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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Jeera Aloo -- Crushed Cumin with red skinned Potatoes

Its time to treat the king of spices *CUMIN*. Although the small cumin seed looks rather unassuming, its nutty peppery flavor packs a punch when it comes to adding a nutty and peppery flavor to chili and other Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes as well playing an important role in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine where it is a key component of curry powder. Both whole and ground cumin are available year-round.

Cumin seeds resemble caraway seeds, being oblong in shape, longitudinally ridged, and yellow-brown in color. This is not surprising as both cumin and caraway, as well as parsley and dill, belong to the same plant family (Umbelliferae).

Health Benefits : It is probably not just for taste alone that cumin has made it into the stellar ranks of Indian, Middle Eastern and Mexican cooking. This ordinary looking seed is anything but ordinary when it comes to health benefits. It is a very good source of Iron for Energy and Immune Function, cumin seeds benefit the digestive system and also helps in cancer v and stomach and liver tumors. How many of us remember when we have some vomiting sensation or nausea, chew raw cumin seeds to soothe, at least I used to have them like this. More interesting info about Cumin can be found on WHFoods site and on Wikipedia too.

When Sunita of Sunita's world announced the event for Think Spice....think Cumin this Jeera Aloo sounded a perfect entry. I came across this recipe on Khana Khazana by Sanjeev Kapoor a great chef/cook and a lovely host. If you remember the Mother's Day episode, his mother was invited and this was here signature dish. Since then I had been cooking and enjoying this dish. Very quick and simple one to make and happily goes well with rice, biryani, pulao, rotis/Indian flat bread or simply a side dish instead of Mashed Potatoes, why not?

Jeera Aloo - Crushed Cumin with Potatoes

Jeera Aloo


Source: adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor's Khana Khazana
Cuisine: Punjabi, India
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
Makes: 4-5 people
Ingredients:
6 red skinned medium size potatoes, boiled and chopped into 3/4 th inch cubes
1 tsp of cumin seeds/jeera
2 tbsp of cumin seeds/jeera, roasted and crushed coarsely
1 tbsp of coriander seeds/dhaniya, roasted and crushed coarsely
1 tbsp of raw mango powder/amchur
1 tbsp of ground cumin powder/jeera powder
1 tsp of chilli powder/cayenne pepper/mirchi powder
½ tsp of turmeric powder/haldi
1 tsp cumin seeds/jeera
few curry leaves
salt as per taste
2-3 tbsp of oil
mint /cilantro leaves for garnishing
Method:
  1. Pressure cook the potatoes, upto 3 whistles be careful not to over cook them, else they will turn mushy-mushy. Cut them into 3/4th inch cubes and keep aside.
  2. Take a deep bottom sauce pan/bartan (hindi word). Heat 2-3 tbsp of oil on a medium flame, yes I am right you have to at least take 2 tablespoons of oil and you will know why we require that much amount, common its better than using 1 slab of butter..hehe!
  3. To this add the cumin seeds, let them fry for few seconds, then add the curry leaves, coarsely crushed cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fry for a min- remember do not reduce the heat/flame. You must be seeing foam like thing in your pan don't worry thats nothing but the spices are frying grandly.
  4. Now add the cumin powder, raw mango powder/amchur, chilli and turmeric powder and lastly salt.
  5. Keep on stirring for a min check the hot and salt levels in the mixture and then add the cubed potatoes, mix well so that all the potato pieces are thoroughly coated with the spice mixture.
  6. Garnish with mint/cilantro/coriander leaves and serve hot with rice, rice, biryani, pulao, rotis/Indian flat bread.
Crushed Cumin with red skinned Potatoes






46 comments:

swapna susarla said...

hi Padma
Jeera aloo looks yummy!!and colorfull!!

Padma said...

Thanks you Swapna, great to have you here

Aruna said...

Padma, Jeera allo looks spicy & delcious... yummmmmmmm!!!

TheMistressofSpices.wordpress.com

Sharmi said...

lovely combination of spices. the aloo is pampered like hell:) looks yummy and crisp.

FH said...

Looks spicy and yummy:)

Padma said...

hey Sharmi, juz now I was talking to you on phone and here comes your comments, were u multitasking? but I always appreciate them

Aruna, tx dear!

Apple said...

Padma....Jeera aloo looks so delicious...a prefect entry..

TheCooker said...

Wow! A jeera-fest...three kinds of jeera+potato.
Lovely.

Padma said...

Hey Asha, tq so much, your presence is always appreciated...

Keerthi...chala chala thanks ra!

The cooker, thanks for stopping by and for your valuable comments...I am glad you liked it! yeah three versions of Cumin makes all the difference to the poor potato!

Cynthia said...

It really is the king of spices eh Padma? I made some roast potatoes like Sunita did with cumin and it was sooo good too.

Dori said...

I love potatoes, I love cumin...sounds about perfect to me :)

Mishmash ! said...

WoW..that looks like a spice-licious potato masala :)

Padma said...

Hey Cynthia, I feel potatoes are very comfortable to cook at, they slide so easily with any additions in every cuisine, I feel, thanks dear....

Meeso, thanks for your warm comments

Richa said...

hmm, great minds think ......
i've this ready to go, i used baby alu, so it's fine .... LOL
can vouch for the taste, it is incredible :) am an alu fan in all it's forms ;)

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Athika said...

