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Spice-Spiked Indian Roast Potatoes

Quiche 'n' Tell
Roast potatoes in a spicy avatar
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 350 g baby potatoes
  • 2 tbsp sunflower or any other flavourless oil +1 tbsp for tempering
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp skinless black gram lentils they are white without skin
  • 15 curry leaves
  • salt

For the spice mix

  • 11/2 tbsps coriander seeds
  • 11/2 tsps cumin seeds
  • 15 black peppercorns
  • 6 dried red chillies
  • 4 green cardamoms
  • 4-5 cloves
  • 1.5 inch long cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder

Instructions
 

  • Steam or parboil the potatoes till they are about half done. Drain well and peel.
  • While the potatoes boil, make the spice mix or masala. Heat a pan or griddle on low heat and roast the spices (except the turmeric powder) individually for a few minutes (if you roast them together, some, like the dried chillies may roast quicker and burn), cool and dry grind with the turmeric to a coarse spice powder.
  • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Arrange the potatoes on a baking tray, sprinkle with salt and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil. Shake tray to coat all the potatoes and bake in the centre of the oven for 30 minutes. Then crank up the heat to 200 degrees C and move the tray to the top rack under the broiler, tossing the potatoes every now and then to ensure a crisp, even browning.
  • Remove from the oven and sprinkle generously with the spice mix to coat evenly. Heat one tablespoon oil in a small pan till very hot, toss in the mustard, cumin and black lentils so that they splutter, turn off the heat and add the curry leaves. Pour the tempering over the potatoes and check the seasoning. Return to the oven for 5 minutes at 180 degrees C, to heat it through. Serve with dal and rice or chapatis.

Notes

Adapted from India Cookbook by Pushpesh Pant