Yesterday was Mome's birthday. Mome(spelt Mom, may be read like an anglicized Ma, so I play around with the spelling. Pardon me.) and I were best friends at school. It is mandatory to have a best friend till you reach your father's knee. Makes one feel special, on a pedestal from those unfortunate enough to have just friends, equips you to face dreaded questions from the adult world in the lines of who is your best friend, what is your favourite subject, bodo hoye ki hobey etc & generally makes you feel loved.
In those ancient days of no TV, no internet, human relationships had a different feel n flavour. It was an absolute joy going to each others' house(without making a prior phone call!), playing hide & seek, relishing the snacks that were made in mother's kitchen(we had not heard of McD's & the likes then), admiring each other's dresses(frocks we called them) & taking a rickshaw back home, if your friend lived far or just walk it if it was closer.
Mome was one of the most intelligent girls in class. I did not know the word intelligent then, she was very tej, as they would say in Begusarai. Padne mein bahut tej hai. And not just padna, my best fren was an artist par excellence, very good with words & generally sharper than most kids. She had the maturity of conferring titles on our classmates-she herself was Baby Face, I was Laugher - that made us feel like grown-ups; the spunk of drawing small beetles on the wall when both of us were sent out of the class for laughing(!) and the sense to know that she was an artist when I described her as a drawer to the handsome Red House Captain who made us all swoon :D
Our girl is Dr. Sucheta Mallick Choudhury now, Asst. Prof.,English, University of Houston-Downtown. This Doctor publishes research papers that will secure her a place with the literary greats & still has the love & patience to cook delectable dishes, pictures of which make all on Facebook salivate! This Chilli Potato is a belated birthday wish to the friend who set a benchmark for my later friendships. And whose childhood epithet gave me the tenacity to go on when life did not permit much laughing.
Try this finger-licking dish people. Make it for your best friend if you have one. Or get one, by making this today :) Both ways, you are the winner!
Ingredients: [Serves 5-6]
1. 5-6 boiled potato- quartered
2. Chopped Onion- 3/4cup
3. Ginger Garlic Paste/finely chopped- 2 tsp
4. Chopped Cilantro- 1/2tbsp
5. Chopped Green Chillies(deseeded)- 1/2tbsp
6. Maida- 2tbsp
7. Cornflour- 2tbsp
8. Sauce:
i. Tomato- 1.5tbsp
ii. Chilli- 1tbsp
iii. Soy- 1tbsp
9. Ajinomoto- 1/2tsp
10. Sugar- 2tsp
11. Salt- to taste
12. 1 1/2-2 cup water
13. Refined Oil
Method:
1. Prepare a batter of maida, cornflour, ginger garlic paste & salt. Dip potato pieces in this batter & deep fry till crisp & brown.
Keep aside on absorbent paper to soak excess oil.
2. In a wok, stir the ginger garlic for 3 mins on high. Toss in the onions & fry for another 3.
Put in the fried potatoes & let simmer for 5 minutes on high.
Add ajinomoto & chopped cilantro & take off the flame.
Chilli Potato(gravy) tastes best with fried rice or noodles. If you keep it dry, you can serve it as a starter.
Serve hot.
Starters are so easily available in superstores these days that I always end up making manchurians as a gravy dish! As you like it, folks.
PS: Mome(Bangla) means wax(candle). A child by this name is white & soft. As they grow, they shine like candles & dazzle the world. Amen!
In those ancient days of no TV, no internet, human relationships had a different feel n flavour. It was an absolute joy going to each others' house(without making a prior phone call!), playing hide & seek, relishing the snacks that were made in mother's kitchen(we had not heard of McD's & the likes then), admiring each other's dresses(frocks we called them) & taking a rickshaw back home, if your friend lived far or just walk it if it was closer.
Mome was one of the most intelligent girls in class. I did not know the word intelligent then, she was very tej, as they would say in Begusarai. Padne mein bahut tej hai. And not just padna, my best fren was an artist par excellence, very good with words & generally sharper than most kids. She had the maturity of conferring titles on our classmates-she herself was Baby Face, I was Laugher - that made us feel like grown-ups; the spunk of drawing small beetles on the wall when both of us were sent out of the class for laughing(!) and the sense to know that she was an artist when I described her as a drawer to the handsome Red House Captain who made us all swoon :D
Our girl is Dr. Sucheta Mallick Choudhury now, Asst. Prof.,English, University of Houston-Downtown. This Doctor publishes research papers that will secure her a place with the literary greats & still has the love & patience to cook delectable dishes, pictures of which make all on Facebook salivate! This Chilli Potato is a belated birthday wish to the friend who set a benchmark for my later friendships. And whose childhood epithet gave me the tenacity to go on when life did not permit much laughing. Try this finger-licking dish people. Make it for your best friend if you have one. Or get one, by making this today :) Both ways, you are the winner!
Ingredients: [Serves 5-6]1. 5-6 boiled potato- quartered
2. Chopped Onion- 3/4cup
3. Ginger Garlic Paste/finely chopped- 2 tsp
4. Chopped Cilantro- 1/2tbsp
5. Chopped Green Chillies(deseeded)- 1/2tbsp
6. Maida- 2tbsp
7. Cornflour- 2tbsp
8. Sauce:
i. Tomato- 1.5tbsp
ii. Chilli- 1tbsp
iii. Soy- 1tbsp
9. Ajinomoto- 1/2tsp
10. Sugar- 2tsp
11. Salt- to taste
12. 1 1/2-2 cup water
13. Refined Oil
Method:
1. Prepare a batter of maida, cornflour, ginger garlic paste & salt. Dip potato pieces in this batter & deep fry till crisp & brown.Keep aside on absorbent paper to soak excess oil.
2. In a wok, stir the ginger garlic for 3 mins on high. Toss in the onions & fry for another 3.
Add the chopped green chillies & fry for a minute.
Keep stirring all the while.
Onion should be translucent & not brown.
3. Add water, all the sauces, salt & sugar & bring to boil.
3. Add water, all the sauces, salt & sugar & bring to boil.
Put in the fried potatoes & let simmer for 5 minutes on high.
Chilli Potato(gravy) tastes best with fried rice or noodles. If you keep it dry, you can serve it as a starter.
Serve hot.
Starters are so easily available in superstores these days that I always end up making manchurians as a gravy dish! As you like it, folks.
PS: Mome(Bangla) means wax(candle). A child by this name is white & soft. As they grow, they shine like candles & dazzle the world. Amen!
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