Wednesday 5 May 2010

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 :)

21 comments:

  1. Kizhaggu pottalam sounds interesting dear...

    Thx. for sharing the recipe :-)


    This is my all time favorite...
    I don't add chilli powder but include coconut to this recipe..

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  2. Enjoyed your stories. Way to go atlast, you tried and loved it. Will try this recipe in future.

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  3. Simple yet tasty dish, thanks for sharing dear...

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  4. Love your story and the recipe. Some times I prepare potato this way, sure it tastes great.

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  5. Please do not apologize. It is your story and your blog and you have rights to sharing what you like. I like your stories. This one had a little bit of suspense too. The Kizhangu pottalam looks yum-O! makes me want to try this one for sure. I shared it with my sister who was going to make it today.

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  6. Manju,

    I like your Kizhangu pottalam. looks really yummy.

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  7. loved reading your story manju, thanks for sharing it with all of us...dish looks delicious,must try...

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  8. hmm...like to read the stories behind the food, that's make the food interesting...love to eat anthying with the potatoes..yumm..

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  9. Thank you friends and Srimathi I wish I am as assertive as you :) Thank you :)

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  10. My all time favourite, makes me hungry..Love always ur write up dear...

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  11. Like your stories behind very much dear. Always admire the native touch there:) Original Nagapattinam Mittai Kadai and its kilangu pottalam seems totally delicious..that too in that leaf pottalam.....hmmm...I can imagine that! I too make podimas like this as my mom belong to Madurai. But never knew a story behind:) Your podimas seems superb and delicious Manju!

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  12. Hi first time here, you have a very nice blog. This is great post and recipe...good read :)

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  13. Welcome Gita and thank you friends :)

    Viki nice to know that ur mom is from madurai...might be she knows this shop.

    Srimathi I hope your sister liked this dish :)

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  14. Manju,, yes me too enjoyed that mittai in madurai nearby temple while i was doing my studies ter we get weekend holiday only on monday me n my friend Sasikala goes to meenakshi amman temple n try to enter different vaasal to temple n try the different foods nearby.this one also we tried it once,,, ur's came out very nice dear.

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  15. Manju,, yes me too enjoyed that mittai in madurai nearby temple while i was doing my studies ter we get weekend holiday only on monday me n my friend Sasikala goes to meenakshi amman temple n try to enter different vaasal to temple n try the different foods nearby.this one also we tried it once,,, ur's came out very nice dear.

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  16. எங்க எப்படி
    இப்படி எல்லாம் சமைக்க கத்துகிடீங்க
    சூப்பரா இருக்கு படங்கள் எல்லாம்
    பார்த்துதானே பசிக்குது
    ம்ம் கொஞ்சம் பசிலோர்ஸ் சமையலும்
    சொல்லிதங்களேன்.

    "எங்கள் சங்கம் உங்களுக்கு
    "சமையல் ராணி"மஞ்சு
    "சமையல் ராணி"மஞ்சு
    "சமையல் ராணி"மஞ்சு
    என்கிற பட்டதை வழங்கி வாழ்த்துகிறது
    நன்றி
    வாழ்க வளமுடன்
    காம்ப்ளான் சூர்யா

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  17. I liked your story and Podimas.

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  18. Thambi inga ennaiya vida super talented samayal raaninga ellam irukanga...naan summa jujupi :) Aamam ethuku intha iceeeeeeeee????

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  19. hey I came from Mahanandi. I am from Madurai too. And I know the exact store you are talking about. I have tasted it only once and my usual haunt near the temple is the "pudhu madapam" . Great Recipes, love it.

    Sujatha

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  20. Sujatha, very happy to meet you. Do you live in Madurai now? Puthu mandapam is my favourite place too :). I forget the entire world when I go there :D. Thanks for the appreciation Sujatha :)

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