Batato Bibbo Hummana / Potato Cashew Curry.

Batato ~ Bibbo Hinga Uddaka Ghalnu Hummana / Potato ~ Cashew Curry Seasoned with Asafoetida ….. A Yummy Amchi Dish that is loved by one and all ……. 

Hummana is a medium spicy curry seasoned with hing and coconut oil. This curry is prepared both with veg as well as non veg items. It is called Hummana / Hinga Udaaka Ghalnu Randai / Bendi by Saraswat community people. This is a simple curry that is medium spicy and is seasoned with Hing / Asafoetida and Coconut oil. The flavour of the hing and coconut oil is what makes the curry awesome. The taste of the curry is something that will make you try this out with various combinations. Hogplums, Bimbul, Karmbal can be added in for sourness instead of tamarind while grinding the masala. The best of all is potato in veggie, white kidney bean or rajma in pulses and prawns in non veg. So go ahead and prepare this simple but yummy flavoured curry and yes if you have access to the gummy textured hing which we soak in water and use the water only, do so. As that’s the best one which gives the immense flavour. In case its not available you can always use powdered form of hing / asafoetida. 

Peel the skin and cut 2 large sized or 3-4 medium sized potatoes into large sized cubes. Wash and put it in pressure cooker with 1 cup of cashews. Add in about 2 cups of water and pressure cook to 2 whistles. Let the pressure of the cooker fall on its own. Once you are able to remove the lid, gently open and put the contents in a thick bottomed stainless steel vessel and keep it ready aside.

Masala : Grind to a fine paste one heaped cup of fresh grated coconut with 4-6 red kashmiri chilly and a small marble sized tamarind. Use water sparingly. Remove the ground paste and add it into the vessel along with cooked potato and cashews. Mix well and add water if necessary to bring it to a gravy consistency. Keep the thickness to medium, should not be too thick nor thin. Add salt to taste and bring all to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes. 

For seasoning : Add 1 tsp of thick hing water and 1 tblsp of coconut oil to the curry and remove from heat. Cover and keep aside for 10-15 minutes before serving with Rice or Roti.

OR

If using hing powder, heat 1 tblsp coconut oil (you can use any other edible oil), when hot, remove from heat immediately add a tsp of hing powder and pour it over the curry.

Cover and keep aside the curry for 10-15 minutes before serving for the flavour of hing to get seeped into the curry. Serve hot with rice or roti. The curry tastes best with rice. You can also serve the same with simple bland jeera rice or vatana bhaat too. 

** Note : For Preparing Hing Water : Hing water is prepared by putting a small marble sized gummy hing (available in South Indian Stores) into a glass bottle and adding about a small cup of boiled and cooled water to it. Within a few hours the hing will slowly melt and you will get a thick whitish liquid. This is hing water. You can keep this in the fridge and use sparingly as and when needed. We GSB / Sarawath Konkani people usually prepare the same and keep it in the fridge always and use the same for dal, patrado or any other hummana etc.