as it mashes the potatoes too much.
• Now add the salt to taste. Cook for 5-8 mins. Do not leave it standing or cover with lid.
• Take off the stove. Garnish with coriander and serve hot with roti. Instead of mashing, you can chop the potatoes into cubes and serve with toothpicks or fork for having it as a snack.

Chef’s Tip: Boiling the potatoes reduces the cooking time. But if you like it crispy, then instead of boiling, you simply dice the potatoes and put in the pan after the spices. Stir and cook for 5-6 mins on medium flame. Then add just a few drops of water, cover with a lid and cook for another 5-8 mins so the potatoes cook through. Mix well and serve hot.