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Thursday, February 04, 2010

Potato Fry/ Urulai kizhanghu Varuval - I


Who doesnt love Potato... if not for the calories I can have them day and night. Here in Belgium, I was surprised to see  fries (friets) being served as the main course along with salad and some meat, and its far better and delicious than what we are used to in ..  you know ..:)

One day in our office cafetaria, one of collegues who had freshly landed from India that morning, found nothing vegetarian to eat, asked for a plate of 'French fries'. The lady was so offended and became serious and replied "these are much better than french fries". At that moment I realised how much we are used to calling normal potato fries as 'French fries' and how it can be mistaken else where. So guys be careful when you use this term in Europe.

I dont use potatoes much in my regular cooking and if I do its always the good old south indian crispy potato fry, to be served with curd rice or lemon rice. Perfect combination to go in a lunch box.
Here is the recipe for the Potato fry that was peeping in the picture of the dhal in my previous post. I make two different versions of this fry and this is one of them .

Ingredients:

3 medium sized potatoes.
1 tsp fennel powder/seeds
1 tsp curry leaves powder/ fresh curry leaves
1 tsp chilli powder
2 pods of garlic smashed
1 tsp mustard seeds
oil and salt as required.

Method:
Peel and slice the potatoes into semicircles.
Peel and smash the garlic using a knife.
Now add all the ingredients and tsp of olive oil to the sliced potatoes and mix well so the potatoes are evenly coated.

Heat about 1 tsp of olive oil in non stick pan, add the mustard .
When the mustard pops spread the marinated potaoes over it.
Using a wooden spoon gently stir the potaes couple of times, add about 1/2 cup of water and close with a tight lid. Cook for 10 mins.
Now Open the lid, again stir them gently,(or turn them over patiently) and allow to cook till crispy in a low flame(without the lid), approximately 10 mins. If you dont mind a couple of tsps of oil you can add at this stage.Its purely optional.

Note.The fennel seeds (sombhu)gives a delicious flavour to the dish, so that is a must.
Its better to use Fennel seeds powder than seeds.You an grind a handful in the spice gringer and store it for future use. A tsp of this powder in any vegetable fry tastes great.

22 comments:

  1. I never receive the update da..looks good to and delicious

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  2. delicious and yummy potato fry, my favourite.

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  3. Potato fry, my all time fav..just love with rasam rice..mouthwatering here..

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  4. Hey, looks yum! It certainly is a great accompaniment to yogurt rice and lemon/lime rice. And you r right about the fennel seeds. They smell divine and gives a "oomph" factor to any fry.

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  5. They call them Chips in UK, they are thicker too, aren't't they? Only in US, they are French fries. Nothing beats Indian style chips or Varuval! :)

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  6. Who can resist these really! they look yumm!

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  7. good recipe.. we usually make it as a side for chappathi.... looks good

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  8. Potato fry looks absolutely delicious..Yummy yumm!!!

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  9. looks awesome dear..I love anything and everything with potatoes....will try this soon :)

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  10. Looks really good and nice clicks too:)

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  11. Very true..Everybody likes this...I especially...

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  12. Hmm potato fry is my all time fav, looks too gud!

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  13. Wow such a delicous looking potato fry. I can eat just like that.
    I think if i was in your place i will be passing the kitchen to grab and eat this form the pot itself.

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  14. thats a very tempting looking platter. look at that I can have it in iteslf. you made me go weak with hunger.

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  15. You are so right!!, I long back once used fennel powder in Raw Banana dry curry it was so nice, from that time I keep using them in lot of my dishes, My family love this potato curry so I try to make them in different versions!!, That one is a great click and looks great. As Asha said here in UK they call them chips,If I go out and something vegetarian I can eat is chips!!

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  16. mouth watering..i too like it with curd rice. :-)

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  17. Looks delicious, loved the idea of adding fennel seeds to flavor this curry ! Will definitely try the next time I make this...

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  18. Yummy and delicious potato fry...simply great !!! First time here..nice space..do visit me if you can..

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  19. Yes I've heard how amazing the ones in Germany are... But nothing to beat our spicy varuval mouthwatering picture

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  20. Hi,

    This was really yummy..made it today for lunch and had with rasam n rice.......fabulous.....thanks for sharing this recipe

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Thanks for dropping by.Your comments are very much valuable to me. Will reply to you guys as when time permits