Urulaikizhangu podimas / potato podimas / 'kizhangu pottalam'-Nagapattinam mittai kadai special

 

Sorry, but as usual I have a story for this dish too. I normally prepare dishes which are close to my heart and that gives me immense happiness. So every dish I blog almost has a story attached to it. In Madurai, opposite to the west tower of the temple there is a small shop. You would not even notice it if you are not so concentrated on what you are looking for. It is such a small shop. It is called as Original  Nagapattinam Mittai Kadai. I never knew how famous the shop was or its history. Once when I went to temple I noticed lots of people around the shop. So naturally my attention shifted there and I saw that small mittai (sweet) kadai (shop). For a foodie like me the displayed things on the shop was very inviting. I went there and there were lots of people waiting for their turn to buy things. So I started noticing everyone and everything (my favourite passtime !!). Many people who came there asked for kizhangu (tuber, in this context potato) pottalam (parcel). Immediately after getting that small parcel they opened it and gulped it down. Watching that my curiosity grew. A potato side-dish sold in a sweet shop !!! So when my term came I automatically asked for the kizhangu pottalam too. I got a small parcel in my hand. The parcel was made of dried leaf (no idea what leaf it is) and when I opened the parcel there is potato podimas inside. When I took a pinch of it and tasted it.................wow!!! it was really a out of the world experience for me. A very hot, very tasty potato dish was inside the parcel and I havent tasted any potato dish like that before. If any one of you get a chance to go to Madurai do not miss it :). I searched in internet for it and got only one link from Hindu magazine. Please check it out : Kizhangu pottalam.

Now I have tried to replicate the same taste which I relished way long back. Hope you will like the recipe too.

Ingredients : 

Potato- 4 nos
Onions- 1 no (preferably red one)
Green chillies- 6 nos (adjust according to your taste)
Garlic- 4 pods (minced finely)
Ginger- 1/2 inch piece (minced finely)
Chilli powder- 2 tspn (adjust according to your taste)
Turmeric powder- 1/8 tspn
Fennel seeds ( Saunf)- 1 tspn
Urid dhal, jeera seeds and mustard seeds- 1 tspn
Curry leaves- some 10 leaflets
Salt to taste
Oil for tempering.

Method :

Boil potatoes till they are soft. Buy a potato variety which becomes very soft when cooked. Allow the potatoes to cool ans peel their skin. Mash the potatoes without any lumps. Now cut onions and green chillies into small pieces. Mince garlic and ginger. Heat oil in a pan. When the oil is hot enough add urid dhal. When it browns add mustard, jeera and fennel seeds. When they splutter add cut onions, green chillies, minced ginger and garlic pieces and curry leaves, Saute for few minutes until onions turn translucent and the garlic acquires a brown colour. Now add enough salt and chilli powder. Mix everything well. Now add the mashed potato and mix well. A very tasty potato podimas will be ready to be served.

Taste enhancing tips for this recipe : The potato quality is very important. It must be cooked well so that you can mash well (maavu mathiri veganum). Make it very hot, if your family loves it that way. That makes a lot of difference. I sincerely wish that you will like it too. Happy cooking friends !!!

Disclaimer : I am not sure whether these are the ingredients in 'kizhangu pottalam', but this is how it tasted :)