Certain fixed days of a week or some holy days as per the Hindu calendar, some people fast in India. On such days some fast just with water, fruits, and tea, but others call it a “fast” and just eat differently. No garlic and onions are allowed, but things like sweet potato and potato, cucumber, pumpkin, peanuts, coconut, barnyard millet (Gierst) and sago are allowed. So are fruits. Sweet potato or potato is cooked as a carb meal. This is my Granny’s favourite, and she cooked up an alternative feast on these days. My father always joked that she ate more on her fast days than normal! But all of us did enjoy the change, to me, it felt like party-time. I love this sweet potato dish because it is sweet, savoury with a hint of chili and lime. I cook it at least once a week since sweet-potatoes are available through the year, as well as ready in 10 minutes to boot!
The same recipe can be made with good waxy potatoes, usually made for breakfast or as a midday snack in some families.
For 4- 1 tsp=5ml/ 1 tbsp=15ml/ 1 cup=225ml
4 sweet potatoes / 700-750g- scrub-washed, and grated coarsely on the largest size of the grater.(1 large sweet potato per person-180g) | |
2 tbsp ghee or oil | |
1 tsp cumin seeds | |
2 green or fresh red chilies- split into halves or chopped- seeds removed for mild heat | |
Salt to taste | |
½ tsp cumin powder | |
1 tbsp sugar | |
1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts crushed into coarse powder or desiccated coconut. You can also use a mix of both. | |
Few sprigs of fresh coriander -finely chopped (chop the stalks and use in the cooking) | |
Lime or lemon cut in quarters to serve with |
Certain fixed days of a week or some holy days as per the Hindu calendar, some people fast in India. On such days some fast just with water, fruits, and tea, but others call it a “fast” and just eat differently. No garlic and onions are allowed, but things like sweet potato and potato, cucumber,...
1. | Grate the sweet potato just before you need to cook, or it discolours. |
2. | Heat a heavy-based pan or a wok. |
3. | Add the ghee or oil, when hot add the cumin seeds. |
4. | Allow seeds to fry and pop, then add the chili and fry a few seconds to release its aroma. |
5. | Add the grated sweet potato, lower heat, and stir-fry to mix. |
6. | Cover and steam cook for about 5 minutes. |
7. | Add the salt, cumin powder, and sugar, crushed peanuts/ coconut, chopped stalks of the coriander & mix through. |
8. | Cover and steam cook on low heat for another 5-7 minutes till the sweet potato is cooked. |
9. | Serve warm garnished with chopped fresh coriander and with a lime on the side. |
The few ingredients to prepare