Batate Podi (Potato/ Aloo Fries)

"Batate Podi (Potato/ Aloo Fries)" ... simple crisp soft centered fries with sliced potato smeared with spices and rolled in fine rava ... you can either deep fry/ tava fry/ Air-fry them ... I have deep fried these this time, though I use all three methods depending on my schedule ... Yummilicious ... 

** A similar podi to the ones I have already posted before like that of Sweet Potatoes (Kananga / Ratalu), Ripe Nendrabale Banana, Suran (Yam), Raw Bananas etc. The method followed is the same traditional GSB Konkani Saraswat method from Mangalore the place where my root lie. I was surprised when a friend asked me to share the link for potato podi and I could not find it in the Blog, I had never blogged it. There are so many simple dishes which we always take for granted that all know it and just don’t bother to write it out. When I check out through old cookery books it amazes me that they put all these into considerations too and included them in different sections just like the way we blog. To cut the expenses and unnecessary editions, they wrote one and then included a line at the bottom which gave a jest of all the ingredients that were used in preparing similar dish. Sharing the recipe again for easier noting of all my friends of this simple dish that is often prepared in all homes. 

** Here is the simple recipe for "Batate Podi (Potato/ Aloo Fries)”… These podi’s are usually served during lunch or dinner as an accompaniment with other dishes during festive season or on holy days while bajos / bajias prepared out of the same are served as snack. 

** Peel off the skin of Potato/ Batato/ Aloo and wash them under plenty of running water and then slice them into 1/8 inch thick round slices and put them into a bowl of water to soak for 10-15 minutes. Soaking helps in releasing out of the starch within the potatoes and make the fries crispier. Wash well once again and drain off all water, put them on a cloth or absorbent paper and pat dry to remove excess water if need be. Remember to slice them into equal thickness throughout. In all I had about 12 pieces. 

** Put the pieces into a large stainless steel wide bowl. Make a mixture of 1 tblsp of less spicy red chilly powder, ¼ tsp of hing powder, salt to taste and mix well. You can add in a few drops of vinegar if you wish. I do add on at times, however today I have not added the same. Add in the mixture into the bowl of potato pieces and apply to the pieces, by mixing well with light movements with hand. See to it that the spices have coated the pieces well. Keep this covered aside for an hour or so. If you need to prepare this later on than the stipulated time, put it in the fridge and then prepare the same. 

** Keep a thick bottomed kadai with plenty of oil to heat for frying of the potatoes. Now add some fine rava/ chiroti rava in a flat plate and spread it out. Roll the potato pieces on the it to dust it evenly on all sides and keep them ready for deep frying. When oil has reached smoking point, lower the heat and wait for a few minutes and then add in a few dusted sweet potato pieces into it. Be careful with the hot oil and also do not add too many pieces at a time. 

** With a slotted spatula, slowly turn and mix out the cooking pieces in the hot oil. Once it is slightly browned, remove with the help of a ringed spatula, and place it on a absorbent paper for excess oil to get dripped off. Continue with the remaining pieces by dusting and then deep frying them in similar manner. Remember to not over crowd the kadai as there should be enough space for the bananas to get cooked in properly. 

** "Batate Podi (Potato Fries)” are done and ready to be served. These podi’s are usually served during lunch or dinner as an accompaniment with other dishes during festive season or on holy days while bajos / bajias prepared out of the same are served as snack. But nowadays these are prepared often as children are very fond of them and love the fried podi’s very much. Do try them out on holidays and enjoy them with your lunch or dinner. 

** You can use the search option for "Bajo or Podi" where you will get many more dishes prepared using it. Do try out various types of dishes to relish with dosa / Idly / roti etc. or with dal-chawal too. Enjoy the dishes with your family and friends and do give me a feedback if possible.