Monday, July 6, 2009

Dahi Aloo (Baby Potatoes in a Tangy Creamy Curd Gravy)....comforting ain't it !!

"Comfort food is absolutely moving upscale."
~ Danny Meyer







The world has seen a lot in the last few months. Failed banks, frozen lending, bankruptcies...a stock market like a weary phoenix, rising from its ashes then plummeting again. In turbulent times like these, don't we all need a little comfort food?!



Comfort food, as it turns out, is a global phenomenon. A case in point-- When I am asked what is the one thing that I would want to eat to make me feel really comfortable and soothe my ruffled seams; without batting an eyelid I say Kadhi-Chawal ( Mildly spiced creamy chickpea-flour based curd gravy tempered with mustard and curry leaves, accompanied by plain steamed rice).

**For a variation of the 'kadhi' see this.



And what makes it comfort food?
It's our soul food and I think these are the kinds of food you hanker for. Something that you've had as a child, as a baby. Something that goes down easily. Something that will always be true.



We all have memories of a very special dish that we ate when we were kids. Every time we eat it we feel safe and warm. We are back home. Actually, we don't even have to eat it - just smelling it triggers happy feelings. It then, not just remains food-- it's the taste, the smells, the memories of home!


Studies suggest that comfort food applies the brakes on a key element of chronic stress.



Stress or no stress, at some point in our lives we all crave comfort food. Each kitchen has its own story to tell and its own set of comfort foods. Be it the country side or the huge mansions, the city or the hamlets....all have their fair share of foods/Sunday meals that bind a family together.




I remember how after a really l-o-n-g time when I was returning home from Florida, I called up mom from the New York airport only to request her to prepare my favourite kadhi-chawal, and nothing else but that. It wasn't that I had any issues with food in U.S. Infact it was only here, that I first did try Thai and Mexican. The best pizzas were at my office cafeteria...forget Dominos' or Pizzahut! Mac n cheese ...aah!


Applebees' and Red Lobster are still my reigning favourites when it comes to fun-food. Ybor street dotted with its varied cusine houses, lured me to try the Middle-east and Lebanese dishes too. Yes, I was in a cultural melting pot but oh! how I missed home food. (By home food I don't mean the stuff that Indian restuarants' in foreign land, dish out claiming to be Indian.)



However something is amiss at times....and you CRAVE it badly! Thats' soul food...a.k.a. comfort food...mom's cooking!









The dish I talk about here is only second to my all time favourite Indian Comfort Foods.

Its Dahi Aloo. Dahi= curd, Aloo= potatoes, in Hindi.



Dahi Aloo (Baby Potatoes in a Tangy Creamy Curd Gravy):

Ingredients-


250 gms baby potatoes,boiled and chopped in halves
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2-3 curry leaves
1 whole dried red chilli
1/2 tsp aesofoetida
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp ground coriander seeds/coriander powder
1 cup curd, beaten
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp cooking oil
1 cup water or less (depending on the consistency of the gravy)
salt to taste

Method-

In a wok, heat oil. Add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds and curry leaves. Once they splutter, add the whole red chilli and ginger-garlic paste. Add the boiled potatoes. Mix carefully.

Now add the turmeric powder, coriander powder and aesofoetida. Stir. Take care not to break the already soft potatoes.

Add the beaten curd and mix thorougly. Finally add water and stir. Season.

Cover and simmer for a minute, on medium flame.

Serve hot with steamed rice or parathas/chapatis.

39 comments:

  1. Ah comfort food for me too is kadhi and khichdi, dahi aloo looks delicious!

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  2. Yum! This gravy sounds so good with baby potatoes! I will definitely have to try it!

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  3. dahi aloo looks mouthwatering & easy to make.