Hey Padma, The dish looks yummy. The cumin is a King of Spice and does benefits the digestive system. I use cumin in almost all my dishes I like the flavour and smell of it.

The Sphagetti with Roasted Peppers and Tomatoe and Basil Brushetta came awesome. It tasted fabulous. Thanks for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

How come only Padma and Sharmi get to talk to each other? I think we all should get the chance. *hmmmph*

Great recipe with jeera !!! And thanks for reminding about that event.. I have just the right recipe for it.

Cheers,
Mythili

Anonymous said...

jeera aloo is loooking delicious.the pics r perfect.

Suganya said...

Red potato fry is looking great.... Amazing pictures...

Coffee said...

YIPPEI!! I love this very of aloos anytime! :)

Raaga said...

Exactly what I had in mind Padma. Lovely recipe and this one's a keeper. :-)

sunita said...

Hi Padma, those potatoes look so good...thanks for entering them for my event.

Nupur said...

The jeera aloo looks tasty and fragrant! I have to try this recipe.

Padma said...

Wow Richa, cant wait to see your recipe with baby alu's...sounds yummy even I like alu any which way cooked. thanks for your kind comments!

Athika, I am glad you came back to comment on how the spaghetti and bruschetta came out...thanks for the time invested...yeah I agree completely that without Cumin our Indian cooking id pheeka pheeka!

Mythili, common lets all talk, after all this blog is connecting people :) I am glad you liked this Jeera Aloo...cant wait to see more from your blog on this event

Thanks Ramya, Coffee, Sukanya for your valuable and power-loaded inputs..

Hey Raaga nice to see you around, I am glad you liked it, LMK how this came...

Sunita, I have to say thanks for selecting the King of Spices-Cumin Cant wait to see the round-up

tx Nupur, lmk how that came..

Lia said...

Hi Padma i used frequely jeera as my cooking masala, i like the smell of jeera. i wonder who great ur food but too bad am not able seing ur lovely photo :(

they have banned flickr here :((

Mandira said...

I love jeera aloo, this looks delicious!

TBC said...

What a beautiful looking dish! Such a nice combo of spices. And potato one of my fav veggies.I have to make this soon.

Anonymous said...

That is looking amazing. I am sure it tastes yummy.

Bong Mom said...

Looks lovely...I absolutely love jeera aloo and aren't those red potatoes delicious in their jacket

Sig said...

Love the look of that dish Padma, very lovely... Must've tasted great too...

marriedtoadesi.com said...

Padma,

This looks really flavorful, and I think it would really highlight the jeera spice.

Nice submission for the event!
Kanchana

Padma said...

Thanks Lia, TBC, Mandira for visiting my blog, I am glad you liked the snaps and believe they taste good as well ;)


Hima thanks for your time, its nice to see your comments, You have a great space too!
Sandeepa I love those red jacketed aloos and looks like Aloo is favo for everyone....,

Sig nice to have you around after a long time

Kanchana, thank you dear...yeah you can taste the jeera in it thoroughly!

East Meets West Kitchen said...

I love cumin, but it may be too spicy for my little ones. More for me I guess. LOL!

Swaruchy said...

wow...the dish looks tempting Padma......noru ooruthondi :-)))))

Chef Jeena said...

Hey Padma great recie I just love potatoes and spice YUM! I never knew that chewing raw cumin seeds cured nausea thanks for the tip! :)

Srivalli said...

Padma...thats really rocking dish..it looks so yummy..even I thought of the same dish by sanjeev kapoor for this event...

Srivalli said...

btw padma...about m/w event, will you be able to participate if the deadline is extended?...

I would most definitely appriciate
your participation..

Srivalli
www.cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com

Tee said...

Delicious looking dish...jeera imparts such a beautiful flavor to the dish, just love it!

WokandSpoon said...

Mmm, that looks lovely! I didn't know about the health benefits of cumin - esp. chewing them when you feel quesy! I'll have to try that when I get seasick next time ;-)

Padma said...

Thanks EMWK, for hopping into my blog, you have a great blog too...

Sirisha, thanks dear for your lovely comments...nijangane noru ooruthundi.

Tx Jeena...hope that tip will work for you when in need ;)

Srivalli, great minds think alike...
c'mon join the grp!

hey tee, nice to see u here... I am sure you might have more cumin dishes than anyone else... maharashtrians use lotsa cumin in their cuisine, right!

Fiona, thanks dear for your warm comments, how was your trip?

Anonymous said...

Dear Padma, you have a lovely blog here!

I've been craving potato curry, and your recipe sounds delicious! I shall definitely try and make it! Hopefully, the craving won't pass until I have a chance to make it! :)

Padma said...

Thanks Maninas for your warm comments, I hope your cravings for potato curry is gone by now, did u make it?

Dori said...

I got a chance to try out your Jeera Aloo, it was great!

jenny said...

am going to hide this page from my hubby...
if he sees this he's gonna be after me telling me to make this..
RUN..:):).Jokes apart..the recipe sounds do-able:)

jen said...

these look so good, all the herbs and ingredients, nice photos too. thanks

chowringheelaxminagar said...


Lots of great looking dishes here! I can't keep up with all the dishes I want to make...there's always so many good ones :)
Restaurant in Laxmi Nagar

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