South Indian Potato Masala
How to make the best South Indian Potato Masala!
Today, we’re going to talk about how to make potato masala curry, also known as South Indian Potato Masala! This South Indian potato curry is also known as aloo masala or potato masala for dosa.
This simple potato fry Indian recipe is made with boiled potatoes, red onion, oil, and spices! It’s commonly served as a main course for breakfast or brunch in Indian culture, but really, it’s delicious no matter what time of day you decide to eat it.
Spices Used in Potato Masala:
It’s often a known fact that South India is known for using a certain array of spices in its dishes, including turmeric, mustard seeds, and curry leaves — these of which are included in this recipe! To say that spices are important in Indian culture is an understatement. In fact, spices were used for things other than flavoring foods, such as curing ailments and preserving food.
While historically, this dish is big on flavor, you only need a handful of ingredients to make it, which I love. The spices included in this South Indian Potato Curry include two whole, dried red chilies, one teaspoon of mustard seeds, eight to ten curry leaves, and one teaspoon of turmeric powder.
How to Serve Potato Masala/Aloo Masala:
Once you’ve made your South Indian Potato Masala, there are a number of different ways to serve and enjoy! One of the most common ways — and my favorite way— is to serve with dosa, which is like an Indian crepe. To serve with dosa, make the South Indian Potato Masala first and set it aside. Then, make your dosa and set the filling on one side of the circle. Fold in half and enjoy!
Another way to enjoy your South Indian Potato Masala is to make Potato Masala with Poori! Poori like an unleavened wheat-flour bread that’s rolled into rounds and then deep-fried.
If Poori isn’t quite your style, you could try serving your South Indian Potato Masala into a sandwich! Serve on your favorite focaccia bread for a nice crunch or on a hoagie roll for your next party. Here are some other fun ways to serve your South Indian Potato Masala:
- In lettuce wraps
- With Roti (flatbread)
- With steamed rice and dal
Carbs in Potatoes
If you’re watching your carb intake, you’re probably wondering if there are carbs in potatoes. Carbohydrates break down into three categories: sugar, starch, and fiber.
Potatoes contain a lot of starch, so it’s important to pay attention to how many potatoes you’re eating if you’re a diabetic or have to keep an eye on your blood sugar for other reasons.
Potatoes are usually one of those vegetables you eat when you’re upping your carbs, as one medium potato contains 37g of carbs, which is 12% of your recommended daily intake. The moral of this is that potatoes in moderation make a delicious meal or side dish!
Are potatoes gluten-free?
Those who are celiac or are otherwise practicing gluten-free eating will be relieved to know that potatoes are, in fact, gluten-free! Gluten is found in food items that contain wheat, barley, rye, and other grains – none of which are found in potatoes.
Potato Masala/Aloo Masala Recipe
To make South Indian Potato Masala, heat oil in a thick pan. Add in chili, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. As it sputters, add in asafetida and turmeric and stir. Then, add in your onion and cook for three to five minutes on medium heat until they become translucent. From there, add in your potatoes and salt and mix well. Serve and enjoy!
South Indian Potato Masala:
Equipment
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Sautee Pan
Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes 4 medium peeled, boiled and cut into small cubes
- Red Onion 1 medium thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoon cooking oil
- 2 whole dried red chili
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 8-10 curry leaves
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
Instructions
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Heat oil in a thick bottom pan.
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Add chili, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. As it sputters add asafetida and turmeric. Quick stir.
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Add onion. Cook for 3-5 minutes on medium heat until the onions become translucent.
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Add potatoes followed by salt. Mix well.
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Enjoy as a breakfast hash or save to be served with dosa.
10 responses to South Indian Potato Masala
I wondered if you can substitute curry powder for the leaves and what is the amount for this recipe.
Thanks!
Mary, curry powder and curry leaves are two very distinctly different flavor profiles. Curry powder is a a blend of several spices while curry leaf is just a herb with a nutty flavor. If you do not have curry leaves at home, feel free to just omit that from the recipe. Instead garnish the potatoes with cilantro if you have them handy.
Could I use mustard powder instead of seeds?
The mustard seeds bring a nice crunch and texture to the dish, so we really recommend that. The pungency of the mustard is also different in ground mustard powder vs the seeds, but we’re up for experimenting!
You are a light in this world!
what is asafetida and where do you get it? I think you are assuming that readers are familiar with Indian cuisine.
John, asafetida is a dried gum used as a spice in Indian cuisine.. excellent for digestion and a good gut health, asafetida is used in Indian cuisine very widely. You are right it is not very common outside of Indian cuisine but can be found easily in an ethnic or Indian store. Amazon is another great source for it https://www.amazon.com/Rani-Asafetida-Natural-NON-GMO-Indian/dp/B006POH22Y/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=asafetida&qid=1586228756&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExSEtTMTRTQkg1OTRXJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDE2NTgyMzg5OUlOVlFMTktFMyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTc4NjI1VUNQRTRaTDQ5TjdPJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
Made this today using potatoes I had already baked. I used less oil, but it was delicious!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Don’t forget to take pictures and tag us on Facebook or Instagram. We love to see your creations!
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