Dish of Potatoes with Opo Gourd
(click to enlarge)

Potatoes with Opo Gourd


India / California   -   Aloo Lauki ki Subzi
Serves:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  		 3 w/rice
***
1 hr
Part		 Adapted from Potatoes with Kantola Gourd for a more readily available vegetable, this simple recipe, has amazing flavor and satisfying substance. (see also Long Beans version)

6
1
------
1
1/8
------
1
1
1
1/2
1/2
------
2
1/2
oz
#
---
t
t
---
t
t
t
t
t
---
T
t
Opo Gourd (1)
Potatoes (2)
-- Tempering
Cumin Seeds
Asafoetida (3)
-- Spicing
Fennel Seed
Coriander Seed
Amchur Powder (4)
Chili Powder (5)
Salt
------------
Mustard Oil (6)
Turmeric

This recipe can serve as a side dish for 4 to 5, or a main dish for 2 to 3 people.

PREP   -   (14 min)
  1. Peel OPO thinly, and cut into sticks about 3/8 inch on a side and 1 to 1-1/2 inches long.
  2. Peel POTATOES and cut into pieces Of about the same size as the Opo. Mix with Opo and keep in cold water to cover until needed.
  3. Mix Asafoetida with Cumin Seeds (see Note-3).
  4. Grind together Fennel and Coriander. Mix all Spicing items.
RUN   -   (40 min)
  1. Drain Potato mix.
  2. IF using Mustard Oil, heat it in a coverable kadhai, wok or spacious sauté pan until you see the first wisps of smoke. Immediately take it off the heat and allow to cool to a frying temperature (see Note-6). IF using any other oil, just heat it to frying temperature.
  3. Stir in Tempering mix until Cumin is aromatic, then immediately stir in Potato mix and Turmeric. Fry stirring just until well distributed.
  4. Cover and sweat the vegetables over low heat until potatoes are cooked through (about 30 minutes). Tumble the vegetables occasionally. If it seems too dry, you can add a Tablespoon of water.
  5. Stir in Spicing mix until well distributed, then cover and sweat another minute.
  6. Serve hot with Basmati Rice or Roti.
NOTES:

  1. Opo Gourd:

      [Lauki, Dodhi, Bottle Gourd]   This gourd is commonly available in produce stores in North America. Many recipes say you can substitute Zucchini for Opo, but this is not true - zucchini will turn to mush, opo will not. For details see our Bottle Gourd page.

  2. Potatoes:

      White Rose and Red Potatoes work well for this method of cooking. Yukon Gold type can be used here, though the flavor is different and they don't have those in India. For details, see our Potatoes page.

  3. Asafoetida - Hing:

      This is the resin of a giant fennel plant, used in India by sects forbidden to eat onions or garlic.   Caution: there are two forms: Pure Hing (asafoetida beads or ground) and the more common "Hing Powder". The "powder" is heavily cut with rice flour. The amount given here is for pure asafoetida. Use about 3 times as much if what you have is the "powder" form, and stir into tempering at the last moment. For details see our Asafoetida page.

  4. Amchur:

      Used as a souring agent, this is a powder made from dried unripe mangos. It is available in markets serving an Indian community. If you don't have it, use 3 T Lemon Juice.

  5. Chili Powder:

      1/2 teaspoon Khandela or Reshampati will make this dish moderately hot by Southern California standards. If in doubt, use Kashmiri powder. For details see our Indian Chilis page.

  6. Mustard Oil:

      This is the traditional cooking oil of Bengal and north central India. It is handled differently from other oils. Mustard oil is heated in the pan with no other ingredients until it reaches a temperature where the first wisps of smoke appear (about 480°F/250°C). Immediately take it off the heat and allow to cool to a more reasonable frying temperature (around 360°F/180°C) before adding other ingredients. This procedure removes the acrid taste of the raw oil and renders it quite pleasant. Mustard oil is available in markets serving an Indian community. It will always be labeled "For Massage Use Only" due to lack of FDA approval, based on reasons no longer considered valid. For details see our Mustard Oil page.

  7. Comments:

      A Subzi [Sabzi, Sabji] is a simple, relatively dry, vegetable stir fry.
  8. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste

isv_potopo1 161003 inet   -   www.clovegarden.com
©Andrew Grygus - agryg@aaxnet.com - Linking to and non-commercial use of this page is permitted.