Aalo Posto and Kaccha khatta

I am always on the look out for some new recipes with potato. Because it is one of those vegetables, my mom taught me, always to keep on hand. Because Potato has a long shelf life and anyway here in the US of A potatos can be bought almost only in sack sizes. Hence I found this recipe called Potato Posto and I had all the ingredients, on hand, it called for. And to go with it, I made one of my absolute favourite sides. Its called Kaccha Khatta and it literally means something which is not cooked. And yes, this is a tamarind soup which is not cooked at all. I hope you will enjoy this meal as much as I enjoyed

Aalu Posto (Potato shallow fried with onion seeds)

aalu posta

Ingredients:

1. 2 large or 3 medium potatos peeled and 2 cm cubes
2. 1 teaspoon kalonji or onion seeds
3. 2 tablespoons mustard oil (this you can get in any Indian store) else use any vegetable oil
4. 1 teaspoon poppy seeds soaked for 20-30 minutes in 1/4 cup of water and ground to paste
5. 1/2 teaspoon salt, chilly powder, turmeric

In a pan heat the oil to smoking hot (only if you are using mustard oil)and then reduce the heat and add kalonji and fry for 5 minutes. Add the potato pieces and cover and fry till they get cooked half way through. Add salt, chilly powder and turmeric and stir to combine. Add the poppy paste and fry uncovered for further 10 minutes or until the curry starts getting golden brown. Enjoy with hot rice and kaccha khatta

Kaccha Khatta (Raw tamarind juice with ground sesame and spices)

Kaccha Khatta

Ingredients:

1.  3 cups juice from a lemon sized tamarind
2. 1 teaspoon or to taste salt,
3. 1 or 2 jalapenos roasted
4. 1/2 teaspoon sugar
5. 1 heaped teaspoon sesame seeds roasted and ground to powder
6. 1 tablespoon red onions chopped fine
7. 1 teaspoon cilantro chopped fine

Roast the green chillies and let them cool. After they have cooled enough to handle, mash them with hand or if you are squirmish use the back of a teaspoon and add it to the tamarind juice. Ground the sesame seeds which are dry roasted and mix it to the juice. Stir the rest of the ingredients to the juice and enjoy immediately or to enhance the flavors a bit more set it aside for 30-45 minutes. Its amazingly delicious. Once you taste it, it will become a regular item in your house hold