    Trupti
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  4. Thats true Navi..we all feel for that homely nostalgic food..and most often try to create the same wherever we are..
    Dahi Aloo looks rich and oopa yummy..crave for some

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  5. Thats one helluva comfort food Navi..loved the color n I can imagine the taste..:)

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  6. I've definitely had that experience! In fact, when I visit my folks (once a year, and I'm leaving tomorrow!), I always ask my mom to cook or buy certain foods. :)

    Those potatoes look so good, I can almost smell them!

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  7. This is a great choice for a comfort food dish! Potatoes are always at the top of my comfort food list, and your gravy sounds delicious.

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  8. This dish does look really delicious and comforting Navita!

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  9. Navita I must say that you're doing a great job. I see a similarity between the ingredients used in your cooking and ours in Trinidad.

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  10. wow! i love it! it looks too good navita!

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  11. This looks like such a satisfying dish.

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  12. Not a big potato fan-but hubby is! I can just picture him devouring this ;)

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  13. The potatoes look so yummy!!

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  14. Although I didn't grow up on this, I can definitely see myself deriving comfort from this! :)

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  15. This is the kids' favorite dish. They love everything with Aloo. Yup, it's a quick and flavorful vegetarian dish.

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  16. I love this kind of dish: comforting, aromatic, and full flavored at the same time. Where you specify "curd," I am assuming you mean yogurt. Is that right? Would love to make this. ...Susan

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  17. Oh, I just love this preparation. Check my website, there is a week of breakfast with eggs, hope you like it, and please put in your comments and ratings for it

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  18. In this recipe, curd can be substituted for yogurt, without actually changing any flavour. :)

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  19. Yummy potatoes! Thanks for stopping by my blog with the pineapple pie ... yes, you can use your homemade pie dough or galette dough, no problem.

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  20. Comfort food indeed! Love the creamy sauce and I think I will definitely try this with some yogurt if I cannot track down the curd.

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  21. we like anything aloo:-) dahi alu & puri takes me back home! lovely.

    that gelato is just so right for now, could have bowls of it.

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  22. I agree, potatoes are the best comfort food and yours looks absolutely wonderful with all those yummy spices!

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  23. thnks so much..that was so encouraging.

    u kno, ive never tried alu in dahi..will give this a try and let u knownsoon..pucca!!

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  24. Love your Danny Meyer quote. It's so true!

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  25. i just made it and it came out fab!! skipped the water part..just the curd as gravy..so came out thick and im loving it..havin it with rotis..thnks so much :)

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  26. HI

    Thanks a lot for visiting my blog and comment.

    Cheers

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  27. Yum! I love comfort food!! Yours looks really good...

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  28. Love thsi gravy ...have 2 try once..First time here i guess.U have a nice blog!!

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  29. Oh Dear! thanks a lot for this recipe, I thought to prepare something with Curd today, glad I can try your recipe :)

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  30. Yum! It does look so delicious and comforting! I'll have to try making your recipe - with yogurt as you also suggested and see how it turns out!

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  31. Comfort food reminds me of my mom, and something she cooked regularly while I was growing up, some of my favorite foods... I also think of simple dishes as comfort foods :) I like your potatoes, they look great!

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  32. Although I have never tasted this dish, the texture of creamy sauces have always been a comfort to me. I would love to try this; I'm familiar with all the ingredients listed but could you describe what 'curd' is? I wonder if I know what it is by another name! 8-)

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  33. Hi Navita don't be so cruel!....What a mouthwatering blog yar this is:@....you know what....i was so hungry when i visited this blog....and immediately rushed to a near by restaurant to fill my tummy even without switching off the monitor ;) Great Blog! keep up the good job.....and thanks for your visit and comment...keep visiting.....

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  34. Such wonderful flavours! Would love some with rice!

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  35. That's looks awesome..nice creamy gravy

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  36. Looks fabulous!! I love dahi & aloo.. so this should taste fantastic!

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  37. Hello Navita, First time on your blog and all I can say is yummm. Love the food love the pics. will keep visiting. I am also a new food blogger. My blog is "humairasfoodpassion.blogspot.com" . Do visit.

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  38. A wonderful combo! That dish looks mighty tasty!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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